The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-10-13
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HSsAesZEazggy same token very likely
bestowed the former also.
But Mrs. Sears had forgotten that she
was ever romantic, and Geraldine"
too, had quickly yielded to the elgencies
ct everyday life and become simple Gerry"
] At six-twcnty, Jerry emerged from the
employees entrance at Hathaway & Ea-
tons, drifted with the tide of girls to the
next corner, and there detached herself to
wait for Elmer Pierce. She and Elmer
were engaged, and she was going home to
supper with him as she was In the habit of
doing, once In while.
The change from the overheated store
into the fresh wind made her shiver a little,
and she looked rather impatiently up and
down the wet street. A big automobile
had just drawn up to the curb few feet
from her; the chauffeur had alighted and
was standing beside it. The car, Imou-
pine, was one of those shining, monogramed,
luxurious affairs that to Jerry always typi-
fed the vague erich"
She Inspected this one with a certain
appreciative wistfulness, then lifted her
eyes TO look straight into those of the
chauffeur. Her glance was caught SO deep
into those eyes that for moment it chung
tresistibly of those glances that in a
second seem to attain the intensity and
irrevocableness of thousand years.
ABeen waitin' long, jerry" asked Elmer
81 her shoulder.
Jerry started. "Not long," Elmer's
hand on her elbow propelled her into the
stream again.
Guess the big bugs have taken to drivin'
their own cars" he commented, CHANGING
back at tho still moionless machine
"Who was it?" Jerry's tone was carefully
careless.
3Pomeroy," replied Elmer with the easy
familiarity Of the half-informed "The
nav millionaire, you know. His dad struck
It n Alaska, and now he's havin' fun BLOWN
It What was he eyein' you .for7" with
sudden recollection.
g Aw, he wasn't" Jerry denied colby,
and Elmer did not press the matter.
Elmer was slender little chap not much
taller than Jerry herself, and rather hand
some IN boyish way. Jerry and he had
known each other since they were children
and she had gone but little with any other
man. They had been engaged for nearly
. year without much being said about the
wedding day. AZ
: @Here we are" Elmer announced.
They climbed two fights of cabbage
scented, carpetless stairs, and entered the
tiny fat where Elmer and his mother lived.
There were three small rooms "parlor,"
kitchen and bedroom. Mrs. Pierce and
Elmer ate In the kitchen when alone, but
The table was brought into the parlor when
49, Il - Al
SOON ON couch.
Mrs Pierce called Hello" from the
kitchen where she was frying chops, and
Ferry mechanically laid off her hat and
Jacket; and mechanically, too, she took
part IN the conversation Of the supper
table, and the hour and half afterward
that she stayed.
An odd depression weighted her spirits,
Hghtened occasionally by equally strange
flashes Of excitement. She seemed to see
Elmer, his mother and their home, with a
new and terrifying penetration, as If some
miraculous clearness of vision had been
suddenly vouchsafed her. She had never
thought much about Mrs. Pierce before,
beyond tho fact that she was kind, moth
eriy sort of woman, now she noted her
eager way of watching Elmer and a certain
anxious setting Of the lips. She thought
she detected in the older woman a pathetic
anxiety to please the young people, and
Terry suddenly understood.
Eimer's mother feared that when Elmer
married, he would no longer need her-she
was afraid he would no longer think of her.
For the first time, Jerry could not bear to
imagine herself married to Elmer-she
could not bear to think of life here. Her
cheeks began to burn. She sprang up.
NJ must go now
SWhy, It amt late, Jerry" said Mrs.
Pierce
Terry insisted, however, and Elmer got
his hat to 60 with her. In the dim hall, ne
paused moment.
Gone of the four-room fats on the top
floor IS vacant" he whispered meaningly
Jerry felt chill in her veins Is itT
She went on down the stairs.
"I think can get raised to fifteen the
first Of jan" he continued, taking her arm
as they turned up the street.
Il hope you can" she forced herself to
say: ;,
You seem tickled TO death" cried
Elmer, aggrieved. chats enough to get
married on, amt it"
She did not reply directly. "What does
your mother think about it9" she asked
after a moment
Elmer was amazed. "Mother. Why,
H1n,f we takin' tia four rooms SOS TO have