El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-07-30

] B-Cktu IN "A CIR OF n passing local.
She makes signs, but the man does
not understand. At the next stop
she aliGhts and meets the pick
| pockets victim. She explains her
| signs and lends him a quarter to
| return to his hotel. He tells her he
Is from Texas, and has letter of
introduction to her father. For
some reason she cannot explain
even to herself she fails to tell her
i parents OF the incident. Within
few days her father brings the
stranger home TO dinner
CHAPTER ".
" HE dinner passed off pleasantly.
! Mrs. Danforth was a dainty
hOusekeeper, and the appoint
ments of her apartment were
tasteful. Sometimes she would wonder
to her husband If he and she were too
! extravagant," but he would say that
there were only three persons in his
family and that they might as well en-
| joy his income as they went along.
Il am not rich" he would tell her.
but you, Mary and have had lots of
pleasure out of what I have"
The last time that he said this his
( manner had been less assured.
Living is so high" he had regret
ted. that I find it is about all 1 can
do to make both ends meet. Yet I have
been thinking lately that I will try
and save a little each month. 1t is.
perhaps, only fair to you and Mary
that I do this"
His wife regarded him anxiously
| Dear" she said, you look worried
Are you not weH?"
"Oh, yes he assured her hastily
I'm all right, except that my head
feels queer sometimes and that re-
minds me that I am getting along in
years and must think of the future
for you and our girl"
But tonight he evidently had no fore
bOding thoughts as, with a proud smile
he watched his only child as she chat
ted merrily and easily with their west
ern guest She acknowledged frank
" to Craig that she had always thought
Of Texas as out OF the world"
But it isn'tr he protested. San
Antonio, where I live, is a remarkable
city in many ways am sure you
would find the old town most interest
ing"
And, as she asked question after
question, he told her of his home city,
OF his people, of his occupations. He
explained that he had been IN busl-
ness but q little while
q was prepared for college" he said
but when I looked at the matter from
a cOmmOnsenSe standpoint, 1 appre-
ciated that my father had other sons
10 educate ana IndL II was somewhat
Of a shame for me to be an expense to
him any longer. So. although he shook
his head over it, I decided to go into
business Now he thinks that I dio
right, yet at times I almost wonder
If I ought not TO have taken a college
course"
7 am not going to college either"
said Mary 4 feel that it IS up to
me to stay at home now with dad and
mother"
yes" broke in Mr.. Danforth. q have
old-fashiOned notions about girls, and
want mine here with me instead of
going to college and out into the world
as men do Time enough for that when
am gone, say /"
Yes" agreed sweet-voiced Mrs. Dan
FORTH father and I are Old-faShiOned
We think it is nice for young girl
to stay with her parents until she goes
from them to her husband
\ Mary felt herself flush holly, and
she tried to cover the embarrassment
caused by her mothers speech
As may never marry, you may have
me ialwaysi' she exclaimed teasingIy.
She vas relieved that at this juncture
her mother made the move to leave
the table, disappearing in the direction
of the( kitchen where she must give
some orders for tOmorrow's breakfast
Mr.. Danfprth retreated toward the
back of uhe apartment to Telephone
q man." sO\the young couple were left
together in Nthe drawingroom As soon
as they weEe alone, craig turned to
please let Ngne take this opportunity
OF giving you this quarter" he said has
tily. Il thank you for your kindness
in lending it tonne"
He held out the coin and she took If
simply and as a matter of course. Craig |
admired once more the freedom from
such foolish diffidence as would have
made the ineidentl embarrassing for !
Thank you" she said. 81 am glad
L happened to be able to help you even |
a quarters worth" She laughed as I
the hqmor OF the situation appealed to /
her Then she queriep gravely:
Was there much money in the purse !
that man stole from your
Luckily, no." Craig replied st have |
not so much money that I can allow
myself to carry much OF it about wifi, /
me, so the chap was only ten dollars 4
better off because Of yesterdays exper-
ience;1 He hesitated, then hurried on
lmpulsively. Forgive me, II I say.
however, that am many times richer I
because Of that occurrenceA-for~t that is
how 1 met youi"
You would have met me anyhow"
Mary reminded him, with affected in
difference, for dad would have brought
you up tonight"
Perhaps not" he said gently. for
mad not met you I might not have
been In such a hurry to present nv
letter of Introduction to him"
DO you playE she asked abruptly
TO spare herself the necessity Of a re-
spoke.
No" he answered, "but love music,
and 1 am sure you play"
Indeed she does" her father ex
claimed heartily from the doorway. At
the unexpected sound of his voice Mary
started nervOusly, and the quarter she
PAD forgotten she was holding Slip
ped from her fingers and fell to the
floor rolling, after the manner of coins.
across the polished surface and settling
In front of Mrs. Danforth. who was
Just entering the room with her hus-
band The elderly lady stopped and
picked it up before either of the men
could reach it
This must be yours she said, hold
ing 1t out to Craig
1t is Miss Danforth's" he said. but
oeIore Mary could summon her wits
decision.
Why, no. she objected. at can't
De- What would Mary be doing carry
ne, money about with her when she is
II nome and wearing an evening dress
with no pocket to keep anything inw ]
Ihere was a moments silence, and
cratg glanced at Mary.
think" said the girl slowly. but