The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-02-17

ing little smile And she was rather
aev to Hathaway & Eatons. where she
mad been taken on In the glove section,
Coin to the Emerald Club tonight,
Mlss Chaser" asked Miss Packer. a big
.warthy girl with regular garden.
hedges of eyebrows She knew very
we'll that the new girl wasn't going.
Sydney gave no hint Of chagrin.
mo. I'm not going. Is It q dancing
club?"
Miss Packer raised an eyebrow at
this ignorance "Oh hadn't you even
heard about Il? Yes. it's dancin' club
Ia real swell one, too. I'm goin' with
Mr. McKay--he's in the Gents Fur
nishings,' you know"
THAT will be nice" Sydney's tone
was politely Indifferent. but she felt
the pang she was intended TO feel She
could not understand why they all
seemed so determined to shut her out
from their pleasures. and then to flaunt
them before her lonely eyes.
Miss Packer, however. felt vaguely
frustrated in her assumption Of social
superiority Little cat!" she NUT.
tered, tossing her head
Occasionally in the shops there is
TO be seen a girl. brought there by
Heaven knows what exigencies. who in
appearance and refinement so overtops
her fellows that the difference is evil
dent at first glance. For quite obvi-
Gus reasons these girls are seldom
popular, and even the knowledge that
they are owed to ones superiority does
not invariably heal the wounds of hui
initiation and studied insult Even
though she did consider the source.
Sydney could not but vince at Miss
Packers snubs. Besides she was only
a girl, and she was lonely
The approach of a customer saved
her from the scratch of the little cat
remark, and she was surprised to feel
10 the manner of this customer an nm
accustomed friendliness, a sympathy.
a. something understanding. She was
a young woman. beautiful and beauti-
fully dressed. aud Sydney did not won
der at the interest she seemed to be
exciting among the other clerks. She
felt someway a little happier when the
beautiful lady had turned away with a
smile that seemed TO have so much
more in II than mere amiablllty-it
was somehow comforting like the pres
shre OF the hand that means BE Of
good cheer" o. a. ....
The ioorman sauntercd up. He was
Mr.. b. +. Writ, commonly called Ben
ME"
Some class, eh?" said he. with a
glance after the figure Of the beautiful
lady.
sydney cordially agreed. "she was
lovely"
Well. do you know who that Is?
It's Mrs. Valentine Burke-she used to
work right here in this very store"
"She did"
That's what she did-when she was
Christabel Shannon. And she married
Burke, the millionaire, and seems 10
be living happy ever after. Terrible
romantic, ain't it?'
Il should say" smiled Sydney.
+. 'Hows this fair one to.day?" in.
ouired Bennie softly. smiling his own
sweetest.
well. thank you." with no coquetry
Say, goin' to the Emerald to.night?"
E Sydney shook her head NO"
;'iDon't you want TO go?" persisted
Mr. Writ. "Or no bid?"
Il haven't been asked" she admitted.
Come, go with me, then" he invited
her.
why. yes. I'd like to-" She spoke
with a slight hesitation, which Mr.
Writ did not notice.
"All right. Fine doin's," said he,
quite elated. 'I'll see you later"
The first stare that night showed the
curious Emeralds why Bennies chest
was swelling with pride of conquest.
Starved as she was for pleasure sgd
ney's cheeks began to glow as the
young men crowded around her for
dances, and the smile on her wistful
mouth became more irresistible.n
The evening was half gone when two
strange young men appeared in the
doorway, having wandered up from the
street, probably allured by the strains
Of kiss me, my honey kiss me-"
Their dinner jackets proclaimed them
gentlemen to the doorkeeper who after
a consultation with the president OF
the club, received their money and ad-
mitted them.
Their looks, their air Of being on
lark, their self-possession and their
clothes labelled them from a somewhat
higher sphere, and the girls to whom
they we're introduced beamed upon
them. Both were presented to Sydney
MIR. Meadows and Mr.. Tremper.
"I'm sorry, but my card is full"
she responded to their invitations to
dance Mr.. Meadows moved on 10 the
next girl, but Mr. Tremper remained
standing before her, looking rather
deep into her brown eyes with his
clear, steady gray ones.
"I'm sorry. too" he was saying, when
suddenly, Extra, waltz" the floor
manager shouted.
Tremper smiled This is my lucky
night. isn't it?"
Sydney felt her heart quicken. She
rose TO put her hand on his arn. ignor
ing the sight OF Mr. Writ. skating
across the floor in her direction.
She had never felt other men in
dancing any more than pranclng auto.
nations. but she was conscious Of
Tremper's arm about her waist. They
np0ke little and the music seemed to
be CARRYING them on without personal
effort
May ! have the ncrt extra2" he
6sked presently.