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


Maybe we can fix it." he said, with
his boyish smile.
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. 1t was getting so
late that it 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 latter's. After the two-step,
the leader called smiling1y 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.
1t was in the air that the stranger had
bribed 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 blackly.
IT suppose I may not take you
homer" Tremper preached presently.
She smiled. mo"
You came with that light fellow
over there?''
Yes
Forgive me for this extra bust.
ness"
She was silent.
did you mind?" anxiously.
"I guess not" she said
"Wil1 you let me call on you, then?"
''Why'-she hesitated. Her heart
fluttered; her white lids dropped under
his gaze. eff you wish"
81 do wish. Where do you live?"
She told him.
After the dance: Goodnight" he
said quietly, and he and his friend had
gone 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-comin' in and maxim fun
of everybody. But he was afraid to
scold her.
Sydney felt rather dazed She was
TREMENDOUSLY 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.
1t was a dingy old clearinghouse and
there was no parlor, only sort Of lit
tie alcove off the hall, where there
were two SWANS already waiting for
their ladies to descend.
Cant we go somewhere" whispered
Tremper, as he released her hand.
eff 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 & Eaton's, half fearful lest
this news should cool him. 1t didn't.
"And where do you work?" she in
quired.
He laughed a little oddly. "I'm
afraid I'm not much of a toiIer. I'm
pretending to lawyer little now"
ooh, you ought to work steady" she
melted him, not quite understanding.
He looked at her with a sort of rue
full tenderness. "Tm-I've been-an
awful muff."
A little time passed. Writ was for
gotten. Sydney could not stop to
think-until 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 like Sydney Chase? Not any
good probably. Much of this talk i'll
tered to the girls ears, and at first it
had not troubled her greatly. Unim-
aginative indeed must be the girl who
never dreams of 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, ever said to herself: AZ love
him and he loves me-" For the first
time, then, she really faced what that
kiss might mean. Tremper was a diff
ferent type altogether, from the men
she knew, and she had read far too
many novels not to understand that
men kiss and ride away. And that
kiss taught her afresh what it would
mean to her if Burton Tremper, too,
should ride away.
But women must work as we'll. as
weep these days, and morning found
her as usual leaving the car at Hatha-
way Eaton's corner. Tremper was
there before her, and for q moment
they looked at each other without
greeting, pausing on the edge of the
, sidewalk He was grave and pale.
Sydney" he began without preface.
: "1ast night-forgive me, won't you?
But I meant it. and more, too. Will
/ you marry me?"
She lifted her, eyes full Of wistful
f questioning to his, then lowered the
? white lids to mask their answering
} fire
! Her whisper was brief: Yes"
They stood silent, the careless, bust.