The Meeker herald., 1909-12-18


which found lying on the sidewalk
within . few steps Vt the house. !
said to myself: For goodness sake!'
opened the pocketbook ~ soon -
| got to my room. because l wanted
to discover, II possible. to whom Il
belonged. Yet. At the same time. II
was 10 truly feminine In its dainti.
ness, and 10 distinctly suggestive Of
privacy In its tight silver clasp and
Its delicate fragrance Of heliotrope.
that. had 1t not been for my habit
ually rosy face. l think should have
blushed with the guilty conscience OF
. Peeping Tom as l prepared to pry
into Its guarded contents.
discovered. first, q small bunch OF
dress-goods samples: and two or
three OF them were really rich and
charming bits Of fabrics. Then l
found dollar bill and two quarters.
and hair pin. and book of post
age stamps. There was no token OF
the owners identity in any Of these
trifies; so l went further and fished
out a tally lead pencil, a street car
transfer. = silver glove-buttoner. a
latch key, programme Of Strauss
concert, and prescription-to be
taken in half a glass Of water before
each meal. After that discovered a
piece Of poetry. It was very neatly
folded and occupied pocket by itself.
1t looked as though 1t had been
clipped from a magazine. II l remem-
Der correctly, 1t was entitled Some
Day." and ran something like this:
know not when: know not how nor
| where;
| know not IL the day be far nigh.
only know. thro' faith In answered
| prayer,
That some day we shall meet, my Love
| and /.
| felt at once that the sentiment of
the clipping reflected the personality
of the clipper. 1t told me she was
still young and heart-free; that she
was a refined, gentle soul. In whom
the romantic was artistically blended
with emotional culture. and that her
disposition was thoughtful and sensi-
tive. If not actually angelic.
For a moment i feared that that
was all I was destined to learn about
her, for 1t seemed to me that l had
by this time exhausted the contents
of the purse. But this was merely
because of my ignorance Of the anat-
omy OF feminine pocketbook, as Ii
shown by my unexpectedly fumbltng
into another compartment. And here
/ it was that came upon the clew for
which was searching. Turning mp
the nap that concealed its resting
place. found small card on which
was inscribed in particularly graceful
chirography:
Bertha Gilmore,
| 1872 Euclid Place.
For some occult reason, that name
Bertha appealed to me. 1t seemed to
associate itself at once In the most
natural way with the poetry and the
fresh leather, and with the patrician
style and good breeding that belongs
to the aristocratic neighborhood Of Eu-
cid place.
The consciousness that I had found
Bertha Gillmore's pocketbook exhil.
arated me. l don't pretend to know
why, but. somehow. had feeling
that Fate was at work; that 1 was
drawing close to my affinity. Were l
a Theosophist. should probably have
understood 1t. AS 1t was. however. l
did not attempt to analyze my emo
tions. simply became eveloped with
the idea that perhaps 1t was for
whom Bertha was waiting; ard that
perhaps-ah me; perhaps 1t was Ber-
tina for whom, all unconsciously, mad
been waiting during these lonely years
of unsatisfied bachelorhood.
SO l made up my mind I would call
at 1472 Euclid place that very even.
ing and return Bertha G,llmore's poc.;-
etbook to her.
Timing my departure so that 1
might reach her house about quarter
of nine, sailed forth into the win
ter's night. caparisoned with buff-col-
ored spats and a rosebud boutonniere.
and carrying my silver-handled walk
ing stick, which. by the way. found
of much service In keeping myself up
right on the Icy sidewalks.
As had anticipated. the house was
handsome one. set we'll back from
the street and fronted by terraced
lawn. A flight Of broad stone steps
led up to the doorway.
The bell was an electric. one. and
when withdrew my finger after press
ing 1t. 1t continued to ring. The push
button had evidently stuck; and said
to myself: For goodness sake!"
1t was a very loud bell. don't
think had ever before heard quite SO
loud one.
l picked at the button with my
gloved fingers. but 1t refused to come
ont. Then l jabbed II with my cane.
and that seemed to make 1t worse So
pulled my silk hat well over my ears
for the wind was blowing q perfect
gale up there-and went at the push
button with both hands. i thought
perhaps might be able to wrench the