Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-09-10

Gardiner used 10 thluk, luuAt llIS'
few months in New York, that a
boarding house was the loncsomest
hole man ever stole into and hid him
self from the outer world. He had a
hall bedroom at Miss Meloney's on
Lexington avenue just above Gram
ercy park. It was convenient to his
work over on Broadway and he rather
liked this old end Of the town best.
But there didn't seem to he one con
genial coal until Laura Edwards came.
Snc vas about 10, ne figured, that
FIRST unght when they met at dinner,
He watched the gaslight fall on her
bowed head Her hair was chestnut
and caught the light In it's mesh or
golden brown Her eyes, too, were
brown and very friCndly-almosL too
friendly and COmradcly I'm their APP
peal lie thought-and he wanted 10
protect her, vaguely.
Hobart and the rest made straight
SGT for her Hobart offered to play
the piano for her, and Tucker told her
OF his recent set Of klphnE, three
down balance monthly WalIy James
asked her if she liked the movies. And
she parricd them all with a smile ana
looked over at silent Gardiner.
He found cut that she worked some
place uptown, PROBABLY in an office.
She left the house around g. Even Miss
MclOuey know no more than this.
Gardiner wished she would find out
more, but there was a certain point
that even her curiosity could not get
by i'm Miss Edwards manner.
I'm thinking she's from the Mid-
die Vest Kinney the little high
lander, said, one night out on the iront
steps. "Sde's spoken to me Of Dayton,
OHIO, very often, TcudCrly Ike too.
SHE'S way OF the South about
her At times" Hobart declared with a
..sh. Like rose, Like "a rose"
Gardiner rose uucaslly. He hated TO
have her discussed by them. She was
0a much apart, so wonderful 10 him.
The very mystery that lay around her
he loved. She was his princess In DIS
guiSc, CrIciously lingering among
thcu for ittle while Privately he
rather thought 10 be divided. or she
Nigh; be o. private sec, .fry to some
person Of importance. Nothing com
uOuDlace could ever he associated in
thought with her.
So he approached his hour OF fate
With fear. lie loved her, and he
meant 10 tell hcr 80. That, at least .
was "a mans right lie was earning
twenty-five a week now aud Il COM
mission on sales besides Back nome
Boo Rhode Island there was good lit I
tic farm whore his mother lived. Bat
ne knew srmCWIy. Laura would never
care for thc country She was city
bird born 90 pTeC1 on stone pedcsidIs.
stu, ne would tell her
II was Saturday night The city
lay under the first spell or early fall
#.F 0. t ffr.II |#. IIf Ia
tender Ciulncss and hint yf autumn.
Uo had asked her that evening to ~
up .nroueh the park wish him end she
had consented. They had taken a
Firth avenue bus up, and sat up on
top To Gardiner it was enough 10 be
with her Now and then she 'uruCd /
her head and smiled at MIN.
"Tve always loved this ride, haven't
y0Iy" she asked.
90 always knew / should with the
right girI.' he answered hrayely and
she laughed at him soltly, urreUuk-
myIv The stars seemed 10 dip and
pat him on the head for his pluck
90 was after 10 when they returned.
The front steps were deserted. There
was scttec placed on the little grass
plot under the lone catalpJ tree, and
they sat out there talking in low
voices, talking ComWonplacos, yet
with every nerve tiuglng. every
glance conveying messages their lips
bcllod And all at once Gardiner
blurtcd out:
wen never be the same after to-
night viii We"
She smiled up at him wistfdlly
why"
"Bccause we've found out. Aren't
you sure / love you? Oh. ] didn't g..
mean to spring IT. like that, Laura
Ha reached for her hands anNlUusly.
Don't go in yet / had % tell you.
I've been awfuliy lonesome here until
yOu came"
She nodded her head
81 was lonely, too" she said softy,
but I'm used 10 A. I've lived around
in boarding houses FOR two years now,
and it's hOrrid where / work. in a
rctOuChcr ON Photographic plates, aud
that means work I'm a dark room by
q red light an day / hate the dark.
Some time I'm going 20 live outdoors
right in the sunlight and daylight all
the time"
where arc your folks" he asked.
Il thought you were just here for "a
little while
"Dold mostly ] guess. I've got a
married sister out iu Dayton. %. After
my mother died / went To- work here.
I can make pretty good pay at it, but.
hate g. just hate 10. It's awful when
you hate the work you have TO do"
Gardiner sat nearer his arm lyilg
back Of her along the settee. And
some way words came at last 10 him
words to- tell her what he would ike
10 do to make life easier for her. She