Evening star., 1914-07-19
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR JULY 10. 1914

Gus, cynical detachment, and took mental memoranda
for his daily column, which he called ALfes Window.
Presently his amused, contemplative gaze caught
by little group focused about woman, who stood
with her back toward him. There something fugi
lively familiar about her Puzzled, and with quickened
interest, he noted her closely She straight
and SLENDER and simple, bewdering centraption
of soft gown that to his provincial eyes
ndubtab1y born in some capital of fashion Her
lively, had grace and distinction; her talk
evidently clever for the three and two women
about her smiling and laughing Who could
she be?
When she finally turned Western gasped and his jaw
fell wide Joan Meredith!
Before he could from his astoundment she had
sighted him and was sweeping toward him on the arm
of well setup man, on her face look of pleased
prise.
@Henry, you here?" giving him frank hand. II
never dreamed of meeting anyone from Westville!"
"Why-why, Joan!" he stammered, and then paused
from sheer inability to go on.
But she was mistress of herself. Henry this is Mr.
Gordon; Mr.. Gordon, Mr.. Western"
@Its pleasure" Gordon said heartily, "to meet any
friend of Mrs. Gray's."
"Mrs. Gray" gasped Western, blinking. There had
been no Mr.. Gray two weeks before. "Is-is Mr. Gray
here?"
Joan gave him quick appealing glance. @Mr.
Western, she explained soberly to Gordon hasnt met
since my husbands death"
Fortunately just then the orchestra struck up hes
itaton waltz again. 3Our Dance believe said Gordon,
and opened his arms to receive her.
3I see you after this waltz" Joan smiled to Western,
and went gyrating away.
He gazed after her in mounting bewilder1nent. Mar
ried-widowed- inside of two weeks-and at the
fortnight's end dancing about with smile most un
bereft
Great God! how things did happen! And in those
clothes! Such clothes!
Could this possibly be that same matterof-fact sane
competent soberly garbed Joan Meredith whom he had
last arguing before the City Council in behalf of
ordinance requiring inspection of school childrens
teeth?
And how she did dance-the new dances too! He
hadn't her dance since-since- he had
stopped dancing, and that seemed misty geologic
epoch ago. She had danced well then; but he doubted
if then she had been LIGHTER spirited, than
now. 1t amazing unbelievable!
AS the orchestra ended Gordon swung her to his sde
bowed, and departed.
She slipped a hand through Westerns arm aThe
next dance is yours. Do you want to dance it, or"
Heavens, no' he said in alarm.
"Id rather talk too. There's almost in the
balcony. Suppose go up there?'
SEATED in a corner of the balcony, she smiled at him
with frank, mischievous amusement Il know you
think I'm behaving something scandalous!" she de-
cared 3And do l. 1t almost takes my breath
away"
well, it almost takes mine too," he confessed, 3es-
pecially about" it delicate matter he hesitated
to touch upon her about Mr.
Gray"
She laughed outright. @Dont betray me to anyone
here: want them to think widow of five years
standing. But of course you know what awful fb it
is about there being Mr.. Cray
@No Mr.. Gray!"
3Tm regular fraud and adventuress!" And she
laughed again.
@But," he stammered, Il don't understand"
u don't mind your knowing the whole thing-only of
course you mustn't tell I'm amused myself that
it's too good to keep" She smiled into his bewdered
face with the frank unsenmenal look of settled old