Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-09-23

WIS everything ~ Ue ueSlCeU anu dU-
mired.
1t was the work of an instant to en-
ter the store aud cautiously survey
this girl in the blue gown. when
pink and white baby face. surrounded
by putfs and sausages of pale golden
hair. confronted him haughtily. He hur-
riedly made exit aud boarded the ffrst
car that came along. trying to forget
the anxious eyed joweler who had
rushed to the door In his wake.
Block after block the car jerked its
way down to 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 at the yacht
club. no pleasant run through the Jer-
sey roads. When the car reached the
terminus he would take the subway
and make dash for home and a tub
and then search for a bite to eat, for
he was ravenously hungry.
AT the Battery the green park lured
his tired eyes from the hot streets, and
he strolled for few moments, watch
ing the crowds hurrying to and from
the ferries. his glance alert for the
wearer Of 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 he saw her-unmistakab,y
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. unobtrusiveiy, he followed
her from case to case, now and then
catching a glimpse of her sweet face
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 darting golden
forms Of tiny tropical fishes.
Apparently she had not noticed his
presence until he spoke in 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 aftcrnoon?" He drew
the bag from his pocket and held it
forth
"Oh. yes. indeed. 1t is nine." she
said. with joyful little laugh. 81
missed it after had boarded my car,
and as l didn't know just where had
lost it concluded not to bother about
it. 1t contained nothing but my cards.
Thank you very much"
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 the excitement of
his quest at an end. he was leaning
over the rail. gazing modify at the
performing seals ON the floor below.
when he heard the sound Of a familiar
laugh and his name uttered.
Jack: Where did you come from?
I've been waiting hours at the office
for you
His sister Eleanor painted indignant
ly toward him. her eyes wide with sur
prise. where Is Alice-1 thought you
didn't know her?''
II don't know her-whoever she Is. J"
he said bit GROSSLY. What's up.
Nell, and why were you waiting for
me at the Officer"
"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 so the first thing?
Why, the aquarium. of all places, and
l l had never been here myself! So
told her we'd so down to your office
and you would take us to luncheon,
and then we three would go down to
: the aquarium together"
Exactly" said Fielding impaciently
well. we went to the Biggs building
and we must have passed you when
we went up in the elevator. for they
said you'd just gone down. and as
they didn't know whether you had
y gone for the day or not we decided
|
n awhile and said she couldn't stand the
q heat another minute. so she agreed tc
come down to the Battery and wait
t for us. When an hour passed and you
$ hadn't returned just came on! Now
where is Alice and where did you
e meet herr"
It did she have on blue linen gown
e and is she-is she-beautiful?' de
G manded Fielding eagerly.
= "Yes-to everything" said his sister
with curious glance. II always sale
e when you saw her you'd fall down"
Is "She's here. then-see. yonder"
Il Together they walked along the gal
y lery, and then there was an exquisit,
e moment for Fielding when Eleanor in
n troduced the girl in the blue gown ant
- her little gloved hand rested in his 70
x brief instant.
It One day. long afterward, Jack Field