The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-09-01

BY INEz &. THOMPSON
eorr"aHr 1870. ~ X. rAraor PUBLISHING CO
tcsatiaAsS fysm ,tsfSyS@,)

"Tru,' he Sulped. "You-Sue was
with yon, that day. Do you mean tC
say that she thought" Trudel
held up a hushing hand
People about. remember. don'i
know iChat she thought, Pen-but hei
eyes looked as though she'd been hit
fair between EN-
Sue Pen uttered, marvelling
Sue, All these weeks has She" He
stopped short, remembering a shadow
under Sues dear eyes, wistful weari
ness strange TO her dear face that he
had wondered at on another day, q
pathetic droop Of her lips in repose.
He struck his knee vicIously Great
Lord, what a blockhead! What an
ass Why didn't think But had
no reason 10 feel uncomfortable, Tru.
My word for it, ! didn't think-what
you think of Miss Parkman's actions.
blame 1t all, | can't think it now!
But I've got to admit--that l don't
fhtluN- 1T ~ tAtrlC NHiS Nh9 "a9
of knowing He arrested himself
there as though there we're more be
kept with difficulty, from saying, and
his eyes held a troubled question
Billy Trudel did not evsde the look.
nor attempt 10 conceal the revelation
Of feeling that betrayed him middle
aged and more than little worn
With faint cynical smile at his own
confession he made full answer.
"Yes, it matters a whole lot to me.
Pen. First | noticed merely that you
bad an attractive stenographer-it IFS
my way to notice, you know. Then
I'm not sure how or when-she was
the most attractive of all women, to
me. think I knew 1t one day-one
smothering hot day--when ] took her
some flowers and she really looked at
me, when she thanked me
Every day since then for eighteen
months, I've sent her Aowers-aDd
you haven't noticed EN-, evidently
never anything at all | kept
the pose | first took that disarming
elderly, kindly-casual frontl She al
ways used me one way--cool. pleas
ant, unrufled-she might have been
any woman of--of our set, don't
gknow / bothered you hanging
round the Office; and I'd 20 when ]
knew you were not there just for
word with her 1t really is different,
you know-a whole lot different
ought TO know. l didn't lose
my head kept cool looked her
np-who, what, where-all about her
It doesn't matter-t though there's really
pothIng but all this rot of position TO
matter Yet the rot is what
scared me away from her-I confess
it, Thered be so much said. And
ia Icied she wouldn't take me-Lord.
Of course she wouldn't, except for
what | could give her ! went
away as you know. but | couldn't stay
away ! came back to--ask her. and
that FIRST day l-saw you two. I
thought-Well, you're the glib, young,
cleancut sort that women fancy-oh
yes you arel ! stepped down and out
And now I've got to SIT in the
Club window the rest of my life and
and hear this sort of thing Tillotson
said Of her and not be able to do any
thing It's fine mess. look at it all
lroundi"
Pen sat back. Imply
I don't know what use my eyes are"
be said feebly. Not the first thing Of
all this did / dream Why, / never
saw her-as you see her"
For which / am GRATEFUL" Trudell
was drunk with the relief of speech
after his mighty repression. She's
IS sweet and clean as northwest
wind You know she's cleyer-but NOT
low clever. keen. up 10 things. big
md wholesome thinkiugl She could
Pc AN a man could be and all a
woman might be. to the right mani
Ter hands are the most beautiful
woman ever possessed There's no
ag or pearl powder or lip tint there
she's unique. and you pever
new it-thank God If she wants me
or what ! could give her. I'd spend |
ny last copper TO buy her the moon. if !
he fancied IL! But what | want
hat / really cant Pen Is a place |
way fr0m-things I've always known |
want place with a garden for her /
ihere I could watch her fussing round |
lowers: and I'd wear slippers and /
moke q pipe and she'd scold to me /
bout the maids and my tie,
m hungry and thirsty for the blessed |
other Of her-y0u know. don't you?"
Yes. I know. said Pen: aud wasn't
shsmed Of the lung in his throat
He was late in getting back TO the 1
'tters that waited his signature the |
lost recent incompetent's second try /
lis personal mail awaited him. atop /
be- pile The first letter he opened |
as brief note from Miss Parkman
'lling him that she had left rillot-
ln's and would be glad TO return 10
ond and Griscom's at her former
ilary.
After an hour OF the hardest think
be- be had ever expended on anv
oman save Sue. he wrote asking her
cali the next afternoon ar three. It (
as q non-c0mmittal note. and after
lsting 10 he determinedly forgot her. A
ld What the interview might por-
nd and he gave his evening 10 a
'newal OF the DAYS when the known
orld held hut two that mattered-
ne and her husband. 10 hurt more II
ian q bit to find how eagerly Sue Il
Q herself be conriuced. how she vel