Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-03-09


and brunettes, brave little business
women who could talk learnedly about
the difference between certified and
cashiers checks and women who in
dorsed checks on the wrong end and
did other dark deeds; but no one of all
these had caused him a futter of the
heart. Why, then, he wondered,
should that soft voice echo in his ears
long after the owner had gone? Why
should he still see that little three
cornered brown face, with the big
eyes, an hour afterward?
It was some weeks later that one
day in crowded lunchroom he found
himself being apologized to profusely
by young woman who, with a dis
heveled and detected look, was wan
dering about helplessly with an empty
tray, occasionally coming near enough
to the counter to be waited upon, but
always being pushed aside by the
more accustomed and successfully pu-
gilistic seekers after provender.
I'm so sorry" said the young wom-
an. I'm afraid 1 gave you an awful
punch in the back, but I couldn't help
it. I'm having a perfectly, terrible
time. 1 don't believe I'm ever going
to get anything to eat.''
Farley laughed with pleasure on
recognizing the girl of the unindorsed
check. Come with me-" he said. 81
think I'm more accustomed to this
sort of place than you are"
She hesitated. Il don't know wheth-
er my brother Tom would like it, she
said. "Stih, think he'll understand
when tell him. Surely he wouldn't
want me to starve to DEATH
With some difficulty he managed to
keep her to the business in hand I'M
til she had her tray filed, in spite of
the delay caused by her tendency to
ask advice of the serving women, who.
were too busy slRpping portions of
food en- the plates as they were pre-
scented in kaleidoscope succession to
take more than q minute to gaze at
her IN supreme contempt. After awhile,
however, they were headed toward the
tables and with SEINE difficulty Fair
ley found two places at the same
table.
Perhaps you would rather would
sit somewhere else?" he questioned.
mo, l wouldn't" she replied, "but
nay brother Tom would think it was
awful for us to sit together. 81
don't know what's the matter with
brother Tom. He thinks it's terrible
to talk to people unless they've been
introduced. 1 don't see what differ
ence it makes if you like people,
your brothers right said Farley,
reluctantly. 81 hope we shall meet
some day in properly conventional
way"
Seated on the other side of the
room. he watched her consuming her
luncheon in a dainty way that filed
Farley with secret joy, nauseated as
he was by the awful sight of famished
wonen's daily stocking"
Farley haunted that particular
lunchroom many times during the sue
seeding weeks, but in vain. Neither
did the girl appear at the bank win
dow. He had almost given up hope
of seeing her again, when one morn
ing on his way down town he suddenly
heard her voice.
II don't mind standing, Brother
Tom," she was saying. Really and
truly don't, but I'm going up here
by the door SO can brace myself"
She stumbled over Fairley's foot as
she passed him, walking not very
steadily. He made an attempt to
rise ana at the same moment she gave
a little clutch at the strap above his
head. The car lurched, she missed the
strap, planted her little hand on Fair
leys chest, and then tumbled down
upon him.
She gave a little scream of terrified
laughter, put out her hands like a
baby and tried to struggle to her feet.
An angry Brother Tom could be eeen
8 looming up at little distance when
the car swung about in the other di-
rection and in moment she and Fair
ley were both swaying dizzily about in
the aisle.
3 When they were finally disentangled
and she was seated, she looked up into
his face, her cheeks glowing, and
gave a cry Of recognition.
"Well, declared" she exclaimed.
81 might. have known it would be you.
but never thought 1t for minute"
She laid her hand on Brother Toms
arm as he came up beside Farley.
"Oh, Brother Tom" she said, guess
who he is. He's the gentleman who
hoped we would meet some day in a
more q conventional way"
She buried her laughing face in his
sleeve. Brother Tom and Farley
looked into each others smiling eyes.
81 don't know that I'd call it exact
ly conventional" said Brother Tom, as
he held out his hand to Farley, but
maybe It will do"