The Press., 1913-07-23

nance toward hIm-tRe Face or per feet stranger!
 "I-beg-your-p -pardonp vociferated Jack humbly. 'I really thought it was somebody else. Will you permit me to assist you"
 "No: thank you," she said Jelly. "You look like a gentleman" she added cut tingly.
 Jack placed his hat on his head and damned 1t down. "Of course I'll go if you want me to- he said, "only as l am responsible for your being down there should like to be assured that you are not injured. Permit me to re- peat my apologies"
 He went on down the corridor, call ing himself all sorts of names for his asinine behavior He heard sliding. slipping sound and an exclamation of pain and hastened back to where the girl sat on the floor. Her face was quite pale now. .-...#u "s. -
 "I believe twisted my ankle when went down." she murmureu. ....
 Without a word Jack leaned over and lifted her to her feet. She sway ed and leaned against him.
 'SThis is dreadful! It's the right foot. If you can assist me downstairs I'll take car home."
 .STake a cab you mean," corrected Jack in a repressed tone. 'I wish there were words enough to tell you how badly 1 feel about this." He slipped his walking stick into her hand, and, supporting her on the other side, they reached the elevator and went down to the lower floor.
 Accidents will happen" said the girl, with a faint smile. "I suppose anybody would say 1t was the fault of my high heeled shoes"
 Jack DeIafieId looked down at the sweet face so near his arm and mar yelled at the fneness of her dear skin, the soft brown of her eyes, 1th their sweeping dark lashes; the mist of black hair against her white forehead. She was the loveliest girl he had ever seen, and Laura Hazen's mere prettl- ness seemed artificial by comparison. He beckoned a taxicab and placed her inside. Fl hope you will permit me to inquire after the injured foot. I feel in a great measure responsible for the accident" he said, with an anxious frown knitting his handsome brow. You see. l thought l recOg- nized the hat and believed 1t belong ed to Miss Hagen. That is my only excuse for addressing you" He spoke pleadingly and did not understand the laughter that came into her eyes and the pink flush that returned to her cheek. .....
 '"The hat did belong to Laura Ha- gen." she laughed. 'SO did the gown. So you cannot be blamed for recogniz- ing them. can you? Laura Hagen Is my cousin, and-well, Pm the country cousin, you see. and Laura is perfectly dear about giving me things to wear. and as 1 live in a little country town nobody knows that my clothes are not new ones."
 Jack Delafield was assailed with a multitude of strange emotions. That this girl to whom he felt strangely at tracted should be Laura HaZen's cOus in was merely another one of those complications that life is always pre-
 
 more of this girl, would her relation ship to his former sweetheart make my difference? Would 1t make any | difference to Laura-to the girl her self? But he was not sorry he had me her.
 "You wish to go to the HazensT' H. leaned forward.
 | "YnS DlpnSp'
 "I may call and inquire after the in jury?'' he asked.
 Certainly" she said cordially. "1 is much better already"
 He stepped back. lifted his hat ant watched her depart with little sink ing at the heart. This feeling was diff ferent from any he had ever experi enced before. He told himself that his engagement to Laura Hagen had beer a mere farce. Why, they had quarrel ed every time they met, and their en gagement had merely been the outcome of desperate filtration. This was very different So he assured himself while he waited for the return of the taxi cab. He paid the man, dismissed hin and then went to his club for dinner. After dinner he was chagrined to dis cover that he could not send a box O1 roses to the girl he had met in the cor ridOr because he didn't even know hel name. As a matter of fact he found himself thinking entirely too much O1 his new acquaintance. The next day as the time drew near when he migh | call at the Hagen home and make in | quiry for the sprained foot he was ] filled with sense of unfulhlled obliga ton toward Laura Hagen.