The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-06-08

There was a ClQeQ pSFSHlptol J
note in the voice, and I knew 1t was
up % me to say something, especially
as the engines were going away and
the crowd thinning out a bit.
ct shall be very glad to take you
! home" I said, eff you'll kindly tell
me where to CO."
My arm was released suddenly and
I heard a Mortified ejaculation.
"I beg your pardon. I thought you
| were my cousin. I don't know what
you must think of me. You see, I'm
lost. 1 got separated from my party
| in the theatre. 1t was dreadful
| she shuddered involuntarily. "They
| called 'Firei' and women screamed
| and there was smoke and an awful
| crush. I thought I was killed. The
next thing I knew, I was out here and
thought I saw Harold, my cousin,
| so I caught hold of him. But I wasn't
| catching hold of him after all; I was
| catching hold of you, a strange mani"
"Poor but honest" 1 murmured, as
she paused.
"Ch," she treasured me kindly, Il
know you're honest. Besides. l have
nothing to take. My aunt does not
approve of girls wearing jewelry, and
of course I have no money"
Neither had I, but I did not think
it necessary to say so.
ST4 I'LL riua mo 0rnQf n1nQSJ1rp 70
see that you get safely home" said,
adopting Starts best society manner.
What is the NUMBER"
why" she said slowly, I'm
afraid 1 don't know"
"You don't know"
81 came only last night, and I'm
sure I wish I had never come at all.
1 hate New York. I suppose Aunt
Josephine has a number; I'm sure
she has if.she ought to have one. She
always has things she ought to have
remarked that numbers were GUS
tomary and sometimes useful, and
suggested that Aunt Josephine's sur
name might help some.
"Oh, of course" she said. "How
stupid in me! Her name is Robinson
Mrs. Joseph Robinson"
I thought with dismay Of the col
umns of Joseph Robinsons probably
in the directory, and suggested the
telephone.
my aunt has a private wire" she
returned. Il heard her say tonight
she couldn't be bothered with being
called up all the time, so very few
people know what it is. I'm not one
of them"
The situation was becoming inter-
esting, and I pondered ~anxiously as
to what could be done.
"Well," said my unsought charge,
lam 1 to stand here all night in thin
s%lippers?"
certainly not" I replied. 1--WE
will-er-stroll around and decide
what can be DONE"
So we. strolled aimlessly. my COM
panion shivering in her white opera
cloak and casting wistful glances at
passing cabs, which, as circumstances
prevented my paying for them. I
could not with dignity notice. Con-
versation languished, and I occupied
myself with wondering why Aunt Jo-
sephine and Harold had not returned
to the theatre to look up their miss
ing relative. 1 also wondered what
the girl at my side was thinking,
when she suddenly spoke and there
by enlightened NE.
"Well," she said, aren't you ever
going to do anything? I should
think a man"
She left the sentence unfinished,
but at that moment I silently anathe-
matized Casey and all the dinner par
ty and consigned them to a retreat
much warmer than the streets Of New
York at midnight.
Couldn't you take me home to
your wife? Or your mother?" There
was now a hint of tears in the voice,
and I felt very guilty at not being
able to produce a wife OF a mother
at an instant's Eotice.
I suddenly remembered that I had
fifty cents left after the last call for
funds to finance the dinner; at least,
that would give Is a right to light
and warmth for a while, and some
hot chocolates; so we went into a lit
tie restaurant, much frequented by
the impecunicus genius who finds it
impossible to live on fame alone. 1t
was there I discovered that l had been
unappreciatively and stolidly walking
about with the very prettiest girl
had ever seen in my life, and I was
not without experience.
I'm not going to describe her.
will say only that against the general
dinginess of tn. cafe and the men
and women scattered about it, this
girl in her dainty, spotless toilet and
radiant youth made a picture long
to be remembered, and I noticed with
resentment that l was not the only
one who knew it. She had cast aside
her cloak and was plainly enjoying
herself.
It's an adventure" she said gaily,
"and I've always been SO well chap
eroned! Suppose We tell our names;
we can forget them later if necessary.
I'm Nancy Welles, with an e. I'm
from Philadelphia, on a visit, and
enjoying myself for the first time,
A ND .vor,o"