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


10 her father the encounter OF the
day before. He was one Of the men
who know how 10 keep their own
counsel, and he appreciated that in
a case like this it was the girl, not
the man, who should first mention the
matter.
He had presented to Mr.. Danforth
the letter Of introduction from his
tirm-not only with the hope Of Sc
curing an order, but, it 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 to 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.. Danforths
daughter?
He decided to leave this on the
knees of the gods and to 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 earnestness
! 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
er. "if 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.. Danforth 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 man old enough to be
his father.
Thank you, sir" was the delight
ed rejoinder Il will be mighty glad
/ to comet"
Craig remembered with a sensation
of relief that he mad 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 i'm New
/ York" his employer had said, and II
to dine you would want to look your
best"
While Mr.. Danforth was not what
the WesterneT 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
II. IL a.
err I shall be detained here later than
usual this afternoon, az | have some
important letters to get off But you
be back by $50"
Indeed l will, sir" the happy Tex
an assured him,
Thus It came about that Gordon
Craig and Mary Danforth met flr
the second time. The girl had be-
slowed more care than usual on her
toilet this evening, DOMINIC her pref
tiest little dinner gown, a simple pale
blue affair that showed her fair neck
and shoulders and intensified the blue
of her eyes and the auburn tiuts IN
her hair. Her suppressed eXcitemen.
brought a vivid color to her cheeks.
Gordon Craig had thought her "a pref
~ girl when he met her on the train,
but he had had only time to take in
| the general effect of her appearance.
Q
her hat had castsa shadow over thu
upper part of her face. He was there
fore, unprepared for the very attrac-
tive vision that met his gaze when,
res ponding to her fathers call of
Mary. child, where are you? | have
a guest here | want you to meet she
came into the drawing room. II r
eyes looked straight into those of the
tall Texan, and a deeper fiush came >
her cheeks. AS her father said, Mary,
this is Mr.. Craig, of Texas she held
out her hand with frank smile.
Mr.. Craig" she said, softly, Il am
happy to meet you"
There was no suggestion I'm her
voice and manner Of any former en-
counter with the stranger and he
thrilled with admiration OF her poise
and self-possession, He had heard
that New York women were mis-
tresseS of all situations, and he could
believe this as he looked ct the youns
girl.
1T is nice of you" she was saying
ito come and dine with us tonight
when there are so many interesting
things in New York for visitors 10
see"
"On the contrary" he said, as he
bent over her hand 1T is Mr. Dam
forth who is kind to give me the OPP
portunity Of meeting the members IF
/ his family in his delightful home
He turned with a bright smile 20 Mrs,
Danforth, with whom he had been
chatting before Mary's entrance
You don't know he said. what II
means to a fellow far away from
home and friends to receive such a
: cordial welcome as this from people
he had not even met "A hours ago.
Then, as his eyes met Mary's, she
saw in them a twinkle of amusement,
and remembered that "a hours ago he
| had already met one member Of the
, family. and that member was her.
self somehow. this knowledge pos
, sessed only by these two, made kind
Of bond between them, and she felt
/ that Craig and she We're almost
! friends already. She had many friends
among young men-in fact, was rath-
err popular with the youths in her set
for she was pretty and vivacious.
5 But she had the reputation OF being
rather cold and distant. Boys bored
her at times, and, when they became
: sentimental they almost disguised
her a fact that other girls, more ro-
mantle and impressionable than she.
could not understand, But she was
aware now that she found this West
erner distinctly interesting. He was
} entirely unlike the young men who
talked triVi9ltieS with her-thinking