The Cairo bulletin., 1911-10-21
HEARTS
CROCHETED
BY LOUISE oLNEY
E...s.a.:. .sa..zs.ss I

ITO her new boarding place an
snatched up her fancywork bag lyin
on the bureau Mrs. Clinton, th
heavy landlady, met her coming OF
Eof her room and stepped aside wipin
her face beaded with perspiratio
from the hot summer morning.
why, Miss Allen, | thought yo
were gonel"
so ! was, but came back For
lgot my crochet"
Crochet" Mrs. Clinton cried
overcome with curiosity. What OF
earth do you do crochet for? Yol
must have an easy job"
mo. ! crochet on the car to ant
from the office, laughed the girl.
My land! Don't you know you'll
get written up in the papers? Who
ever heard of such fool thing to do,
j should think you'd want to be rest
ing yourself instead Of spelling your
pretty eyes on such nonsense"
1T isn't nonsense" called back the
girl from the porch Il love It.
That's why came out here in Cam.
den to live. Two hours day on the
car gives me lot Of time to stick
ito my knitting.
But don't you feel silly?" Mrs.
Clinton pulled down the steps and
followed her strange roomer out to
the walk. They'll be guying you on
the car"
No; as this is the end Of the line.
d get the front seat and hardly any
one sees what I'm doing. Goodhy,
Mrs. Clinton" And she left the
scandalized landlady gazing after her
unconventional self as though she
were neither fish, flesh nor good red
herring.
She really did not care what the
landlady 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
she resolved to keep close to the
things she loved every moment out,
side of business hours. 1t was the
only way she could be happy, for the
daily grind of money-getting In a.
cruel world was cross to her home
yearning heart.
AS she took her place In the front
of the car this muggy July morning
a young man followed and slid into
the seat beside her. He was tall and
good looking with a gentle CLEAN In
MS blue eyes that argued mind
broad and 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 diminutiYe white
canyased feet and withdrew her
thread and hook from her bag.
Swiftly her fingers few, creating
cobweb something that fascinated
him. His eyes never left her during
the hours ride.
She was so easy to look al from
the tip of her shell-like ears and the
little curls at the nape OF her neck
Drown against her white skin, that
ne 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 protecting feeling
and he found himself resenting an
uncouth workman who pushed for.
ward and sat beside her. Morton for
ail his immaculateness would have I
hesitated to do that himself.
A pang of 10Y shot through him
as ne neared his corner to see her
hastily fold thread and hook into her
Dag and push the button. She got off
az his corner, them Cavalierly, he
rose and waited in his seat for her TO
pass, She must have been conscious
Oh mis- presence for the last hour for
she looked up and smiled. II was a
iaint smile. Mundane people would /
nave said II existed only in his i'm.
agination. But her great grown eyes
mad swept up straight to his and |
rested there long moment while a
sweet surprise awoke and slowed
away back in their limpid depthg |
JOY flooded his whole being. and ss 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 he watched for her at
lunch hour, loitered on the corner
Tor her car at night, but try as he
might he could only see her In tbe
He was up betlmes 70 he. {
stow more scrupulous care on his al.
ways immaculate person. He found
finical satisfaction In all his
scarfs and invested In many new
ones which necessitated CORRESPOND.
Ing hosiery. He was resplendent. for
he was In love.
Every morning they sat thus - she
iirst. he second, in the car. And al
ways he waited for her to rise and
pass out before him and bsstow the
smile. His only chance Of expression
was In his answering smile and the
grace Of his gesture as he raised his
hat. His whole being went into that
salute. II was eloquent. regal. as a
king to his queen.
n was haautif,I h,,t u ,,o.