El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-08-08
= One WOman's Story =
BY virginia Terhune Van de water
Continued from yesterday)

| Continued from yesterday
! III HE day following the evening on
| which Craig had taken her to the
opera seemed to Mary Danforth
| different from any other day she had
! ever passed She had heard much of
| dual personality but she had never
| before had the sensation of possess
! ing IN her own being two distinct per-
| sons One, the sensible cool headed
! working creature, went through the
/ usual routine Of daily duties The 9TH
| er-the true inner self-found time be-
! tween tasks requiring thought and
concentration to remember the events
Of last night; the look in Craig's eyes
the touch of his lips upon her hand
at parting. She no longer chided her
self for thinking of this man. She
knew now that she could not heIp
thinking Of him. She did not know
that she loved him, but she was sure
that he cared for her, and the knowl-
edge brought with it a new kind OF
happiness
The evening meal in the Danforth
home was served earlier than usual
today, and Mary ate it alone. 1t was
supper instead Of dinner. 1t was the
cooks evening out" so the waitress
prepared the repaSt Mr.. and Mrs Dan
forth were dining out with another ell
DERBY couple, and, as Mary was to re-
main at home, she had suggested that
Jennie, the waitress, serve a simple
early supper and then be allowed to
nave the evening to herself
Why should she stay at home when
her work is done just because it is not
ner regular day out?' she asked of
her mother. Girls of all classes like
recreation I know that I do
Her mother smiled acquiescence of
the suggestion. Certainly. dear" she
returned IF you don't mind having
your supper at 6 o'clock, there is no
reason why Jennie may not be allowed
the evening off,
Thus it came about that the sun
set was still shining through the living
room windows when Mary, her supper
over, sat in an easy chair, watching
the western glow across the river. She
was vaguely happy, too happy TO try
10 analyze her. feelings. She was not
lonely, for she had her work to do. yet
she felt Discrimination to begin il
Just yet She would wait until dark
ness made it advisable to turn on the
lights Meanwhile she would have this
quiet hour for thinking. She sighed
with content at the idea So en-
crossed was she in her thoughts that
she sprang to her feet with a gasp
when the telephone bell rang, and she
hurried to reply to its summon. The
boy at the switchboard downstairs an
nOunced:
M Craig's calling; please na'am."
Send him up" Mary ordered in a
voice that was a little unsteady In
spite of her efforts to make it firm.
Why should he be coming at this
early hour of the evening? And why
had he not informed her that he was
going to ca12 In the few moments
that elapsed before the ring at the
door told of the presence of her caller,
mary had time to congratulate herself
that she had put on before supper a
pretty tea gown Few women are so
absorbed in soul struggles or heart
warnings that they fail to consider
now they look when a guest arrives.
Ihls girl glanced hastily in the mir
ror as she went through the hall to
open the door for the young man,
who started in surprise at seeing her
instead Of the maid who usually ad-
mitted him
You expected to see Jennie. you
see me-" Mary laughed Then she hur-
ried on to explain the maids absence
and that her parents were also out
talking against time of trifling mat
tiers because of the consciousness that
the man was waiting for an opportu-
nifty to say something of Importance
But at last he spoke
7 am going west tonight" he an
nounced without preamble. "a tele-
gram from the firm calls me home.
There are some changes being made in 1
the office and I am wanted. I could
not go without telling you goodby.'
The girl felt the color recede from |
her face and, for a moment, the only /
words she could find were Going to- |
nightT She heard herself repeating |
them DULY, stupidity. She and Craig !
were standing. for he had told his news 4
as soon as he entered the living room. |
She looked away from him across the |
river at the hills on the Jersey shore. !
The glory seemed to have gone out of |
the sky.
Craig spoke again, this time more
softly. Mary" he said, laying his
hand on her clasped hands. 4 am
coming back soon If you will let me.
Can't you tell me that you are sorry
am. going now?'
She said nothing, but she cIasped
her hands together more closely in
an effort at self control, and, seeing
this, the man drew her to him with
a sudden gesture Of tenderness.
Dear" he said, Il love you very
dearly, Won't you try to love me lit
don't know" Mary whispered, but,
as she dropped her head upon his
saging herself from his encircling arm,
the man was almost satisfied.
Before Gordon Craig left q half
hour later, he had told Mary Dan
iorth that he would return for her
answer in June. He had explained
lis business would warrant his marry
ng but he wanted her permission to I
work and wait for her.
Z am coming back to see you grad
1ate. dear" he said with a whimsi-
al smile The firm wants me to
ome east once more before mid-sum-
ner. and I will try to make it the last !
week in June Then you will tell NE
What I want to knOw-WOn't you, | ,
Iary2"
He bent his head to catch her low
eply.
perhaps I will" murmured the !
-irI. But the look in her eyes as :
he raised them to his said more than :
Ter words. Y
(To be continued)