El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-08-21
= One WOman's Story =
By Virginia Terhune Van de Water
CHAPTER XIII.
\ AFTER Years, Mary Danfol

/ was as If she stood at a point where
| she turned her back upon her youth,
her fancies, her hopes, and deliberately
. faced a grim something of which she
! knew nothing. IN which ulrked a duty
/ she could not escape duty to her
/ mother. Yet back of the thought OF her
mother there was another impulse, one
! that drove her on to take bHndly step
/ which she would not pause to consider.
/ That impulse was born OF wounded pride
( and OF heartache such as she had never
before felt, and which even now she
would not anaIyze. and as she stood,
swayed by these emotions, she heard
Bert Fletcher's heavy footballs coming
slowly into her life.
COnTentiOnality and self-eontrol are
| wonderful forces. They enabled this
fragile girl to face her caller calmly as
he reached the top stair and turned to-
ward her. He did not take off ms hat
until he had shaken hands with her.
why. good evening, Miss DanfOrth!"
he said, holding out his large hand and
grasping her slender fingers IN a grip
that almost made her Vince.
Good evening" she returned in we'll
mOdulated tones. Come right in, won't
you? VIII you hang your coat and hat
there on the rack?'
He had removed his hat as he came
into the apartment, and now wriggled
out OF a tan overcOat, evidently entirely
new, as Mary noticed. She also observed
that his vivid tie had never been worn
before. His light suit made his large
figure appear more rotund than usual,
and, as he talked, he pulled off a pair
OF yellow gloves. Mary remembered SUI
denly that HoweIIs nad said that Silas
Laphams hands IN evening gloves
looked like hams. She also remembered
that her caller had probably never heard
OF HOwells, or of any authors with
whom she was familiar. What could
he and she talk about this evening?
What could they have IN common! And,
as she asked herself this question, she
was observing every detail OF this mans
flashy person, his rather oily auburn
hair, the heavy mustache several shades
darker than his hair. his small gray eyes,
pink and white complexion and 1un.
consider him handsome. He had a kind
face, and she wanted some one to be
kind to her.
sit down. won't your" she said.
She tried not TO notice that he dropped
into a chair without waiting until she
herself was seated. What did such
trifles matter?
4 got your telegram Just after I
reached home" Fletcher said, "and I
came as soon as I'd my supper. 1t was
good OF YOU to let me come tonight after
all. was awfully disappointed when
L got that teleDhOne message down at
the office saying 1 couldn't call, so your
telegram was real cheering"
Il found out that L would be olsen
gagged this evening" she explained, her
eyes cast down. Il got to thinking as 1
came uptown of a matter that might
take my time tonight, but when l got
home i found a message that altered
my plans, so l changed my mind and
sent you word that you could come. To
change ones mind IS WOman's pTerOga-
tive, you know She laughed, and the
listener did not detect any artificiality
IN the sound.
well, 1 was real glad to come he
said. i don't call on ladies often. for
I'm not a ladies' man. Nv work
takes me Out-Of-dOOrs let, and I'm tired
when night comes"
He was launched upon that most in
terestng of all topics to any man-him-
the girl had but to listen. She
learned from the mOnOlOg that her caller
had been born and reared in New York,
that his father was dead and that he
lived with his mother in an apartment
near Lexington avenue, also that the
business he was IN was doing well. and
that his pay was on the increase"
Mother has a little money Of her
own he said, but l pay half her rent
and my own board. She don't actually
need help from me, but 1 feel better TO
give her a lift. She's been a good moth
er, and men were made to be nice to
1 guess"
Yes, he had a kind heart. Mary unused
again. Suppose he did lack polish! Men
with exquisite manners were not al
ways to be trusted. Thinking this. she
lifted to her caller eyes so full of sad
ness that he found himself asking her
II she was unhappy, and, in spite OF [
her former interdict. telling her once
more that he loved her. But this time, Z
she grew very pale, she did /
not forbid him to mention the matter /
again.
1t was 10 o'clock when Mary Dan /
tOTth's caller reluctantly left her, and l
she went at once to the room in which 4
she knew her mother lay, still awake. |
She did not turn up the light as she Z
bent over the anxious woman and kissed 4
her good night.
q have a little writing to do before I
go to bed, mother" she said. SO ! |
will tell you good night now. Try to 20 /
to sleep, dear"
Did you have a pleasant call from
Mr.. Fletcher?' the widow asked.
Lit gin pleISuueu uDL 10 near me ]
question as she busted herself tucLing 4
IN the covers about the elderly wOman's 1
hin shoulders.
eco to sleep, mother" she said gently. /
1 must not stop to talk now, or L viii /
not get to bed as soon as 1 want to-"
Fifteen minutes later, seated at her
1esk, she signed her mamie TO the note
she had just written.
My dear Gordon" it ran. "allow me
10 congratulate you on the news lust
'eceived. Since you have told me of your
happiness, / think it only fair that [
should tell you of my own engagement.
expect to be married in three months.
yours, Mary Danforth."
The writer unfastened the chain from
Ter neck and drew off the silver trinket
bearing her own and Gordon Craig's
initials. For a long moment she gazed
It it and pressed it passionatelv to her
FPS. The kiss left faint blur over
rags initials, but this lasted for only
IN instant. Then Mary laid the coin be-
ween the folds of her letter which She
nveloped. sealed and addressed to Cor
on Craig in San Antonio. Texas.
Continued next issue.l
WOMAN CAPTURES