The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-06-12
His SOUL MATE.
BY BENNETT Harris.

Howard Van Puyst-Snopdecker re-
moved the massive silver top of th1
club mucilage bottle, applied the leas,
suspicion OF the sticky substance &c
| the corrugated rim of his monocle and
returned to the bay window, where
Reginald Ferris Ligonier was standing
gazing blankly out upon the gay par
| ade of New York's Fifth avenue.
We'll, old chap, where is she?' ask
ed Van Uuyst-Snopdecker in languid
voice, as he carefully adjuster his now
adhesive eyeglass.
Ferris Ligonier heaved a sigh. "You
are too late" he said. She's gone.
Anything more divine never saw. She
was miracle. Howard. you've missed
the chance of your life
"Oh, pifle!" returned Van Puyst-
Snopdecker, sinking into leather up
holstered chair and extending his slim
legs to the window sill. Il mock me
of your miracles, Liggy. Keep your
eyes open for minute or two and
you'll see another"
You'll learn to distinguish one of
these days." said Ferris Ligonier. you
will see one whose mere loneliness sets
her eternally apart from all mortal
women and whose soul, shining from
the tranquil depths OF her eyes, will
meet yours in a clinging, spiritual en-
brace that will transport you to the
seventh heaven of delight. | wouldn't
wonder if it led to matrimony in less
than twenty-four hours"
"Piffle!" remarked Van Puyst-Snop-
decker. T.
At that instant the girl raised her
eyes ITO his with the calm, innocent
scrutiny Of a child. Gray eyes they
were, the gray of shifting seas with
pupils of lustrous black and fringes
Of jet.
Van Puyst-Snopdecker's pulses leaped
madly, and the next moment, with a
slight exertion, he opened the heavy
window sash and dropped lightly to
the pavement below.
One thought was in his mind Here
he was the one. The goddess of whom
he had never dreamed was revealed to
him.
The soul mate at whose existence he
had scoffed was materialized. In an
other moment she might be lost to him
forever. Already she was half a block
away, swinging along with the 1.-THE
grace of young oscelot, her head high
high with an air Of well bred disdain.
her purple skirts lifted daintily clear
of the mud at the crossing, revealing
trim tan boots.
Van Puyst-Snopdecker almost chokeL
as he saw those little boots.
A little farther on the young wo-
man disappeared within the doors of
q millinery establishment. Van Puyst-
promptly crossed the street
and waited. In about three-quarters of
an hour she came out again and en-
tered an electric brougham that had
drawn up In front of the milliner's.
Van Puyst-Snopdecker at once hailed
! taxicab.
Keep that brougham in sight," he
said to the driver, handing the man a
bill.
The driver grinned intelligently
Ind mounted to his seat. The broug-
ham made a swift turn and glided in
he direction of Broadway. The taxi
lab followed. Presently the brougham
stopped at a large department store
md the young woman got out.
1t was nearly an hour and a half
before the girl re-entered the broug.
lam. From the department store she
lrove to a jewelers.. from the jewelers.
o q furrier's, from the furrier's to a
and from the confec-
toner's to another department store.
During this time Van Puyst.Snop-
lockers pulses had not ceased to leap
Tor his brain to whirl.
At last she came out again. She |
'assed the taxicab and once more her
yes met Van Puyst-Snoydecker's. The
Dung mans heart stopped beating i
nth the exquisite emotion that brief
lance occasioned. Then the cab NOV
d forward with jerk and Van Puyst.
nopdecker looked at his watch.
Five hours gone" he muttered. I'm /
ineteen more we will be man and
rife."
A. the cab sped on in the wake OF
y proughAm Van yst-Snopdecker