The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-11-18
NOT IN THE
CATALOGUE

tomb. Now and then some students
turned a page impatiently and the pa
per gave forth sharp rustic Is
though aggrieved at such irreyerent
treatment. but visitors and attendants
alike moved about with silent tread.
rubber caps rendered chair legs noise
less when they were moved. and the
very card catalogue drawers moved
on silent ways.
Linda loved this quiet. After the
clatter and clutter of a busy ONCE.
which abe had been compelled to es-
cape because Of nerves threatened to
grow unruly. the bookish silence OF
the reading room was more than
grateful. She was sorry when the
closing hour came, and. after a brief
interval spent In checking up the slips
and seeing that tho books were re-
placed in their proper stacks. she had
to 60 out into the turmoil of the busy
street.
The quiet place was never lonesome.
Linda had many friends among those
quiet. studious men and women who
spent their days pouring over the ref
erence books. There was the little
old woman from the costumers who
spent days over old books In search
OF correct pictures of the dresses OF
by-gone days; there was the little old
German who was reading everything
he could find upon chemistry. and
there was the tall. quiet man who dis
played a singular catholicity OF taste.
One day 1t would be books on astrono-
my that he wanted. and again he
would be interested in geography or
chemistry.
OF them all this man Ballington was
the most regular In his attendance
and seemed the most like an old
| friend. 1t was he who had quietly
aided Linda with suggestions which
| she had first come to the room. He
had been a regular" and had known
| more of the routine than she did. But
| 1t was often that Linda was able to
help him with suggestion as to
| new book, for her heart was in her
work and she was something more
| than an automaton. dealing out the
| books called for with mechanical in
| difference.
| Ballington. Richard Ballington-she
knew the name from his slips-seemed
almost a part of the reading room it.
self, so regular was he in attendance
and his good morning smile was a
pleasant opening of the days routine.
Last Christmas he had brought a
little gift the day before the holiday
and sometimes. when luck vas par
ticularly good, a box OF candy would
come back with a book.
The summer Defore their vaca-
tons had overlapped and for an
entire month she had not seen
him. She was glad when the vaca-
ton was over and she could come
beloved books around her and with
Ballington sitting in the chair in q
| far corner where he was least likely to
be disturbed.
For once Linda was glad as the
hands of the clock crept around to
closing time and she knew that in an
hour more she would be free to hur
| ry home and creep into bed. Just be
fore the hands reached the closing
hour Darlington rose from his place
and brought book to the desk. Then
instead of leaving, he went over te
the catalogue and began to scan the
| cards in one of the drawers. For 9
| few months Linda watched him. ther
he looked up with the familiar glance
L ~ 81 4 ~
catalogue drawer.
Struck for title?" she asked In
voice SO low that it seemed scarce
ly to be whisper. What's the let
teri"
| Il said Ballington. Lo,' to b
| exact"
| "Logging?" she asked. That's un
der lumber
| mot logging" he denied. IT'S Z
shorter word. Love"
Il don't think that's catalogued.'
she said in dismay. It's funny sub
ject. Suppose we look for 'Ro
NANCE"
Let's look for romance. but not In
books" he pleaded. Il know that this
is q silly sort of proposal. but love
you. little girl. I've been sure Of II
ever since last summer. when l missed
you for a whole month. Those two
weeks when you were away / simply
could not do any reading. I've been
trying ever since to tell you. but
didn't see how. / don't want to hang
around outside OF the library until you
come out. and I do want you to help
me look for romance. Linda, even
though 1t is not in the titles?"
81 think 1t is In the catalogue" she
said. softly. but II you'd rather. III
help you after hours"
There may be romance in the
catalogue" said Ballington. but not
Gs good a romance as there Is this
moment just outside the drawers. You
do care a little bit, Linda"
Since last vacation" she admitted.
You may come this evening II you
hke-to begin the study"
Ballington made a note OF her ad-
dress ard left the place with elastic
l 5bSp DSaIlaS atdits
went back to receive the books the
readers were returning AS she gave .
final look around az the fast book was
stacked and the days work done. she
patted the catalogue cabinet as she
| passed it.
You're awfuIly wise" she whisper.
ed. with your thousands OF titles. but
you haven't a Love and I'm sorry
for you" Then Linda walked out 10
enter a new world.