El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-08-16

afternoon just two years after
her first meeting with Gordon Craig,
she found the sad thoughts that had
been with her so long slipping away.
She was sure that her lover was
thinking of her and that On this
anniversary she o receive happy
news of him. She almost believed in
premonitiOns, and h remembered
with a slight shudder. how once a pre-
monition she had had about her father
had been the ~fOrerunner of his death
not long after Why might not one
also have a premonition of joyous hap
penings2
As She left the train at Eighty-first
street a voice said close to her, why,
Mary Danforthi How do you do2
Turning with a start she found her
self face to face with a former school
mite of whom she had seen nothing for
two years.
the girl after greetings had been ex-
Il go westward" replied Mary
ooh, too bad, for I go to Central park
west. We are living in the same old
place, you know. where you used to
come and see US You never come
NO" acknowledged Mary. 81 have
little time I am working downtown"
wei, 1 want to talk to you a bit"
said Elizabeth Preston. who had al
ways liked Mary when the DanfOrths
" = 01EE0SS 80 "1-
with me toward my home, OF let me
walk with you towards yours. Which
shall it beg"
Il will go with you" replied Mary
quickly. h felt a reluctance-Of
which she was ashamed-tO have this
p~atrOniizng acquaintance of former
days see the house in which b now
lived.
1T must be fine TO be working for
ones self" said Miss Preston as the
two girls sauntered along E~ighty-first
street toward Central park "Of
course, I have nj excuse for doing
that kind of thing. for my father has
a plenty of money, and I am the only
daughter left at home. But sometimes
I get a little tired of ease and luxury
and long to be independent"
Mary tried to smile. He jests at
scars who never felt a wound" she
quoted. Perhaps if you had to work,
you YOU find what seems indepen-
dence to you now something like slav-
She regretted the words as soon as
she had spoken them. for her COM
panion turned upon her a look of pity;
"Oh do you have to work as hard
as that2" she exclaimed. I supposed
that you only went into business at
ter your father died so that you would
not be entirely dependent upon your
mother. Surely you father left her
comfortably provided for. did he nOt?'
For a momen Mary did not answer.
She wondered if Elizabeth Preston was
really I6LOLdAL VI OO4AulLAUAA1r VI Il six
was pretending not to know how mat
tiers stood. In either case. to tell her
the truth was the best thing. But II
was with an effort that the weary girl
spoke.
my father left all he had to my
mother. But he was unfortunate in
business just before he-he-died. You
are right in thinking I would not be
dependent upon my mother. But she
has not the means to support US both
even if I were willing to have her do
oh" cooed Miss Preston, you poor
child I am so sorry for youi"
Thank you, but you need not pity
me at all" retOrted Mary testify. 7 am
lot an object of pity. I have a position
which I shall keep as long as I wish,
which will not be long now"
Her temper was getting the better
of her discretion. but Elizabeth Pres
tons patronage was ~unbearable to her.
She determined to say no more, but
her companions next speech swept
her barriers of reserve
1T is very fine of you to lake that
brave tone about it, Mary" the rich
girl remarked. but your trouble has
told on you. You are looking 10 years
older than when you left school. I won
der If my father might not be able to
get you an easier situation than you
have now"
Il shall not hold any position much
longer" said Mary. voice hard and eye
glittering- u expect soon to change
my entire mode OF life
The other girl eyed her shrewdly. 7
suspect" she said in a one that was
meant to be playful, that you are go
ing to get married, my dear"
Mary shrugged her shoulders
Here we are at Eighth avenue. and
I must turn back home. Goodbye"
As she retraced her steps. indigna-
ton gave place to joyous anticipation.
How strangely happy she was this eve
ningi h remembered that Fletcher
was going to call, and a sudden sense
Of distaste at the prospect of seeing
him at this time seized her. She wOuId
not let him come Stepping into a
hotel on the corner of Eighty-frst
street, she called up Pearson's office.
When she had left the office Fletcher
had been there with her employer, and
the two a been smoking so COM
fortably that he might possibly be
there still n was not mistaken. and
when Pearson answered the telephone
she asked for MI Fletcher. As briefly
as possible. h suggested to her
would-be caller that she would prefer
seeing him on some other evening. He
submitted regretfully but meekly. and
she congratulated herself upon this re-
As the girl walked along Eighty
fourth street to her home the glow
in the western sky seemed to her ex-
cited imagination like a symbol or
prophecy of happiness ahead of her.
Surely there would be a letter await
ing her! After all, what did Elizabeth
Preston's chatter matter when ones
heart was so full of peace? Even the
sordid block on which she lived seemed
less dingy n dirty than usual at this
sunset hour. She pushed her way
through the groups of janitors' n
tenants children playing on the front
steps of the house in which she lived.
and. hurrying into the vestibuIe. peered
into the letter box bearing her name.
Yes. there was the envelope with
Craig's handwriting on it. She knew
it would be herei with eager fingers
she unlocked the letter box and drew
forth her treasure. She could not wait
until she got upstairs. The sight of the
handwriting was like a draught of wa
ter to a thirsty soul. Tearing open the
envelope, she pulled out the single
sheet md Rad If hr TIA dfn ILL., 80