The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-07


had sold one, and she had lived on
that lingering hope until the remain
der Of her money was gone. Then, at
her wits end. she had accepted the
position which the landlady told her
could be obtained at Darrow's.
She had lost all faith in herself.
, She had worked like an automaton
! for four months and had done moth
ing. Her best drawing, one which she
had thought could not pass the observ-
ant eye, had never been returned to
her from the magazine to which she
had submitted it, and she had lacked
the courage to call and inquire about
| it.
At Darrow's she had toiled behind
the counter Of the hosiery department,
at the beck and call of vulgar, frock.
coated doorwalkers, a cipher among
ciphers. She felt crushed by this at.
mosphere that surrounded her. She
felt utterly out of place among the
young women. of a different type and
| education, with whom she came into
touch; and they, sensing the differ
ence, were not slow to let her perceive
| their resentment
Then temptation had come to her,
| too.
1t had been in less loathsome guise
than with the boy. 1t was not one
Of the aoorwalkers. but the son of the
owner, young barrow, fresh from col
lege and taking his fling before set
Ting down in the world. He had come
into the store with his mother, who
was making some purchase there.
With worldly wisdom he had not
approached her while the other clerks
were present But he had found the
means to see her twice or three times.
| And he had asked her to dine with
him the following evening.
| She was not ignorant Of the world.
She saw from his demeanor that it
did not occur to him that she was any
thing but one of the underlined, under.
paid drudges in his fathers store.
She had known what significance
would attach itself to her acceptance
But she was desperately lonely, and
the thought of an evening in a restau-
rant, and at theater afterward, the
sight of other faces, the touch with
life was overwhelming.
"Ill have to accept or go home"
she thought YEARLY
II she could have known at that mo.
ment letter. signed by the editor Of
the magazine, enclosing a check for
seventy-five dollars for her drawing.
and asking for more, lay in the wire
basket beside the desk OF the editors
stenographer, ready to be posted on
the morrOw-if she could have known!
She got up from her chair. The
boy was going out Of his room at the
same moment. They knew each other
by sight; sometimes they sat near
each other in the cheap little restau.
rant where they got their meals when.
ever they could afford the luxury.
They were both too shy to speak to
each other, and desperately alone; but
now. staring into each others faces
In the deserted hall on the top story
Of the rooming house, they drew to.
ward each other like abandoned banks
drawn by some current into a vortex.
"Are you going to dinner?" asked
the boy timorously.
EYES," she answered, looking at him
with shy approval.
Let's 60 together" he said. great.
ly daring.
They descended the stairs together
At the street door she took his arm,
and they proceeded toward the restau.
rant, without a word being spoken.
That was the most wonderful meal
either Of them had ever had. Their
conversation was monosyllabic, but
there was little need of words in the
happiness Of this strange sympathy
And afterward they strolled together
up and down the lit streets. They
paused at the theater door. Women
in costly furs, accompanied by men in
evening clothes, were going in.
I'm glad I'm not among that crowd"
thought the girl and wondered how
many young Darrows there were
among them.
And the boy. utterly abashed at the
thought of the temptation that had
come to him, and feeling himself Who'll.
ly unworthy Of the girl whose arm
was still linked in his, was planning to
see Mr.. Vincent on the next morning
at nine and tell him of the conspiracy.
Its great, isn't it," said the boy.
Just living, mean"
Eyes, it's great" the girl answered.
and she knew then that she would
have strength to refuse young Oar
row and to remain at her post. 1t
was only a humble post in the out
works of civilization, but suddenly she
felt like q soldier.
Il thought once Of going home and
giving up-all this" said the boy
vaguely, as they strolled homeward
But now I'm going to stay"
"And I'm going to stay. too," the
girl answered.
They reached the door and went UP
the stairs together in silence At her
dsor the girl turned.
l nave enjoyed II SO MUCH she
said Il have spent such a happy eve.
ming" She blushed at her own au.
dacity. 1T has meant such a lot to
me-you don't know how much she
continued, feeling absurdly conscious
Of the moisture in her eyes
"You don't know how much to me
Also" he answered. And he never
knew how it came about, but the next
| minute they were in each others arms