The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-12-21
ADRIFT
BY ELIZABETH SHIELDS.

derful dreams of youth. She arrived
in New York with the conviction that
an amazing adventure was waiting for
her each time she turned corner. She
lived alone for one week In the goal
city of the United States and, Of
| course, it happened. On the first day
of her second weeks stay in the old
fashioned brown-stone boarding house,
she descended the dark, muSty-smell-
ing halls, with the dim gas jets burning
to the dining room for luncheon.
Claire was not only dewy, fresh and
rosy, she had cultivated an air Of dash
and she was wistful, but of this latter
| quality she was utterly unconscious.
When she entered the dining room she
| found a stranger at her table. New
York is overfilled with pretty girls, but
Gilbert Brown sat up when he looked
! at Claire.
Claire looked him over completely
without, apparently, taking her eyes
from the cream pitcher in front Of
| her. He was too big, she decided. She
| shrank from men so broad and with
such square chins. There was some
thing so delicate about her, she seemed
little beyond Gilbert Brown, but he
| started to talk anyway.
Luncheon finished, they went up the
stairs to a still gloomier room, known
as the library. After another half
| hours acquaintance he felt free to in
quire, Haven't you anyone to look
after your"
She answered with q lifting laugh,
mo ones ever taken care Of me.
only have Aunt Annie, who was glad
l came to New York"
$50 back home, child" he warned
her; 'you won't stand being banged
| about here"
She gave the man a long, specula-
tive glance. II haven't any home to go
| to-" she laughed lightly, dismissing the
subject forever. A thought flashed into
her golden head that here was a chance
| for adventure. She wanted to dance
| and dine in the restaurants, and her
week in New York proved that she
| probably never would, unless she went
ing him this. All her girlish desires
for experience beamed trustfully from
her brown eyes as she talked.
"Tll take you 10 a show" he offered
eagerly. First, we'll have dinner with
| q cabaret, then show after" he urged.
Still Claire hesitated. The opportuni-
ty so suddenly presented took her
breath away. His eyes were burning
into hers in an uncomfortable way. The
| temptation to seek adventure was too
| strong to deny.
Upstairs in the tiniest hall bedroom
ever built into boarding house Claire
dressed for the evening, aglow with
| the wonder of the adventure on which
she was starting.
When she met Brown her eager
brown eyes looked directly into his.
Her tight grasp on his arm gave him
the feeling of being n protector in a
deeper sense than ever before. She
carried her head high, animated with
wv J'y VI hNil6' clc lnloAlCuleu
Brown.
The cheap dazzle of Broadway
wearied him, but Claire laughed up at
| him In childish excitement.
"Do you like this sort Of thing?" he
| questioned wonderingly.
81 can't thank you enough for taking
| me-" she chirred; "it's all more beau
tiful that ever dreamed, much more
! wonderful"
She started for home willingly when
he suggested it.
You must not come again." he eau
toned her; "other men will ask YOU"
"But l want to come again." she pro-
| tested.
Secretly Brown made up his mind
that in the morning he would look up
the first train to her home town and
see that she took it, If he had to take
ner to the station himself. Aloud he
said, you're the incest little girl I
ever saw!"
Claire placed her soft palm over
his mouth.
you've told me every minute that
I'm pretty"
He caught her hand and held It, He
knew he should drop it, but she looked
at him with bright, happy eyes and
smiled. Browns heart always ruled his
head, and at the touch of her soft little
arm against his, he drew her close to
him. He covered her face with kisses.
Il want you with me always, sweet
one" he whispered in a trembling
voice, 81 don't want to let you CO." She
put her arms around him and kissed
him. Releasing her he drew his breath
In sharply. 81 shouldn't have talked
TO you at all. You're too good for men
like me. Tomorrow" he continued.
Smiling sweetly into his face Claire
interrupted. Tomorrow Wen 90 adj
ventnrlng again." Brown clenched her
hands in his strong grip.
II don't want to let you go out of
my life, but"
II shan't. Wen be perfectly happy
together" Claire laughed and cudded
closer to him. Then she whispered,
This is my first proposal !"
! 1t was several minutes before Gill
bert Brown could speak. In his heart,
which was big, he was glad for the In
nocence of her.
Little treasure" he murmured, "Ill
be good husband to you"
Copyright 1916 by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndcate)
L L.