El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-09-16

z TIRGINIA did not meet Mr.. STAFF
| " ford again for several days. In
| portant business had called him
out of town. 1t seemed ike years to the
| little telephone girl. Would she ever
/ see him again? And if not, why
should it make any difference? Where
in did he differ from any of the other
J men with whom her work at the no
| tel had thrown her in contact? Could
/ it be possible that she really cared:
/ Had this man of wealth, this man OF
! big business and club life, any par
| ticular attraction to her? Why did he
| stare at her so. and why did she wish
/ to see him again2
| All these and many more questions
| presented themselves to Virginia one
| afternoon, as she was trying TO get
| a line through to Chicago
Had any trouble with long dis
! lance lately?"
| Virginia looked. up, startled. It
was Robert Stafford.
For a moment the girl was at
| loss to find an answer. He had re-
: turned to New York And how hand
! some he looked as he stood there be-
! fore her.
Not more than USUAL she smiled.
| Not even with Philadelphia"
mo. not even Philadelphia 1t seems
| that I have trouble with the line
| west mostly"
Stafford looked at her for a full
minute without speaking. He couldn't
4 help admiring those large, black eyes,
the finest arched eyebrows, the del
icatly cut lips. Then he put in
! call TO Washington, and, with the re-
quest that she connect the party with
his apartments, he withdrew. smiling.
In a few moments Virginia re-
ceived a reuest to come TO Stafford's
! rooms for more dictatiOn. Upon reach
ing the door she hesitated. What could
be the matter with her hearth It
was fluttering, for a moment she felt
she could not enter. There was an
indefinable something that made her
at once happy and afraid
She knocked softly.
Come in"
Il beg your pardon, Miss Blaine.
should have come to the door, but I
thought it was the beIlboy-'
As Virginia stood on the threshold,
it seemed to her more than the en-
trance to his rooms She fancied she
was entering a new life, and yet she
couldn't tell just why. the feeling
came over her.
He paid little attention to her dur
ing the several hours Of dictation, be-
ing wholly absorbed in his work, and
despite her protests, insisted on tel
ephoning downstairs for some re-
freshments. When these were brought
to them daintily served, and the
n a
chair and asked her to serve. You
must be the hostess he said laugh
ingly.
With business out of the way, Stat
ford's nature seemed to undergo
complete change. In place of the man
of the world, the business magnate,
Virginia saw a polished man enter
tanning a social equal She accepted
the hospitality graciously, without
! any false modesty, and before long
found herself laughing and chatting
with him on terms of delightful in
timacy.
Didn't you tell me that your sis
ter Fanny was going to be marriedT'
Stafford asked
Virginia laughed a low musical
laugh. which seemed to charm him.
Yes" she said. that's true. They
are to be married next month And
then she explained: Il shall miss my
sister terribly, but I will try to bear
it, if she is happy I feel sure they'll
be very happy. Theirs is marriage
DO you believe in lover" he asked
seriously.
Virginia looked steadily at him.
'Of course I do" And she raised her
teaeup to hide the blush
What kind Of love-" he persisted
real love?"
Virginia opened her eyes wide with
stammered, don't you think there is
such a thing?"
"of course I do" he laughed hearth
ly amused at her surprise But I
don't think it is what the sentimental
girl feels for the college football
player. To my way Of thinking love
is not mere admiration It's a slow
steady growth and the soil in which
II grows best is respect Real re-
spect both for ourselves and for the
marriage VOW
Why had he said this to her7 The
Slrl could not understand. Her nerv-
business betrayed her thoughts, and
Stafford, quick to relieve her Of the
little embarrassment, asked.
: VINO is the man that your sister
was James Gilley. and that he was
a shipping clerk and worked for s14
a week.
stafford stared in arnazement. With
an lncredulous smile he exclaimed:
only earning S14 a week and he
10 marry him?"
And you he said, you are to be
IeII quite alone in the world?"
ne knew that she had lost her
mother Neither spoke
A rap on the door interrupted the
pause The waiter had come for the
uisnes, and both Stafford and Vir-
E SniL collected the pretty pieces OF |
China for him.
MI Stafford, I must be going. You |
will want these letters the first thing |
IN the morning"
virginia felt that she must make I
some move to break the spell of I
cnarm that seemed to keep her in his /
presence.
Very well" smiled Stafford. wen. !
consider business over for the day. !
out tomorrow-tomOrrow I'll have a !
IlttIe surprise for you. Please say
you will do what I ask-tomorrow.'
What will it be?"
1t in time
He reached out his hand.
Good afternoon" she said.
NO Miss Blaine. just au revoir."