Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1913-12-29

t44tt On NHNi 70 SEE W. IA WIZ
iassor - soon again.
He leaned confidentially over the
counter
I'll tell you this trips unofficial. :
b. ned 4 Just ran down from
1 GraftuE beeause-wen, sort OF want
I ed 70 quare myself Miss Lacey You
\ sc. mad al me last trip. and / didn't
have a chance 10 put myself right
then You know n business we don't
think anythins of aa invitation 70 din
/ ner or lunch or
Naytalln's roses we're deepening.
and she looked disturbed.
Please, Mr. McCallg don't speak OF
It. J had forgotten she protested
But ! know What you thought
that I was too familiar TOO fresh
His frankness was embarrassing.
Well I'll apologize and tell you
wouldn't offend you for the world
Il bothered me-the way YOU took me
| up When I got as near as Grafton"
A long pause followed, and Miss
Lacey took the opportunity TO change
the subject They chatted awhile and
he turned 30 go Then. with his hand
on the door, he looked back
I'D like to know you've really for
given me- he said wistfully Now.
| If yoUll take dinner with me al the
hotel tonight"
Mr. Mccall, No. no, indeed"
Mayhelle was half laughing in spite
of her dignity; but she continued to
shake her head and her caller walked
away with an air of detection
Three months later Porter Mccall
came in again. He was on his reg
ular trip this time
Nothing wanted in your line an
nounced the little storekeeper. II
was early spring then. and she wore
becoming frills of white lace and a
knot of violet ribbon. Her glance was
quite friendly I've got the quarter
dozen vet Folks seem to be sur
prised at my having them; and one
old lady said | was too high-priced
So they're on the shelf yet guess
I'll keep them till Christmas and give
them away
He sat down and stayed over an
hour He seemed to have something
on his mind. and finally he spoke seri
ously.
you won't see me again in Wollas-
ton for while: ! don't know how
long. Seems to me it's time I was
on that social list of yours I've
known you some time now. and I've
thought of you lot. Miss Lacey,
if I should invite you to dinner
now"
She raised a warning hand.
"Oh, if you're not incorrigiblel" she
exclaimed, Why do you persist in
offering me a dinner Mr. McCal?"
III tell you. like you. Miss
Lacey, and want to get you away
from the store-from business: some
place where we can get better &C
quainted. Dinners lonesome affair
for me | faneied you sitting there
opposite me. and thought-well
maybe you'd rather 20 TO a show?
ID like to entertain you somehow be
fore ! go. It's my last chance"
What do you mean"
Her voice had sharpened. and she
fitted her head in startled way.
Why. it's just this way" he an
awered I'm going to give up tray
cling. and take charge of the Glover
bloom branch in Boston. So this is
my last trip"
Miss Lacey opened box mechan-
cally, and fumbled with the contents.
she looked across the counter, started
to speak. and hesitated. The man in
he chair sighed deeply as he watched
her
q understand You don't like me.
You won't GO
She leaned toward him and her
eyes met his, dark and misty.
1T isn't that" she said softly. Mr..
McCallA Wollaston is a small place:
and I am in position where I must
observe its least social law. | cannot
dine with you at the hotel; but
but" she appeared charmingly con-
fused, and he sprang from his chair
and came eagerly to the counter-'if
you are going to be here tomorrow
Sunday would like" her smile
was bewilderingly encouraging
would like to have you take dinner
with me. at my home"
AT your homei" He seemed amaz-
ingly overjoyed Why. real home
dinner-and with you Say, it'll beat
the feasts of Luculluss"
What else he would have said then
was checked by the appearance of a
customer-but Sunday was close at
hand
The next week wollaston learned
that Maybelle Lacey was ready 10 sell
out Bidders were Forthcoming. for
the little shop had been prosperous
and she's going away-going to
marry stranger" remarked femi-
nine Wollaston Why. he never
called to see her but once. The idea
of taking such a sudden notion after
all these years."
Indifferent to the various coniec.
lures and criticisms. the retired shop
keeper made her preparations happily
Her wedding day was only two weeks
away. A sparkling ring graced her
left hand Her fance's nearest rela-
ives had sent her affectionate mes
sages. Her trousseau was nearly com
nleted: it included three silk petit.
coats. one black. one white and one