Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-11
One Woman S
Story
By Virginia T. Van De Water

case like this il was the girl, not
the man, who should first mention the
matter.
He had presented to Mr.. Danforth
the letter Of introduction from his
frm-uOt only with the hope Of Sc
curing an order. but il must be con-
fessed, with an equally keen hope Of
again meeting his acquaintance Of
the subway train. How this was TO
be accomplished he did not know. He
could hardly ask a man many years
older than he 10 allow him to know
him In a social way, and, unless he
did meet Mr.. Danforth socially. how
should he have an opportunity of any
closer intercourse with Mr.. Danforth's
daughter?
He decided to leave this on the
knees Of the gods and 10 give his
whole thought to the business upon
which his employers had sent him to
New York. Therefore, putting Mary
from his mind for the time, he talked
business so well that the girls IA
Their was impressed by his earuestness
and his direct manner, and, after
promising TO give him an order,
turned the conversation to the young
mans home affairs. He soon learned
that he was from Texas, that this
was his first visit to New York. and
that he had no friends in the great
city.
"See here, Mr.. Craig" suddenly
suggested the hospitable New York
err, III you have no engagement for
this evening, suppose you come up
and dine with my wife and daughter.
know they would be glad to know
you"
Mr. nanforth was surprised at the
CLEAN of pleasure that illumined the
good looking face Of the young man
before him, but he liked him the bet
ter for his evident appreciation Of
the compliment implied in the invi-
tation from a man old enough to be
his father
THANK you, sir!" was the delight
ed rejoinder 81 will be mighty glad
to comet"
Craig remembered with a sensation
Of relief that he had brought a dress
suit to New York with him, having
been advised to do this by the senior
member of his firm. You never know
what you will run up against in New
York" his employer had said, and II
some big business bug should ask you
to dine you would want to look your
best"
While Mr.. Danforth was not what
the Westerner considered "a big bust
ness bug" the young man certainly
did want to look his best-for rea-
sons Of his own. These thoughts ran
through his brain while his prOspec-
| tive host was saying.
Come back here a little after 6
| o'clock and we will go uptown tOgcth-
er. I shall be detained here later than
usual this afternoon, as have some
important letters to get off. But you
. Ia. 4.IH 4 a
! Indeed l Will sir" the happy Tex
an assured him
Thus II came about that Gordon
! Craig and Mary Danforth met OR
the second time. The girl had be-
| slowed more care than usual on her
| toilet this evening. donning her pref
test little dinner gown, a simple pale
blue affair that showed her fair neck
and shoulders and intensified the hlIe
Of her eyes and the auburn tnts IN
her hair Her suppressed excitement
| brought a vivid color to her cheeks.
Gordon Craig had thought hCr a pref
| ty girl when he met her on the train,
/ but he had had only time to take in
| the general effect of her appearance.
| She had been tired and wan then, AMI
| her hat had cast "a shadow over the
upper part of her face, He was, there
/ fore, unprepared for the very attrac-
] tive vision that met his gaze when.
/ responding to her fathers call Of
/ Mary. child, where are you? | have
a guest here l want YOU to meet" she
came into the drawing room. Ter
ewes looked straight into those of the
! tall Texan, and a deeper flush came tt
/ her cheeks. As her father said, MARY
| this is Mr.. Craig. of Texas" she held
out her hand with a frank smile.
Mr. Craig" she said, softly. Il am
happy to meet you
There was no suggestion In her
voice and manner of any former en-
counter with the stranger, and he
thrilled with admiration Of her poist
and self possession. He had hcari
that New York women were mis-
tresses of all situations. and he could
believe this as he looked at the youns
girl.
1T is nice Of you" she was saying
TO come and dine with US tonight
| when there are So many interesting
things in New York for visitors I,
see"
ION the contrary" he said. as h
bent over her hand. 1T is Mr.. Dan
forth who is kind to give me the OPP
poutunity of meeting the members D
his family i'm his delightful home.
He turned with a bright smile to Mrs
Danforth, with whJm he had beer
] GuAlIlnk
You don't know" he said, what ,
means to a fellow far away frou
home and friends to receive such
cordial welcome as this from peoob
} he had not even met "a hours ago
Then, as his eyes met Mary's, sh
saw in them a twinkle of amusement
and remembered that "a hours ago h
! had already met one member Of tn
family. and that member was her
self. Somehow. this knowledge, pos
sessed only by these two, made kin,
of bond between them, and she fel
that Craig and she We're almos
: friends already She had many friend
lamong young men-in fact, was rath
er popular with the youths in her Sc
for she was pretty and vivactouS
) But she had the reputation OF beins
rather cold and distant. Boys bore,
her at times and, when they becam,
, sentimental they almost disguise,
her. a fact that other girls more ro
mantle and impressionable than she
could not understand. But she wa!
aware now that she found this West
erner distinctly interesting. He wa!
entirely unlike the young men VIII,
talked trivialties with her-thinNn!
that was the sort Of thing that a gir
IHked-and much more interesting
than the old men, who she felt, re-
garded her as an uninteresting youn'
} thing