The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-04-02
t said nothing. Nevertheless

Blount said nothing. Nevertheless
Gantry tried once more:
"Not interested, Evan2"
Blount turned and looked his COM
! panion coldly in the eyes.
Not in the slightest degree, Dick.
Win you take that for your answer
now and remember it hereafterY
"SureT laughed the railroad man.
Il didn't know 1t was a sore spot with
you
He found match and relighted his
cigar. When he began again he was
still thinking Of the apron string"
clause in the senator's telegram.
81 can't understand how any man
with western blood in his veins could
ever be content to marry and settle
down in this overcivilized neck Of
woods" he said.
Cant your Blount smiled, with
large lenience.
mo, l can't" asserted the western
er, adding: "Of course don't know
the eastern young woman. She may
be all that is lovely and enticing"-
"She is" declared Blount, with the
air of one who had lived long enough
to know.
You say that as If you'd been TAX
ing a few lessons" Gantry laughed.
Then, with the friendly impudenee
which only college comradeship could
excuse, lis she here tonightT
NO"
Tell me about her." Gantry begged.
Il don't often read a love story, but /
like to hear EN-"
There isn't much to tell, Dick" said
Blount. "Pve known her for a year.
and I've loved her from the first day.
That is chapter /, and chapter ends
the story with one small word. She
says Mo-
THE dickens she does? said Gan
try in hearty sympathy. Tough, isn't
it, old man? What's the obstacle?'
ut is Miss Anners' career She has
been studying at home and abroad in
preparation for social settlement work
in the large cities. OF course knew
about it. But l thought hoped
You hoped IT was only a young wo-
mans fad, which it probably is" Gan
try cut in.
yves. I'm afraid that was just
what did hope. Dick. But / couldn't
talk against it. Confound it all, you
can't go about smashing ideals for the
people you love best"
1t was quite late when Gantry. plead
ing WEAKNESS on the score of bis hard
weeks work at the railroad meeting.
went to bed.
In the long talk with Gantry BIount
had learned many things about the po-
litical situation in his native state
things which were enlightening, if not
particularly encouraging.
Oddly enough. he had not recognized
in Gantry a skillful special pleader for
! the railroad interests: hence he was
! preparing to go to the new field with
| a rather strong prepossession in favor
of the defendant corporation. Gantry
had intimated pretty broadly that there
| was room for an assistant corporation
counsel for the railroad, with head
! quarters in the capital Of his native
state. Blount saw at once that the re
| .quirements would be political rather
/ than legal. and inf his minds eye he
saw himself standing firmly as the de-
fender of legitimate business rights in
a region where popular prejudice was
! capable of rising to anarchistic heights.
! The picture rather pleased him. He
| would not have been a true descendant
Of the fighting Blounts Of Tennessee If
! the prospect Of a conflict had been
! other than inspiring.
1t was after the ashes had been
knocked from the bedtime pipe that
Blount left his chair and the secluded
! corner Of the veranda to go and wan
| der among the parked automobiles on
the lawn.
Blount had just awakened a sleepy
chauffeur to ask him to uncover the
/ engine OF a new Italian car when q
/ stir at the yeranda entrance told him
that at least a few of the dancing
/ guests were leaving early.
He drew back when the little group
on the veranda came down the steps,
/ preceded by a club footman, who was
calling the number of the car. And It
/ was not until he was turning away
that he found himself face to face with
a very beautiful and very clear eyed
young woman who was buttoning an
automobile dust coat up under her chin
"Patriciar' he burst out For PHYS
sake, you don't mean to tell me that
you have been here all the EVENING""