The Washington herald., 1914-04-06
CCOpright. leiLI

She had come back home with a
strange. duh ache in her heart that was
only partly sO"thed by the remembrance
said "GoOd-by."
| The newspaper fell at her feet She
started. The day dream WAS over.
| And now for a way to earn that
money! She bit her lip. There was not
way in the world she could think Of
| Shed better get her hat and parasoI and
| talk II over with one OF the girls.
The morning was warm, and. her walk
| taking her through the park she kept
J TO the shady COUness OF the bypaths
There was magic in the air today. at
least so II seemed to Beatrice. She
stopped beside the little lake and wa he'd
some children with their nursemaids sail
ing little boats. She spoke to them,
praising their skill and pretty toys. In
stantY they were friends. with the un-
conventional cordiaIity OF childhood One
little plump grille seized one Of her hands
and reached up on tiptoe for a kiss
The yellow and red of tulips, the blue
of the sky. bushes exquisite with jaPOn-
| lea. lilaCs and Snowballs. and tiny SWELL
! ing rOsebuds. the trilling OF birds every
where, proclaimed the wonder Of spring.
She gave herself up to the beauty Of
| il all There was no hurry for her eT-
rand now Suffrage could wait! After
all. somehow, the idea and the morning
didn't seem to nit. What did she care
| for politics in weather like this? OF
| course. she would have to get the money.
She had pledged herself TO do so. But
it could wait while. too.
She turned aside into a shady little
circle of trees where there was bench
in view. The turn Of the path disclosed
second bench heretofore hidden by the
trees. and on the bench. reading. was
man. His back was toward her.
She stopped. His head and shoulders,
hat and ALL as they appeared over the
back of the bench, were Identical with
She was absolutely sure of her man!
She had brought the paper along, think
ing it might offer some suggestions in the
proposed conference with her fellow-club
woman She hastily read over the cor
rect words. and got her courage up to the
point of addressing stranger, shutting
her eyes tight.
Excuse me, but arc you the elusive
Mr. Blank referred TO in the Morning
News" II was over! She opened her eyes
to see if the skies had fallen. and found
herself gazing into the startled features
of David Dalzell.
Beatrice"
''Oh. David. I've made dreadfully
stupid mistake"
Her confusion was evident by the fam
ing red of her checks What would he
think of her. going around alone, speak
ing to strangers, He would never un-
derstand that she was doing it from
principle That would be a paradox hard
to believe.
To her surprise. he smiled and held out
his hand. There isn't any mistake,
Beatrice. I am the elusive Mr.. Blank,
and you are entitled to the prize. I
he laughed. Il just came in here to keep
from having a sunstroke. I've been
walking all morning"
Then, noticing her evident surprise, he
added, hastily: "Pve bought the News.
and I'm doing this on a wager. It's been
a circus today. butI'm glad it's over. How
about you?'
IT." explained Beatrice, hastily, ''am
doing this because / have to earn $50 for
our suffrage association"
Still suffrage? And still opposed to
love and marriage?" He drew near and
looked anxiOusly into her face. Il had
hoped differently"
Beatrice looked out over the little lake
in which the blue sky was reflected and
at the wonderful riot of flowers. In the
distance she heard the voices of the chill
dren, and she thought OF the little girl
who had kissed her.
Then she turned, the glory OF spring
reflected in her face mo, David; I'm
renouncing 1t all this very minute"