Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1913-05-15
WEEKLY
Short Story


Tired. dirty in his mechanics
clethes, jim Foster swung out OF the
shops Just ia tune TO meet the chat J.
tsrsng OF downtown closing time. lie
would nos have minced that--but be
almost ran into Ellie. who was listen
lux so intently TO a dapper young
follow bending over her that she did
not ace Jim az all. IL was better not
TO be, seen by this pretty thing with
her oig, tired eyes and delicate air.
Jlm burned to look after them lie
kncv contempguously that ne made
ia a Gay nearly as much as such tel
lows did ln a week Why didn't they
hunt a man-size job7 And what could
a girl see In. say. the specimen Ellie
now walked with. 1t was a cheap
theater, a cheaper dance. lunch now
and then as a treat--but what society!
And. al the end, what did the girl
Eet7 She only cheapened herself.
wased her time. This fellow, Perry
Benson. could never make her home
probably Il hadn't entered mis- head
that she needed one. nor that any
able-bodied man should support at
least one other than himself
This latter idea was part OF Jim's
gospel life. Now, as he swung along
toward the little houSe In the sub
urbs, & house that void be has own
with a few more installments, he took
81 his cap and let the May wind blow
through his heavy hair. The wind
felt good on his face, and he liked
the children running in the streets
al be got further out from the center
OF the city. and boys playing baseball
aud old ladies lettering back from
belated calls. He liked the edge OF
town. That was why he had bought
there--lt was bit disorderly and run
Gown In places, but on vacant lots
trim little buildings were going up
His own cottage was nade-oYer one
AS be unlocked and entered his
own little back door and washed pre-
paratory TO lighting the little gasoline
stove and getting his own supper II
seemed for the once rather dreary
Heretofore IL had been a bit like
camping. He hadn't minded getting
breakfast and supper when he bough
a good MONDAY meal down town
The home cooking had been a TEN
porary sort of thing-a make shift
He had planned TO have a wife Z
have thirgs CHEEKY and ready for hin
some day.
He heated a can OF beans and mad
some coffee and cut the bakers brea'
and tried not TO see Ellie's face II
the purely imaginary chair opposit
him. He had never intended choos
ing her, anyhow. Her face just sor
Of put itself there from the thine
few months ago when he had gon
into Bascom's linen department [
buy some towels. She had sold Their
to him and her fragility and sweet
ness and certain reserve and grayit
made him remember her. He Ia
found himself buying other thing
from her a few days later. He mus
have been in dozen times-aiway
for some trifle which he put ava
and called himself a fool for gettiDi
Now his supper was without fiavo
as he recalled that a month ago !
had met her on the street one ever
ing and had asked leave to walk BAG
with her. She shrank and starte
and ne had some ado 20 prove 20 h'
that he meant no harm. OF cours
ne should have found some one
introduce him-he had known tina
His speaking 10 her was not efron
cry out friendliness Finally, recoi
nizing him, she let him come and VI
very frank and pleasant, but she vi
disinclined TO let him come agai
He liked her for that. Working cir
were not always so careful how tn
made acquaintances.
But this is not what took the flaw
from his picked-up meal. After ID
meeting with her he had found
friend who had known hcr-lt was
chance, TOO. OF n sor- which he hate
He never went TO tths Dream-(
dances bas Bob Merrill fairy BULL