Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-07-13
DINNER FOR TWO
By HELEN LANeAN.

throwing open the door aud grasping
the extended hand Ia both her own.
IF you aren't the last person / ex-
pected to see"
"And speaking literally. am Tom
broke in with laugh, In which the
girl Joined.
''But come In she exclaimed; then
the color flew into her cheeks as she
realized that she still was holding his
hand. Pardon me- she added. Il
was so glad to see you that forgot -
Which Is one instance where forget
fulness is bliss" Tom flushed, with
significant look at his hand.
Nan led the way Into her "den," and
Tom paused in the middle Of the room
to allow his gaze to wander over the
old. familiar objects. II was some
thing over year since he had last
seen them. yet nothing was gone, moth
Ing added. except a few pictures he
had sent her from abroad, and few
books.
In fact his pipe looked as though IL
had laid undisturbed since he left Il,
the night before he had sailed, the
night that he and Nan were to have
dlRed together (the fatal dinner she
called it) but were prevented by the
sudden Illness of her mother.
II wonder IL we ever win have itq"
he queried, dropping on TO the dlvan
and drawing Nan down beside him.
Il believe that II is written that we
shall not" she replied In mock serl-
BUSINESS. 1.-THE proyerbial third at
tempt has failed. you know. Still the
song says, Why don't you tryT"
II think / will" Tom said. sand to.
sdght, too. Let's see-wbere7 Why not
try Francois this timer"
Nan agreed and that point being set
tied and the play they would attend.
they fell to discussing the things each
had seen and done Ia the II months
agone. And 70 interested did they be-
come that before they realized 1t the
shadows had crept into the corners.
and the arclight In front OF the house
burst forth in a sputtering bril-
liancy. Tom would not stop to
tea. pleading that he wanted TO save
his appetite for that dinner. aud left
promising TO call for her az 2 80 Tom
wanted to be alone-he had made
discovery alone 10 think.
Something in Mans eyes as she had
released his hand set him to thinking
wondering why he had never noticed
how deueed pretty she really was And
later when they were sitting opposite
each other at the little table With its
spotless linen, shining glass and sin
yer. and Nan was drawing or her long.
white gloyes--he wondered again. She
was not merely pretty, she was beau.
tlful.
The room was abiaze with lights. the
air filled with the perfume of many
flowers. the hum Of talk and the rip
pie OF laughter, and from some I'M
seen nook came the soft notes Of
sweet music.
~ guess we viii make a 60 ~ II
this time" said Tom as the walter
came up TO take their order Nan
smiled. then turned her attention TO
the menu.
Yes, Nan certainly was beautiful
girl, As she turned 20 glance about
the room Tom caught CLINT u gold
Ia her brown hair that confrHsted beau,
| tifnlly with the pink and white Of her
cheek and he had been away D year
What an idiot he was He wondered
what she would say II he were to tell
her that
From that mysterious somewhere
called a kitchen there came Il muf-
He'd roar TINT shook she building, fol
lowed by the hoarse shouts " men
and the shrieks uf women The wRiier
who had Just taken the order and dis.
appeared through the swinging doors.
reappeared again. cloud If dense
black smoke ia his wake.
just what happened during the next
few minutes Nan never could clearly
remember, but when she regaIned her
wits she and Tom were standing on a
corner some distance from the burning
building, watching the frantic efforts
Vt the fremen TO subdue the flames
II was cold, and they we're minus
their hats, coats and gloves. but IN the
| excitement they gave no heed. Nan
shivered and drew closer to Tom.
Let's 80 home. she whispered. sin
ear. It's warmer than cab Then
when they were seated. she added
''You see II IL not to be- that Is the
fourth time"
Tom made no immediate reply. He
was stil thinking. Once he looked at
Nan, and though he knew Il not she
caught the glance and little thrill
went creeping over her she was not
thinking. she knew
MAN" he whispered after a mo
nent. there Is only one way 20 ever
get that dinner. You will have To-
Don't say It, Tom" she murmured.
aud he felt the arm which touched his
tremhle.
His face fell and the light died 10
his eyes.
you mean-there anotherq he
asked.
''No--only don't say it--now."
Then ] may"
sWhen we get home don't you I'M
derstand y want 10 be alone-we two
-whan--''
She did not finish but he understood
and pressed her hand in silence Bos-
ton Post.