Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-08-28

glance betray a deeper knowledge they
regarded each other with the battling,
impassive eyes we keep for the I'M
known. No twentieth century romance
ever moved so slowly.
Then Billy Stoughton. who In this
particular case was the instrument OF
fate, awakened one morning with an
unaccounteble but imperative yearning
for Broadway. Five years earlier an
equally compelling desire had landed
him on the ranch, where he had bided
contentedly enough up 10 that particu-
lar morning. The evening of the next
day found him In Denver, from which
place he proceeded with as much haste
as the railroad facilities would permit
TO New York.
On the day OF his arrival he planned
10 dine with Renwick, the closest OF
his college friends. He had just time
to catch him by telephone before he
left his Office, which he did. arranging
10 meet him at the elevated station and
go up town with him.
The first effervescence Of their meet
ing over. StoughtOn's beaming eyes
roved over the other passengers. A
slight figure at the far end of the car
held his glance. lie looked again TO be
sure.
Pardon me a minute. Jack" he said.
rising and making his way toward the
girl. with whom a moment later he
Ar1f oil nj q L.
ing with the ease OF long friendship.
4 Presently he returned TO Renwick. and
as he did so revealing look passed
between the two. A bridge at last.
ITS Natica Aston. a cousin OF mine,
you know" he explained - Renwick.
Tough luck they had. ttii you. But
she's plucky girl She has earned her
own living now for four years"
"will you present me-" demanded
Renwick eagerly.
Certainly. I'll take you up there
with me- Natica will be glad to re-
ceive any friend of mine"
Thank you, old fellow; thank you"
Renwick paused awkwardly. He seem
ed to have something else to say. but
scarcely knew how to say 1t.
when l said-asked you to intro
duce mel didn't mean the usual thing.
I'm going to ask you TO do something
queer and to do it without asking too
many questions"
What kind of a mystery Is this 2
inquired Stoughton. IF l didn't know
that there isn't a grain Of romance In
you l should certainly think"-
Now, don't think-there's a good
fellow" soothed Renwick. Just fol
low instructions. Tell Miss Aston all
about me, and mind that you tell her
everything good thatSou can or III
wiring your neck. and make an appoint
ment for me to call. Don't make any
mistake. + want to see her, and see
her alone. / don't want you there"
When poor. mystified Bill Stoughton
preached the subject TO Natica her be-
havior was doubly mysterious No,
she didn't want to know anything
about him. Then a moment later:
Did you say he is bachelor" On
nocently) II thought he was a wild
over"
Stoughton, Indignantly. II thought
you knew nothing about him!"
IL don't, but he wore mourning"
THAT was for his mother..s
In the dim little parlor OF the small
apartment where she and her mother
lived they met for the first time alone
save for the dead and gone Alstons
that looked down upon them from the
walls. Surely never was such a first
meeting before.
When the maid ushered him in,
Natica, looking rather more like lily
than usual in her long, soft black
gown, rose with every intention of
greeting him in the most formal man
ner. Then q most unlocked for thing
occurred
For a moment they looked into each
others eyes Then he stretched out
| his hands toward her, and she placed
hers in them A moment later she
was swept up into his arms as IL she
| had been a child as he murmured SOFT
| ", My dear, dear love"
what shall we tell mammal" wall
ed Nstica in despair half hour later.
How can we ever explain ourselves
I'VE can't" replied Renwick com
fortabIy. 1--WE might just as well re-
sign ourselves to being thought mad.
II all comes from the ridiculous super
| stition that in order to know people
you must talk TO them"
And then-weIl, then they forgot the
world and its opinions to talk Of far
| lovelier things.