The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-08-16

my uOIu6T say " YOU!
Cant you guess?"
"Oh, can guess" gloomi1y. ''Set
here, DEAR" he added eagerly, do you
care so much for the money!
why, didn't know you had any,
she reminded him gently.
He laughed hard little laugh. 81
haven't That's what bothers me- I've
been q fool"
A quick fear stung her. about
me?"
He stopped short. Don't you trust
me?"
She met his eyes and the blood red
dened her cheeks again Eyes" simply.
4 I've been a fool about myself, about
money, about life, about everything $
he continued sadly.
She thrust her hand in his. ''Wait,
Burton-Oh, here's my car. Go home
to your mother tonight and-think it
all over. Tomorrow, we-we'l de-
eide"
I'VE have decided" he declared
hotly.
mo. Wait until to-morrow-if-"
She broke from him and ran out to
the approaching car.
He stood for a moment as II uncer-
tain, then walked thoughtfully away.
At eight o'clock that night, Sydney
rang the bell at the mansion of Valen-
tine Burke. A butler or a footman,
sufficiently stately, opened the door.
CT wish to see Mrs. Burke" Sgd
ney was determined not to be over
- Ii T. ,,-Iz y Sv.Ar n
small reception-room, and she, remark
ing the question in his eye, forestalled
him Tell Mrs. Burke it's one of the
girls from Hathaway & Eaton's."
He departed, and panic at once seized
her. What folish girl she was to do
thisi What would Mrs. Burke think
of her? And she knew her tongue
would never dare to tell her dearest Sc
cret to a stranger. Her courage would
have oozed entirely perhaps, had she
waited long. Very soon she heard the
swish of a woman's gown, and rose
bravely to meet its wearer.
Mrs. Valentine Burke, once Christa-
bel Shannon, came forward with out
stretched hand and that wonderful
smile. Exquisitely gowned as always
she seemed to the eyes Of the shabby
little shop-girl, even younger. even
lovelier, more gracious, than the pic
ture she had carried in her mind. sgd
ney's heart lightened at sight Of her
and warmed at the touch of her cool
firm hand.
81 am Sydney Chase, Mrs. Burke. ]
work at Hathaway & Eaton's. =
she hesitated.
"That always interests me-" came in
stantly the soft clear tones of Christa
bel. You know used to work there
too. And yes, remember you. Sit
here, won't your" She drew her owI
chair comparatively near to cover the
girls momentary embarrassment.
There was no hint of hauteur or con
! descension in her manner-it wal
: wholly that of friendly equality. Chris
label was one of those surely blessed
of Heaven who learn to see with thu
heart. Happiness had taught her no
: to forget, but to remember. So sht
: was not looking at Sydney's neat shah
biness; she was seeing the brave you'll
of her, the eyes a little sadder thar
young eyes should be, the wistfulnes
. of the tender mouth, and understand
ing so well that touch of defiance o
l. sophistication with which adventurinI
in the world had alleged her natura
3 gentleness.
81 hardly know how to begin" sgd
neys smile was wistful. Nor VIVA
y you'll think when I've told you. In
Q almost a stranger here, but-I've hear
so much about you at the store
+ Christabel laughed. "I know; In
e the heroine of all romance at Haths
n wsy's!"
3 Sydney caught at the word. "Tha
was it. Your Tomance-will you tHinl
Il me too absurd? I wanted your-ad
g vice"
advice? I'm afraid I'm not YER
!, wise, Miss Chase, but you're surel
welcome to all the poor wisdom | Ca,
r muster" The cordial interest in he
e voice brought tears close to the lionel
e girls eyes.
e You're very kind" she cried.
s. Christabel waved this aside. "Yo
d said 'romance'-is it that you have on
e of your own perhaps?"
# Sydney nodded. And lists ratf
l. er complicated. Mrs. Burke, and
n wanted so much to tell some one
she broke off.
n Christabel took her hand--they wer
q very much alike, those small, capabl
2 hands. ct was so nice Of you to thin
II of me"
q "T wanted to run away, at first,
r Sydney confessed, "but now feel tina
At l can be quite frank with you"
81 am so glad"
!. Sydney took the plunge. "I-met
- young mamie came up to one of th
= dances just for fun one night, and
- well, he came to see me. had no re-
~ son to think that he was especially
above me. We became engaged an
or now, I find that he is rich, that b
Us family is very aristocratic, and thu
10 they-are very much opposed to OF
as marriage"
er you have met his family?"
His mother"
10 And she"
ey said that if I married him it woul
ID ruin him.
a "Oh, they always say that observe
ID. Christabel. That's quite the stoC