The Clovis news. [volume] (Clovis, N.M.) 1907-1929, 1913-06-12
cHAPrER vll-fcontInuedl.

II am alone In the crowd, too" he
reioined. IF / thought Floyd would
not object. or feel that I took advan-
tage Of his absence. I should ask II
you would do me so much honor as
to 60 to the theater with me. this
evening"
Her gray eyes widened. the color
flushed through her transparent skin.
Suddenly and wildly Stanton was re-
minded Of Floyd's face on the first
night when he invited the mechani-
clan to rae with him for the eason
you are asking mel" she doubted
Il would like to do so. But not II
you think Floyd would refuse to let
me, If he were here. He can't have
much Of an opinion Of me-"
4 wish might tell you what Jes
thinks Of you" she made grave an
swer. 4 an quite sure that he would
let me go with you, Mr., Stanton; yen
are very good and / thank o from
the bottom of my heart"
The little old Irishwoman in black
silk opened the door for him, beam
ing and smiling. Amazed at himself.
bewildered by a sense OF having seen
Floyd and yet o seen him, Stanton
went down into the practical city
street.
He spent two hours in selecting an
irreproachable play and theater; a
task OF some dellcacy in this his ma
tive town. After which, be ate a per
funct6ry dinner and went home to
dress Stanton, whose overbearing
willfulness spared no one, whose
rough tongue hurt his m%echanician as
often as they met, would no more
have taken Fioyd's sister to zine with
him in a public restaurant without
Floyd's permission. than he would
have stolen his purse.
It was a dazzling Jessica whom he
found waiting for him, 1t the appoint
ed hour. Yet she was simply gowned
10 delicate gray, with a demure lace
collar that came up to her round chin.
and long lace sleeves. II was her
vivid. expressive face; the bronze
curls massed under the wide gray
hat. the splendid glow and young vi
tally Of her. that made people look
and look again. Stanton approved Of
her unreservedly; he had fixed mas
cuiine notions Of what women should
wear IN public places
On her left arm. over the t~ranspar.
emit sleeve. she wore an antique silver
bracelet fully four inches IN breadth;
q singular ornament. set with duil tur-
quoise matrlx. When Stanton assist-
ed her to remove her cloak, at the
theater, she suddenly WINGED.
THE b~racelet-it caught my arm.
she explained. before he could cues
ton. ut is too heavy. really, to
wear"
But nevertheless she did not -e
II of. and several times through
evening touched her glove6 Rnt-.
the silver band as n to assure her.
self that II was Ia place. A souvenir.
perhaps. Stanton idly reflected He
was too much interested In the wear
er to pay heed TO the bracelet. Except
for the hours passed with Floyd. he
had never experienced anything IKE
this satisfying eompanionship.
The performance had ended. ana
Stanton was carefully plotting hls
charge through the slow-movlng mass
Of people, when he heard his own
name exclaimed. He glanced round
and saw Valerie Carlisle comlur
down the stairs from the boxes. her
large. amber eyes fixed upon him
Under the strong light. IN her elab
crate pa'e-green gown, her shoulders
bare and showing s~alin-white where
her cloak had slipped back. her blohas
hair circled with a wreath Of Green
enameied and ieweled leaves. she was
conspicuous enough 10 draw ire
chances of an those passing. az wen
as that Of the man she called Stan.
ton bowed and would have continued
on his way but she called q second
time. eddine a. gesture Of summons
"Mr. stant0nI