The Washington herald., 1913-11-28
DAILY SHORT STORY

/ but Jane was raging. Then she cried.
She threw herself upon the bed in the
midst OF the finery and sobbed. He
won't take me, He won't take me! He
is in love with that girl!'
Outside It was dark and the clock
pointed to 6. Then she remembered the
stockings 'T don't care II she never
gets them now. Let her wear her old
dress
She could not go to dinner looking as
she did, nor did she want any. She
told her mother in the dim light of her
room that she had a headache and would
take only a cup Of tea.
Her mother being one Of those COM
Portable people who pat you, and stroke
your hair, and call you "dearie," and do
not ask questions. suggested a walk in
the cool air after she had had her tea.
1T will freshen you up, dearie, and chase
the headache am sure The house is
like a furnace anyway"
Jane kissed her mother. and drank her
tea. Then. resolving 10 "freshen up so
Tom would not guess that her heart was
broken, she slipped on her storm coat
Then, noticing the green stockings, she
tied them up, scribbled a name on the
package and stuck it in her pocket
Whats the difference IL she does FIX
up now? 1t all seems to be over but the
shouting. Tom will never know / care
There-I can hand these things to
maid at the door. i can pull down my
Veil and no one will know. the differ
ence."
Jane crossed the park to the big house
at the corner. Through the glass doors
she could see into the hall, lighted with
orange-shaded lamps Next the door
was a polished Washington table and
mirror. No one answered her ring The
hall was empty. and one of the doors
| stood slightly ajar. 1t was but a step
to the table; the package was in her
hand. She would lay 1t right under the
light, name side up. and be out in an
| instant. Impulsive!y she pushed open
the door and laid the package on the
! table, then turned to go, when she heard
voices very close to her inside the draw
ing room door. Beside her heavy Dor
there's hung over the library doors. Quick
as thought she hid.
No one came into the hall, but Toms
voice. low and tender, was telling some
one how he loved her. Jane felt sick
and dizzy. Why-oh, why had she come?
She leaned weakly against the closed
door behind her. praying that she would
not faint To be found there In Toms
house, hiding behind a curtain, listen
ing to him, She braced herself against
the door to keep from falling. Suddenly
the door swung in and she with II. She
almost fell into the room.
With one swift. Mortified glance she
decided that the room was empty The
log fire had burned low and the only
light was a green reading lamp which
left the greater part of the room in
shadow. Then Jane neard a sigh. She
shrank back against the wall Then the
s.gh came again and someone stirred on
the big davenport beside her. Was she
losing her senses What did II all mean?
Tom was lying there fast asleep
Then she turned and fed and did not
stop until she reached her own room at
home. The telephone was ringing. She
dropped breathlessly into a chair and
took down the receiver. It was Tom
very wide awake now.
rs that you. Jane?'
Yes"
I'm late calling you up. but I fell
asleep in the library after dinner and
just woke up. Had the funniest dream.
too. I thought you were standing be-
side me watching me- I woke up i'm
mediately, but you were gone"
How funny
yes, wasn't it. Well, grille. Gerald
got home in time after all to take Laura
to the dance and I'm mighty glad. She's
a fine girl, but I'm getting tired OF play
ing proxy for him and shooing on the
other fellows They hadn't quite settled
it before she came and he thought some
one might cut him out But think they
have settled it tonight, judging from the
way Gerald Is beaming"
How NICE" James heart was pound
ing. So it was Gerald whose voice was
so much like Toms.
But bother the other folks, Jane dear.
missed you so all week. Can't you slip
into your party toes right away? 1 can
be over In a jiffy and I want-I have
something to tell you-no, to ask you'll
mean I have something to give you II
you'll have 1t, dear. But there-I can't
talk about it over the phone, and I'm
losing time. I am dying to see you. May
I come early?"
''Yes. do hurry, Tom dear"