The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-04-30
CHAPTER XIV,

|
lily from the speed of her abandonment
of it, declaring that she wished to get
a sight of the elder Mr.. Wallace, even
if he did not choose to stop and talk
when he came up. She had noted that
the chauffeur, seeing the father and
son approach, had already started his
engine. Her desertion left Broadway
and Josie in the swing alone together.
He laughed. did you notice that?
She calls him Bob l heard him call
her Clara 16 times today"
Josie smiled. Yes; noticed that"
| Jackson was strangely intent upon
her answer. He was confused, although
he did not know the reason why. And
then, suddenly, he knew. Finding that
he knew, he found himself still more
confused.
Did you notice it?' he asked, with
intense earnestness, knowing, some
how, that he was an ass. Il didn't
think you noticed it."
Josie thrilled, but found it hard to
smother laughter-not wholly that of
ridicule, mostly that of joyousness. She
made no other answer.
He looked around them at the broad
| veranda, with it's pillared, old colonial
| doorway and wide windows; his eyes
| paused along the visible front of the
| enormous house itself, surveyed the
spreading lawn, now dusky with the
evening shadows of magnificent old
trees, and the curving graveled drive,
examined all, indeed, that he could see
of the superb and spacious old Jones
place.
Nice little house, isn't it," he
asked:
| "Oh, l just love it," 1t was, indeed,
the show place of the town, and few
were the local maidens who had not
dreamed dreams of some time living in
mansion like it-dreamed wonder
ing dreams, speculative Of unguessed
sensations of vast wealth.
DO you?"
why, yes. Don't you?"
eyes," said Broadway, now looking
not at the great house or any portion
of the splendid grounds, but straight
at her. although she was not sure of
| l0lS BECAUSE LllS las IL 1ldO way LCe11
ly failed I'm just crazy about it,
that's all!'
| She laughed and so did he. He had
not much idea what he really was say
ing.
| "You know, l think l shall become
a model country gentleman in time,"
he added.
1T must seem strange to you, after
the life you've been living"
She meant it very innocently, yet it
shocked him fiercely He sat up in
the swing and gazed at her with out
thrust neck-that gesture which she
thought was awkward, funny, when
she saw it first, in school days, but
which she had rather begun to like.
What do you know about the life I've
been living?" he demanded.
She was not in the least suspicious.
81 mean in New York-that great, big.
wonderful place! 1t is a wonderful
place, isn't it?'
He had had a thrill Of panic. Now
he quieted, although his heart still
throbbed little. He was glad she did
not know about the life he had been
leading.
Have you never been to New
York;" he asked.
Never"
That's funny. Would you like to go
to New York;"
II don't think I'd like to live there;
but I'd like to see New York"
well, can show it to you. May l
some time? It only takes four hours
to get there. It took me five years to
get back"
you had long trip"
"Trip? stumbled" he said dream
lily.
What is Broadway"
"Broadway?"
Its a street, of course, but
TITS probably the greatest street IN
the world
Some people say it's terrible"
1T u.s."
"And some people say it's wonder.
full
1T is-truly wonderful"
II don't understand"
Nobody understands Broadway" he
answered. People hate it, yet they
don't know why. People love 1t, yet
they don't know why. l don't It's
Just because it's Broadway
rs it mystery?"
That's what it is-a mystery" He
shook his head in thought.
The subject had lost interest to her
because she did not know its fasci-
nations. II suppose you go to church
every Sunday morning. Tomorrow's
Sunday"
He was astonished. He had been
thinking of Broadway. There are
churches on that thoroughfare, but
they are not so brightly lighted as
some other OF its structures. What's
that again."
| Il say / suppose you 60 to church
every Sunday morning"
'sWelI-I've been going to Church
ilrs every Sunday night" He laughed
- A. ga1>& 1SSSa68lVs