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


Strangely. when he had seated her.
she did not seem TO want to dance
again. She rose reluctantly when her
next partner approached. She found
herself wondering whether there would
be another extra. IL was getting so
late that II did not seem likely.
The next to the last dance was
called; she saw Tremper standing by
the musicians and speaking to the
leader. Something passed from his
hand to latters. After the two.step,
tho leader called smilingly to the floor
manager and he shouted: They'll
give us another extra!-Partners for
a three-step!"
Tremper was coming across the floor
toward her Everybody was staring
II was In the air that the stranger had
brlbed the musicians that he might
dance again with Sydney Chase!
You see" he whispered. standing
before her. Her eyes were like stars,
but she rose in silence. Writ looked
on blacEly.
Il suppose | may not take you
home?" Tremper broached presently.
She smiled NO"
you came with that light fellow
over there?"
Yes"
Forgive me for this extra busi-
ness"
she was silent.
Did you mind?' anxiously.
Il guess not" she said.
win YOU let me call on you them"
"Why"-she hesitated. Her heart
nuttered; her white lids dropped under
his gaze. III you wish"
Il do wish. Where do you liver"
She told him.
After the dance: Goodnight" he
said quietly, and he and his friend had
zone before Home, Sweet Home was
over.
Writ scolded a good deal on the way
home about strangers being allowed to
come in that way. Nobody knew who
they were comm in and maxim fun
Of everybody. But he was afraid to
scold her.
sydney felt rather dazed She was
tromulously happy and frightened at
the same time. She could think of
nothing but that gray-eyed fellow and
the way he had looked at her.
When she came home from work the
next night. flowers had come for her,
and the next night he came himself.
IL was a dingy old clearinghouse and
there was no parlor. only a sort of lit
tie alcoye off the hall. where there
were two swains already waiting for
their ladies to descend.
Cant we 20 somewhere" whispered
Tremper, as he released her hand.
"If you like. I'll get my hat"
Like all the other homeless couples,
they spent the evening In street-cars.
and in the park. and in little restau-
rant She told him she worked at
Hathaway g. Eaton's. half fearful lest
this news should cool him. II didn't.
"And where do you work." she in
lulred.
he laughed a little oddly. "Im
afraid I'm not much OF a toiler. I'm
to lawyer little now"
"Oh, you ought to work steady" she
melted him, not quite understanding.
He looked at her with sort OF rue
ful tenderness. "Im-Iye been-an
awful muR."
A little time passed Writ was for
gotten. sydney could not stop TO
Tremper had kissed her.
They had come home from some
where. and as she turned at the door
TO say goodnight. he suddenly bent and
touched her fresh lips And she had
torn from him and darted into the
house Tears were on her cheeks when
her own door shut behind her.
Perhaps she ought never to see him
again. She knew the store was buzzing
with gossip about her. Tremper with
his fine clothes and his free ways and
his air" obviously gentleman" and
what did a gentleman want with a
shop-girl Ike Sydney Chase? Not any
good probably Much OF this talk Ill
tered 10 the girls ears, and at first 1t
had not troubled her greatly. Unim-
aginatlye indeed must be the girl who
never dre"ms Of n Prince Charming
from some world above her
She had no notion whatever that his
estate might be especially exalted Nor
had she. in spite Of what she saw in
his eyes, over said to herself: Il love
him and he loves me-" For the first
time. then, she really faced what that
kiss might mean. Tremper was diff
ferent type altogether from the men
she knew, and she had read far too
many novels not 10 understand that
men kiss and ride away. And that
kiss taught her afresh what II would
Tcan 10 her If Burton Tremper, too,
should ride away.
But women must work as well as
weep these days. and morning found
her as usual leaving the car at Hatha-
way Eaton's corner. Trempcr was
there before her, and for n moment
they looked at each other without
greeting pauslng on the edge Of the
sidewalk. He was grave and pale
Sydney" he began without preface.
"last night--forgive me, won't you?
But | meant H. and more, too VIII
you marry me?"
She lifted her eyes full Of wistful
questioning 10 his. then lowered the
white lids to mask their answering
fire
Her whisper was brief: Yes"
They stood silent the careless, bust
ling tide Of the city street flowing past
them.