The Holbrook news., 1911-12-01
HEARTS CROCHETED
By LOUISE oLNEY

Bessie Allen ran breathiessly back to her new boarding place and snatched up her fancywork bag lying on the bureau Mrs. Clinton, the heavy landlady, met her coming out of her room and stepped aside wiping her face beaded with precipitation from the hot summer morning.
 Why. Miss Allen. I thought you were gonei"
 So I was, but I came back. For got my crochet"
 Crochet" Mrs. Clinton cried, overcome with curiosity. What on earth do you do crochet for? You must have an easy job"
 NO. crochet on the car to and from the oflce," laughed the girl
 My iandl Don't you know you'll get written up in the papers? Who ever heard of such fool thing to dol I should think you'd want to be rest tng yourself instead of spelling your pretty eyes on such nonsense''
 Tt isn't nonsense" called back the girl from the porch. 'T love it. That's why I came out here in Cam den to live. Two hours a day on the car gives me a lot of time to stick to my knitting.
 But don't you feel silly?" Mrs. Clinton puffed down the steps and followed her strange roomer out to the walk They'll be guying you on the cs.r.''
 No; as this is the end of the line, [ get the front seat and hardly any one sees what I'm doing. Goodby. Mrs. Clinton" And she left the scandalized landlady gazing after her unconventional self as though she were neither fish. flesh nor good red h0rring.
 She really did not care what the Iandlady or anybody in the big, hard city thought She had come here be- cause she had no home since her mother died and she must earn her living where best she could She loved home and home things-like crochet and with characteristic good sense Ghe resolved to keep close to the things she loved every moment out side of business hours. It was the only way she could be happy. for the daily grind of money-getting in cruel world was a cross to her home yearning heart.
 As she took her place in the front of the car this muggy July morning Q young man followed and slid into the seat beside her. He was tall and good looking with a gentle gleam in his blue eyes that argued a mind broad aod fine as his physical make up. He watched intently as she settled herself with graceful adjust ments of her dainty white linen dress. crossed her diminutive white canvased feet and withdrew her thread and hook from her bag. Swiftly her fingers flew, creating cobweb something that fascinated him His eyes never left her during the hours ride.
 She was so easy to look at from the tip of her shellIil1e ears and the little curls at the nape of her neck, brown against her white skin. that he could only divert his gaze a few inches to a momentary glimpse of her face as she turned to the window lnfrequently to see where the car stood. She was not stunning, just dear and lovable. Her sweet uncon- sciousness of him and of all about her gave him a protecting feeling and he found himself resenting an uncouth workman who pushed for ward and sat beside her. Morton for all his immaculateness would have hesitated to do that himself
 A pang of joy shot through him as he neared his corner to see her hastily fold thread and hook into her bag and push the button She got of at his corner. thenl Cavalierly. he rose and waited in his seat for her to pass. She must have been conscious of his presence for the last hour. for she looked up and smiled It was a faint smile. Mundane people would have said it existed only in his i'm agination. But her great grown eyes had swepi up straight to his and rested there 8 long moment while a sweet surprise awoke and glowed away back in their limpid depths. Joy flooded his whole being, and as he replaced his hat he followed her out of the car and watched her turn into the building opposite his real estate office with conviction that he had come into his own
 After that be watched for her at lunch hour. loitered on the corner for her car at night. but try as he might he cC uld only see her in the mornings. He was up betimes to be- stow more scrupulous care on his al ways immaculate person He found fnical satisfaction in all his lcarfs and invested In many new cnes which necessitated correspond ing hosiery. He was resplendent, for he was in love.
 Every morning they sat thus = she first. he secord. in the car. And al. ways be waited for her to rise and pass out before him and bestow the smile His only chance of expression uas in his nnsruarine snnila and +hn