The Washington herald., 1914-01-18
By HARMONY WELLER
tCopynght. 1914


man the incident would never have hap
pened
But Bronson was not ordinary in any
sense OF the word. His greatest hobby
was odd philanthropies. He INDUCED
his eccentric whims to any extent that
he chose. Never had he erected baths
for the use Of the public. nor had he en-
dowed a home fer cats and poodle dogs,
but many a dollar had gone from his
| hand in direct charity.
At the t-wel counter os one of the de-
partment stores Bronso-. heard a girls
voice lameating the feet that she could
not have the dainty pendant at which
| she was gazing longingly.
They are my birthstones.' she told
the clerk. ''and need the luck they
would bring me. No. she shook her
head and landed back the velvet case.
II would have to 20 without lunches for
three years in order TO rIy for it,
Bronson ~as uncomfor.ably susceptible
to the timbre OF a voice. Had this girls
voice asked him for a limousine with
satin upholstering he would have given
IL to her on the moment OF asking There
was q wistful appeal in the rich tones.
II will have you send me those cuff
links when the engraving is finished" Z"
she was saying TO the clerk. A moment
later she had given her name and ad-
dress and turned from the counter.
Bronson did not look AFTER her. He was
not interested in her as a woman. He
knew not that her we'll worn suit had
come from one of the lesser stores and
that her battered music roll held all
that was dear to her Bronson only
knew he was going to purchase the PEN
dant and send II to her. His ear had
been acutely sensitive to the girls name
and address
SHOW me that opal and diamond pen
dant?'' he asked of a clerk who had not
served Avis Brayton-for such was the
girls name.
He looked carefully at the dainty pen
dant 1t was a charming minsling OF
small opals. diamonds and pearls though
not of costly extravaganza
Send this to Miss Avis Brayton,' he
told the clerk and gave her the ad-
dress He scribbled a line on blank
card, paid his bill and went his way re-
joicing that he was able to satisfy a
small craving OF human being less
fortunate than himself in material means.
When the package was received by the
girl with whom Avis roomed she thought
nothing of il and took 1t in Nthout
question
"Rut how could ] know TO send 1t
hack, questioned Mary Ellen when AVIS
unwrapped the pendant Il supposed 1t
to be something you had ordered
"Oh-h," gasped Avis, delight glowing III
her ewes, cit is the very one l wanted SO
badly" She had discovered the card anu
read il TO the astcnished Mary Ellen
Please accept the trinket l heard you
express a wish for. l have more money
than one man can spend on himself and
six others Ii is my pleasure TO make
you happy.
Avis Brayton-that is the most roman
tic thing / ever heard OF. An anonymous
token of admiration" Mary Ellen wrote
love stories that occasionally brought
checks from the magazines. You Will
meet him some day and marry him-I
know it,
Dent be silly laughed Avis. Il did
not even see a woman at tn" counter.
much less 4 man. However" she sighed
statically. ''it would be foolish 10 return
1t to the shop. The clerk wouldn't know
a thing about the man and he has paid
for it." She put the warm. life-refiectinE
stones about her slim neck. ALREADY
feel they are bringing me luck. She
took the jewels of and put them around
Mary Ellen's brown reck. You, too. are
an October child and shall wear them
also. We will take turn about
Your dear"' Mary Ellen cried with 4
big hug for Avis. II look worse than ever
in jewels. You keep your precious
charm. And now il you are not too eX-
cited We will get out the chatting dish and
get dinner"
1t was two years later that Bronson
entered the Van Wilde's spaCiOIs draw
ing-room. The affair was n dinner-musi-
Gale. otherwise Bronson might not have
been there; his fondness for the good
music Mrs. Van Wilde usually offered
had been the bait. He had not the slight
est premonition of coming events. nor did
he feel an especial elation over being one
Of the select guests.
Bronson was more or less attracted 10
a girl to whom he had not been pre-
scnted. She was extraordinarily beauti- !
full, and her gown of white chiffon anu
swansdown brought out every manifold
charm Of her. To Bronson. her beauty
was quite beyond description. He only
knew that her hair was wonderfully cop
perry and her slim neck wonderfully
white.
The girl was evidently one of the song
birds. She was even then making
graceful pilgrimage toward the side or
the grand piano.
Bronson sighed Surely girl so lovely
could not be possessed OF very great
musical ability. That would be an
abundance Of gifts seldom given to one
DcluS. however, lUS dppidGSt Nhs1t eANSS
ed her appearance beside the piano gave
partial evidence that she was at least
Of magnetic personality.
The girl had not sung single phrase
before Bronson's heart gave an uncom-
bound. The voice was rich and |
rarely wistful. He could not remember
having heard any voice, the timbre of
which SO deeply movef him. He sat back
ard absorbed each bvely note.
the very slightest Of premonitions then