The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-03-05
coPYRlcATEONI1

L
a quaint, cute name-Timothy Alden.
Well, Timothy mustn't think her livelihood
had depended upon dodgers
'Mommy would be ashamed Of me, she
whispered.
She planned to fluff her hair first of all
and add 20 it pink ribbon band. She
would draw her interest money from the
bank and go to the city and buy new
clothes. Buy new clothes-clothes!
Her joy was so great that she paused to
think of the reason. Mr.. Alden had asked
her to marry him, and she meant to and she
had said Yes at once.
Well, she wanted to be married and not to
live alone-an old maid-but, if she was
just taking Mr.. Alden for that reason
the thought came quickly; twisting her
hands in her lap, she sat, with the horrible
vision of herself as she must have been in
the early mornings - -.-ss
Swapping him upI" she said fercely.
" My first chancel"
Her suddenly tortured eyes turned out Of
window; she saw Miss Merton and young
man come gaily out Of the clubhouse yard
and 60 down the avenue to the boarding
house where they lunched
Look at herl" Theodosia cried it out.
She lives for men, simply lives for them.
She dresses, smiles, talks, walks, IigeS to
please them. Am | like that?"
She jumped up, walking about the room,
frantically. ESP Fa
ooh, if he'd come back now SO I could
tell him. couldn't, couidn'tmarr him |
loathe myself now and I'd 60 on getting
,,yorca IVb,y T r,,v,r,Oea IA b,,-o coil
Yes to anybody"
She dropped her face in her hands and
after moments sobbing drew up erect,
her eyes steeled again.
"Well, now I've come to my senses, I'll
get to work" She closed the piano with
bang. L can simply explain. l neednt
be unkind to him and drive him away. He
can still have his breakfast. F."
Theodosia flew to the kitchen There
was fruit there to preserve.
Wasn't going to do it, she said, fou
fear of staining my hands
She began building fire. Darling here
and there about the kitchen, handling the
fruit feverishly, the hours slipped by end
she was conscious of nothing but riotous
thoughts, until she heard Miss Merton
clamoring loudly upon the porch, talking
shrilly and breathlessly.
Looking up, Theodosia saw lowering
sky and big drops of rain. Miss Merton
looked in to the kitchen.
Awful storm over the Sound"
A lightning flash and clap Of thunder!
Theodosia stood, suddenly very still, look
ing out at it.
Shall | run up and close all the win
dows?" questioned Miss Merton. "Your
hands are all berries. y
Eyes, please" Theodosia just stood
dumbly, as with lightning fash the door
blew open and rain beat in upon her face.
"It'ssucha little sail-boat, shemuttered,
She stepped into the doorway, into the
rain, her self-fear of squat forgotten.
There's something struck"
A nearby tree split and cracked and
groaned from the electric bolt
ooh, Miss Carey" it was Miss Merton
calling, they're getting out life-boat
from the club. / saw EN- from my win
dow; there's a lot of men out fishing in til
Sound, too
Theodosia clapped her hands to her face
her frightened eyes looking out in agony
She did not 60 to the front of the house, bnf
Crouched In corner near the kitchen door
The rain drove madly against it.
"Oh, Miss Carey, come and look"
Theodosia shrilled back.
"Let me be, can't you? Oh, dear Lord
save him, save him-I love him"
The tears coursed holly between her fin
gers.
Forgive me for what I've said anc
thought about not loving him. do, l do
g. save him"
She covered her eyes as there came
fash and silence. Then suddenlyfootsteps
strong, hurried, came along the gravel wall
toward the kitchen door. A figure in oil
skins passed the window, stepped on to tn
low porch, and tapping quickly at the door
opened. it and came In.
ri started back ahead of the squat, KEEP
thinking of you here-why, what's tn
matter? What is it, little girl--have 20
worried"
"I was 50 scared" she breathed. "OE
Mr.. Alden, I'm so thankful-oh, Tin
othy-"
Dripping in wet oil-sIlins, he Rugged he
e to him close, safe.
II knew was to hurry back to yol
5. Theodosia; something, queer little insic
/! voice, seemed to say so-even when the su
n was still shining"
Z; "Those little inside voices are alway
t right" Theodosia quavered from his she
tering arms.
It But Theodosia's inner voice was glad