The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-09-12

TN the intimacy of the table the two
young persons came, at length, to
somewhat free exchange of condolences.
"This is far and away the jolliest dinner
I've had in six months, said Fultener, set
ting down his glass of Apollinaris; 'fand
I've dined with kings and sultans and maha-
rajahs since saw you"
His companions eyes were bent on the
clear transparency of his lowered goblet.
"You seem to enjoy the water wagon"
she observed, with smile that lit up her
beauty as if a spotlight had been thrown
on it.
"And why shouldn't II" he asked, view
ing her with contemplative appreciation.
~ never really knew what it was in the old
DAYS to have a clear head for two hours at
a stretch.
GOOD Lord, what a fool I've beenl Of
all the show girls and chorus women ever
met-and, heaven knows, I've met lot in
my time-there was only just one that was
really worth while; only one that was differ
ent and individual; and though knew
perfectly well why she consistently and
persistently frowned on my profered at
tentions, I wasn't man enough to be
decent"
The look which Alice Davenant flung
back at him was one Of serious question
II hope haven't made a mistake, after
all" she said obviously.
A mistaken" he repeated, questioningly.
ri don't care for fattery, Mr.. Fultener.
1t doesn't go very far with me, you know"
I'm sorry" he replied simply. "I was
never more honestly intentioned in my life /"
For long moment silence lay between
them: strained, uncomfortable silence,
for which each felt, in a measure at least,
responsible. It was the girl who, little
contritely, broke it at length with low
voiced apology.
81 know that wasn't fair of me-" she
said, still denying him her eyes. "But I've
grown over-suspicious and cautious, guess,
from having always to be on the defensive
You know what men are, Mr.. Fultener.
That is, most of the men that we girls of the
stage are thrown with. And it's not the
easiest thing to 60 so far and no farther with
them. When a girl lets one Of them COM
pliment her, he seems to think the bars are
down for love-making; and if she lets him
make love, she must let him kiss her; and
so it goes on. The only way, therefore,
have found, for girl to keep her self
respect, in our profession at least, IS to
wear sort of perpetual armor, and stand
always with drawn sword"
The young man pushed his salad plate to
one side and leant closer to her across the
table.
"Look at me-" he commanded tensely.
And when, gravely, she obeyed, and the
pure, unsullied appeal of her dark eyes was
lifted to his frank gaze once more, he went
on. want you to believe that few words
of honest truth from me, regarding my
admiration for you and the esteem in which
I have always held you, aren't going to
do you the least bit of harm, and won't
entail anything either to my discredit or
yours"
Then the girl, while her lids huttered and
her eyes grew threateningly moist, reached
slender, shapely, ringless hand across the
table, to be met before it had well started
by the mans larger and stronger and
browner one, which seemed to have been
waiting all the while for just this oppor-
tunity. No exchange of words accom-
panied the hand clasp; but palm spoke
eloquently to palm, and shining blue eyes
and fearful brown met and held each other
as if they meant never to be torn apart.
The nature of the condolences that fol-
lowed was even more Familiarity sympa-
thetic. Fultener learned much of Alice
Davenant's antecedents. Her father, now