Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-08-01
DAILY SHORT STORIES

Jewclry sfore close by. Her hat was
white and Tapping. and he could not
yce the color Of her hair. but her figure
was everything to be desired and ad.
mired.
II WAS the work Of an instant to en-
TER tho store and cautiously survey
this girl IN the blue gown. when
pink end white baby face. SURROUNDED
BY pU6a and sapsages Of pale polden
hair. Sonfropted him haughtily. ilas hur.
riedly made exit and boarded HE first
gar chat came along. trying 10 forget
the anxious eyed jowelcr who had
rushed TO the door In his wake
Block after block the car terked its
way down 20 the battery, Fielding.
hot and eaGer and feeling very much
OF fool In his obstinate quest. His
afternoon was quite spoiled. There
would be no shore dinner ut the yacht
club, no pleasant run through the Jer-
sey roade When the car reached the
terminus he would take the subway
and make dash for home and a tub
aud then search for bite to rat. for
Il
At the Battery the green park lured
bis tired eyes from the hot streets, and
he strplled for few moments. watch.
Ing the crowds hurrying to ana from
the ferries. his glance alert for the
wearer Of q blue linen gown. His com.
mon sense told him that the flower
like face Of the girl he sought would
not be among these crowds, but rather
uptown.
Just then no saw her--unmistakably
the one he sought. She was entering
the door Of the aquarium. and Field
ing-old New Yorker that he was
who had never been inside its doors,
was quickly after her.
Quietly, unobtrusively. he followed
her from case TO case now aud then
catching glimpse of her sweet fuce
and again seeing nothing save the
brim OF her pretty hat. At last In the
upper gallery he stood close beside her
while they watched the darling golden
forms Of tiny tropical fishes.
Apparently she had not noticed his
presence until he spoke I'm low voice.
and then she started and flushed rosily.
II hope you will pardon me-" he was
saying, hat In hand. but didn't you
drop this bag In front OF the Biggs
building this afternoonT' he drew
the bag from his pocket and held II
forth.
"Oh. YES. indeed. It is mine" she
said, with joyful little laugh. ~
missed It after ] had boarded my car.
and as didn't know just where had
lost 1t concluded not to bother about
1t. 1t contained nothing but my cards.
Thank you very much" 4.
She turned away with graceful lit
tie gesture that indicated the Interview
was ut an end, and Fielding. mentally
cursing himself for an idiot that he
had not investigated the bag and at
least discovered her name. moved
slowly In the opposite direction.
Absorbed In these melancholy
thoughts and with tho excitement Of
iis quest Mt an end. he was leaning
yer the rail. gazing noodily at the
performing seals on the floor below.
when he heard the sound Of a familiar
langh and Ills name uttered.
.Jack. Where did you come from?
I've been waiting hours at the Office
for you 1SfIt.
His sister Eleanor painted indignant
ly toward him, her eyes wide with sur
lprise. Where Is Alice-I thought you
didn't know herr
J II don't know her-whoeyer she is,"
| he said bit GROSSLY. Whats up.
Nell. and why were you waiting for
me at the ofiicef" y,
You know I've been expecting Alice
Evans TO visit me. Don't say you have
forgotten, Jack Fielding! She came
this morning, and where do you think
the child wanted TO go the first thing?
Why. the aquarium. Of all places. and
] had never been here myself! SO
told her we'd go down to your Office
and you would take us 10 luncheon.
and then we three would 90 down to
the aquarium together i
Exactly said Fielding impaciently.
We'll. we went TO the Riggs building.
and we must have passed you when
we went Mp In the elevator. for they
1 said you'd just gone down. and as
'hc! uiuH kHOW WHetnfT You UA0
gone for the day or not we decided
To walt. Alice became tired after
awhile and said she couldn't stand the
heat another minute. so she agreed TO
come down 10 the Battery and waH
for ns. When 81 hour passed and you
hadn't returned just came on. Now.
where s. Alice and where did you
meet he5y'
did she rave or blue linen gown
and IS shc--is she beauflfulT' dc
mandcd Fielding eagerly.
"Ycs-to everything" said bis sister.
with u curious glance. Il always said
when you saw her you'd fall down"
shes here. then-Sce. yonder,"
Together they walked along tle gal.
lery. and then there was sn exquisite
| moment for Fielding when Eleanor I'm.