The Washington herald., 1916-08-20

at the corner after supper. She knew
he would treat her. to a street car ride
and an ice cream soda and that her
mother would scold when she came home
Mr.. Thomson-the foorwalker-had IN
vited her to a long, cool drive out XIV
eIside, and they would have dinner at
some country place overlooking the
Palisades. And her day dream had to
do with schemes to avoid the motor trip.
1t seemed. that night, as If everything
in the world was trying to interfere with
the tryst. Mrs. Lacy, spent and wan
with heat and housewOrk, was unable
to cope with the family uproar. The
baby was sick and fretful. and Minnie
managed to soothe him by bath and
much cuddling. Bessie had toothache
Joseph was whining because his mother
refused to let him keep a stray dog.
The boiler back of the kitchen stove had
sprung a leak. the iceman had forgot
ten to stop. the landlord was threaten
ing to raise the rent and Mr.. Lacy had
gone to bed supperless, suffering with
nervous headache.
Minnie shut her lips firmly and plunged
into the whirlpool of discomfort, bringing
some relief to every one. She helped
Tim pack his grip and even ironed out
shirt or two-he was a travelling sales
man. and all the girls in the family COM
bined to help keep him immaculate. 1t
was long after nine o'clock when she
finished wiping dishes
You're 4 good colleen" breathed her
mother peacefully. And it's glad and
all I am that you won't have to put up
with this yerself much longer. In your
own home with your own servant you'll
live like a queen and niver have the
black poverty of your mother and father.
like. Sure with babies and washings and
landlords. bad cess to 'em, It's a sore
deal of thrubble comes to a woman that
takes poor man. Yer father, God bless
him. has worked hard and faithful. And
what have we got fer it all but this?"
Minnie looked at her mothers scanned
face. SCARED hands and dumpy shape
lessness. The heat and noise and whin-
ing of children made the fiat seem "a
sort of purgatory. She picked up her hat
and went blindly toward the corner
where Tracy had been waiting for more
than an hour. Eight hours behind the
glove counter and three in the steamy
kitchen had left her nerveless and sick.
Thomson could take her out of it-and
perhaps he would be generous enough to
allow her to help the family. She would
see Tracy for the last time. She was only
going to see him tonight to tell him
goodbye.
At the corner Minnie was taken in tow
by big bulk OF an Irishman, who smiled
her onto the front seat of an open Sixth
avenue surface car without a word 1t
is always breezy newt the motorman, and
sometimes exciting. You have no idea
how many crazy minded people there are
IN the world unless you watch some in
trepid car driver pilot his craft through
the mazes Of New York traffic. Usually
Minnie and Tracy enjoyed watching pc
destrians make hairbreadth escapes and
Waxed gay on the rush of air and the
sensation of easy motion. Besides, the
Sixth avenue elevated runs overhead SO
noisily you have to sit very close in order
to carry on any conversation at all.
The girl leaned back, silent. Tracy
watched her with anxiety. He saw she
was tired, and slipped an arm behind
ner' trying not to talk until the air and
relaxation would rest her some. He took
on her hat and held 1t on his knees, with
the shy sort Of tenderness that goes with
irish loVemaking. Minnie wanted to cry.
How could she think Of Thomson and his
motor car with Tracy's arm holding her
so gently?
She refused to get Off for a stroll in
central Park. It seemed easier to cling
to her determination away from the ro-
mantle shadows of a summer night in the
leafy bypaths. Tracy let their silence
continue, quite confident of a depth of
NNooi ohNei slduuiils lQdl neSOeu no
words,
Minnie" he said, after a long time,
saw fiat over in Newark, with a little
private porch that could be screened in
as slick as anything. And it only cost SIG
a month"
She turned her head and stared out at
New York with blank eyes.
II Tracy was disappointed because she
dia not speak. he managed to conceal It
with quiet gravity. He could see when
they went into drug store for soda,
that the girls face was white and con-
Vulsed as If with fear. She smiled at
MIN when he patted her hand with pal
IKE reinsurance. She could not tell him
IL was not maidenly shrinking, but
panicky recollection of her mothers story
"a dreary tale Of five living and three
dead children, of drudgery, self-denial
ana pltifully limited outlook.
On the way back, at Fifty-ninth street
she was still tryin to remember that there
Inomson's wife. At Thirty-fourth street
The car was caught in a whirl of motors
ana cable cars and floods Of pedestrians
all tangled up in a traffic snarl. There
seemed to be no way out, so they decided
10 sit quietly until their car could be
moved across Broadway. Suddenly she
found her hand in Tracy's. 1t was not
me place where fingers Of the future Mrs.
thomson ought to repose.
Hundreds Of people passed and repassed
until the, girl began to get dizzy with
numbers. The motorman abandoned his
pest to sit down near Tracy and begin
an eloquent condemnation of all two
legged creatures who cross street car
tracks. Minnie watched suburbanites
theatergoers, street walkers, policemen.
newsboys. and mashers surge by without
a glance at her or at each other. The
loneliness that Is most poignant in crowds
came upon her. Suddenly the warm thrill
or her hand in Tracy's lumpy fist seemed
the most reassuring thing In the world
Thomson could give her MANY things but