Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-06-16
Miss Morgan S
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down the street, which at this hour
was deserted. and moved slowly on.
1t seemed impossible that a girl OF
such refinement could be deliberately
reckoning to him, total stranger,
yet once more before he moved on
the gesture had been repeated. Then
someone had come and led the girl
away from the window.
All that day Caspar Casscells per-
formed his duties in mechanical
sort Of fashion while his mind re-
volved the happenings Of the morning.
He regarded himself as keen judge
Of human nature and this girl at the
window did not seem to be the sort
of person to indulge In vulgar flirta-
ton with an unknown man. And yet
he could have sworn that she had
thrice beckoned to him.
He detested such things and he
strove to put her from his mind, yet
his dreams were all about a girl with
great masses of golden hair piled
upon her shapely head. Her features
bore every indication Of gentle breed
ing and, constantly in his dreams, she
beckoned to him.
1t was the same the next day. AS
he came from his office the girl was
standing in the sunshine at the win
dow and again the reckoning gesture
was repeated, while merry smile
displayed the full red lips and flash
ing teeth.
He went up the street with curl
Gus sense of disappointment. He felt
an interest in the girl that he could
not explain and still less susceptible
of explanation was the fact that he
could feel an interest in any woman
who would flirt with a stranger in the
street
He was genuinely glad when one
morning the face did not show at the
window and the front stoop was
boarded up. He told himself that now
he could give his entire attention to
his business again, but he soon found
out his error, for sleeping or waking
he thought only of the girl who beck
oned. In the end he was forced to
confess to himself that he was in love
with the girl.
/ 1t preyed upon him until at last
vacation became imperative and.
turning his patients over to another
practitioner, Casscells went to the
mountains.
He arrived shortly before supper
time and as he passed down the
broad corridor toward his room. he
came to an abrupt halt. while beads
of perspiration stood out upon his
brow
Directly before him was the girl
who had beckoned and not until she
came close and Casscells could see
that she was actual flesh and blood
did his fears subside. He had thought
for one horrible instant that she was
an apparition conjured up by his dis
eased brain.
He met her after supper and as
she gave her slim, cool hand into his
fevered grasp. he breathed a prayer
of thankfulness that he at last knew
her.
Are you the DR.. Casscells of Cor
DOM" she asked. He bowed his af-
firmative and she went on. Il re-
member a sign across the street from
us. l live in Gordon. too. We moved
there just before we came to the
mountains"
II think l have seen you," he said,
staggered for an instant by her
frankness. Could she b, trying to
recall to his memory her frantic e.
forts to attract his attention?
Il think I have 'een you once or
twice. she said carelessly; you
must be more neighborly when we re-
turn"
Grace Morgan turned her attention
to one of the othe men who formed
her little court and presently Cass-
cells slipped away to ponder over the
meeting.
If she had beckoned to him, her
reference to having en- him was to
recall the fact, yet even now he could
not bring himself to believe that he
was right in his deductions. For two
weeks he puzzled over the situation.
while he devoted himself to Miss Nor
gan.
He made rapid Roadway in gaining
her affections and though he was not
vain man, he felt that he had only
to speak Yet again his dislike of a
common filtration deferred him.
1t was near the end of his stay that
the situation cleared. He had been
down to the postofRce In the light
drizzle that kept most of the guests
indoors, and as he came across the
wet grass he disceKned Miss Morgan
standing at one Of the dining room
windows and she was making the
same gesture that had first attracted
his attention.
AS she caught his eye, she threw
up the window and called out an in
yitation to enter. Divested of his
wet things he sought the dining room.
Grace was still making that beckon-
ing gesture, but as he entered she
gave a little cry of triumph.
i've got him." she called excitedly.
please, doctor, will you raise the
cover Of that box, So"
She dropped the imprisoned fly into
the tiny cage and watched a chame
leon as it seized upJ, the insect
g" m getting to be quite an expert
fy catcher" she aid as she turned
back to the window to resume her
hunt. II got this little fellow when
we were in Florida last winter, and
I've done nothing nut catch flies ever
since for him."
you were catching flies for him
the first time l ever saw you" he
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