La Junta tribune., 1914-01-24

\ UDS IXD2.
7 eS1st sapsee - - yes h wel
lastoa - sees aenia--
He lsassd soaadsa&ialiy svsr ~
counter.
III tel yos--this trtDs sseacsal.. !.
b sxplains1. 7 tsss rsa aevu fsun
0raftos beeanes-vell fsees q vs,S
~ 70 seuArs myself. Mias Iaesy. Yeu
got na1 q - iase tsiD, ~ AlAnt
have . chance y pst nyssaf risAe
thss. Yes ksev h bssinaas us Asav
think asythias a. - tsvt1asiss . IL.
ssr Of luasA o."
haybsaIs's rosee vsrs Assssatne.
asd she looked aistuStsl.
Please. Mr. Mccall. Aost speak q
H. ! hal fesgsttsa. sAs pssasstsA
But J know vhAt yos thought
that ] vas too familiar. too fYssA. :.
His frankneos Sas enbarrasstag
Well. III aSosogise asd tell yos I
wouldn't o9ee4 you for the vosil.
1t bothered me-tAe vay you took ~
up When got - near - Crafton--
long pause followed. and Miss
Lacey took the opportunity to change
the subject They ehatted awhile. and
he turned to 90. Thea, With his hand
on the door. be looked back.
I'D like 10 know you've really for.
given me" he said wistfully. Nov.
II you'll take dinner with me At the
hotel tonight"
Mr. Mccall. No. no. indeed"
Maybelle was half laughing in spite
Of her dignity: but she continued to
shake her head; and her caller walked
away with an air OF detection.
Three months later Porter Mccall
came In again. He was on his reg
ular trip this time.
Nothing wanted In your line" an.
nounced the little storekceper. II
was early spring then. and she wore
becoming frills OF white lace and 4
knot OF violet ribbon. Her glance WAS
quite friendly. I've got the quarter
dozen yet Folks seem to be sur
[ prised at my having them: and one
old lady said ! Was too high. priced
So they're on the shelf yet I guess
I I'll keep them TIL Christmas and give
I them away
lie sat down and stayed over an
hour. He seemed to have something
on his mind. and finsily he spoke serI
ousiy.
You wont nee me again In Wollas
ton for a while: ! don't know how
long. Seems to me It's time vas
on that social list OF yours I've
known you some time now. and I've
thought OF you 4 lot Miss Lacey.
" should invite you TO dinner
now"
She raised q warning hand
"Oh. n you're not incorrirlble'" she
exclaimed Why do you persist IN
offering me 4 dinner. Mr. McCalI.-
III tell you. ! like you. Miss
Lacey. and want TO get you away
from the store-from business: some
place where ne can get better ae-
quainted. Dinners = lonesome AFFAIR
for me ! faseied you sitting there
opposite me. and thouEht-weil
maybe you'd rather 70 to . show
"a like TO entertain you somehow b.
fore ! 20 IT'S my last chance
What do you mean
Her voice had shaspened. and she
Hired her head In Q startled way.
why, rs Just this way" he a..
svered Tin going to give up trav
cling. and take charge Of the Glover.
bloom branch 10 BOSTON. 40 this 10
! ny last trip"
Mics Lacey opened . boz mschaa.
lcally. and fumbled with the eoatests.
She looked across the counter. started
10 speak. and hesitated. The mas IL
the chair sighed deeply - hs vascAsl
hss.
r understand. You cont lihs ~.
Yos wont 60"
She leaned toward him and hss
eyes met his. dark and misty.
1T isn't that she said softly. sNp.
McCAll. Wollaston IL . small place:
and am in . position where ! must
observe its least social Law. ! cannot
dine With you at the hotel: bet
bst-~ she appsare1 chsraiagiy -.
fused. and he sprang hon Bis rAsiv
and came eagerly 10 the eounter-.1f
you are going to b. here tomorrov-
Sunday would like her smiis
vas h~wilderingiy encourasins-'1
would like 10 have yos take Aissse
With me. at my home
AT your home'" Tie seemed amss.
insiy over,oyed. why. . real homs
dsnner-and with you. Say. tt'u beat
the fcasts Of Lucuiiua'"
What else h~ would have said then
~ ~ =
Customer Sunday wss close q
hand.
The neat week Wciis ston leasneA
that Mayb-'se i.seey vas ready 10 ssli
ost. Bidders we're fortheomiag. fee
The little shop had ben prospeross
"Asd she's going away-eoins 10
Many . ssrasssr'" r~ssarted fsas.
nlns wolIastoa why. ~ asvss
eoile1 70 - hss bat oace. rhe tAea
| - taking ouch q sudden D0fton af1oe