The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-06-21

closed days work, eager for
- the air fresh from the sea-
Kna S = And it was here that for the
first time in her life man
Y " noticed her. Heistood close
beside her the first night she was aware
iof bis presence occasionally glancing down
at her as she leaned on the rail looking
mp and down the bay spangled with a
million lights. She felt his scrutiny, ,but she
thcGght he stood there by accident. After
that, however, she noticed that he sought her
out to stand beside her AT first, she was
frightened; she tried to avoid him, butlater she
admitted to herself, reluctantly, tflatishe had
come to look for and expect him. On nights
when he did not come, she wondered, a little
vaguely, if he were ILL., if anything had hap
pened,
Then came the night he spoke to her, merely
saying: Nice evening" or something Of the
sort which Sophie did not hear. With flaming
cheeks she quickly moved away. The next
morning he came TO her again and seemed
about to.speak, and again, elbowing her way
through gap in the crowd she evaded him.
She hurried across the Battery and up along
Greenwich Street to the place where she
worked "a small wholesale hardware house.
All the way she wondered Il she were glad she
had escaped him, if it wou,d not have been
better to have allowed him to speak to her,
not once but many tmes-to be her friend if
be wished, she had SO few.
She nodded good-morning to her Office
companions, gray bookkeeper and the
boss, and took her seat at the desk ready
ito begin her work writing bills, checking costs
and figuring up profits. For FIVE years she
had been seated at this desk, six days week,
eight hours each day, doing the same dead
clerical work, grown as familiar and uninter-
esting as the enameled cloth surface OF the
FAT desk before her Many times, shrink
ingly, she counted up the number Of months,
Of days, even Of minutes, that she had spent
here earning just enough to keep herself and
her small brother.
This morning the work was piled high
awaiting her: letters, bills, memorandums,
but she could not seem to get started She
glanced out of the window. 1t was raining
softly, but she did not notice; she was think
ing Of the man, wondering, hoping. -.
All day long the thought Of him was with
her. And, suddenly, resolution, which at
first had shown but timid hand, stood up
right and proclaimed its strength. 1t was
this:
She would speak to the man; she was lonely,
and she would try to make him her friend;
she would dare to step out on dangerous
ground, seeking that which all her life had
been denied her; seeking for--she knew not
what
When il came fine to go home the rain had
ceased and II had turned cold. 1t was bitter
ON the outside deck Of the ferrboat. Few
people braved it, preferring the warm, stuffy
cabins. Sophie watched for the figure she
lknew so we'll Her mittened hand held her
heavy, but not over-warm, coat close around
sher. How well, indeed, she knew his figure
she could close her eyes and see him clearly
iih every detail. Why even his hands, his
large capable hands knew how the black
hair lay against the brown skin; she could
remember how the heavy thumb, probably
injured in some forgotten accident, bent in
grotesquely; where each vein rose. :. A
long breath escaped her; he had come out
upon the mems deck opposite. He was
.smoking, but when the cigar was finished he
sfossed 1t over the side, its spark marking a
!, thin, fiery line until it fell into the water
behind them. He was crossing over toward
her.
Sophie's throat filed so that it hurt her; he
stood close beside her now. She wanted to
speak, but she could not; she had the will but
mot the power. She was relieved Of the neces-
sity abruptly. for he put bis hand over hers as
itlay on the rail.
.It1l soon be, too cold for you to stand oui
| her, be said. His voice was heavy and mas
.csiline. 81
Sophie hesitated so long she was afraid he
would think she was not going to reply; she
had Withdrawn her hand from beneath his
Finally the word Yes" was all she coulc
manage.
eThe man laughed easily, and there wa
\ sssinis u ile Laugh. He placed one hane
% her thin arm; she shrank a little away iron
SIS touch. want to be your FRIEND" b
I nd; Il want 10 know you better
s::;k