The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-10-30
AfOUNG MANS FANCY
BY EARL REED sILvERs.

cared about the name of the eminent
lover of beauty who first remarked
upon the tendency Of a young mans
fancy In the springtime. Pat was the
cashier in a cavelike restaurant In
the basement of one Of New York's
most ambitious buildings, and through
out the long days he lived In an at
mosphere which might be called su-
premely non-sentimental.
Pat considered his life more or less
of a success. Every Saturday evening
he drew $18 from the treasury of the
Connecticut Lunch company. He lived
In a boarding house near Forty
second street, and was a general favor
lite with his fellow boarders.
This was especially true In the case
of Miss Nellie Dobbins, who dispensed
groceries In one of the big department
stores, and who confided to her friend,
Tillie Maginnis, that she was "just
crazy about Pat" But Pat was utter
ly Indifferent to the charms of the
feminine sex.
LIZ WASH a OA1o AAaACA ~ 80
means. He simply didn't care anything
about the girls; they had lever played
any part whatever in his rather check
cred career, and he could not see how
they should ever be intimately con-
cerned In his future activities.
For two years Pat basked in the hap
piness of bachelordom. And then, one
bright spring afternoon, his eyes rest
ed upon the red cheeks of the prettiest
girl he had ever seen. She had
dropped into the restaurant as a dew
drenched rose might fall into the
mouth Of a barren cave, and had or
dered q ham sandwich and a glass of
milk.
"And sure" he muttered to himself,
there's a girl who would charm the
heart of any man."
A scene Of spring came through the
door leading to the street. Pat stirred
uneasily; a vague restlessness stole
over him.
Its lonely you're looking this bright
afternoon" he said.
The girl raised her eyes n with
cred him with a scornful glance.
"And it's lonely you'll be looking, too,
you poor boob, If you don't beat ii
away from here" she answered. MY
friend is due to meet me In about ten
minutes"
Pat rose, romance suddenly gone
from his life.
I'm sorry to have disturbed you"
he apologized. your looks deceived
me-"
He made his way slowly back to the
bench where the majority of his wax
ing hours were spent. The girl, hav-
ing finished her light repast, dropped
her ten cents upon the counter and
passed on out Of Pat ~Flanagan's life.
But even as she went, head held
high, Pat noticed the silk of her
cheek had the crimson of her lips.
81 wonder" he thought idly. "tf any
other girl could have as pretty a face
as thatf"
He was still bordering over the mat
ter when he reached his boarding
house at eight o'clock that evening.
And then, wonder of wonders, he
met Nellie face to face or the steps
of the front porch. She was dressed
for the street, and Pat noticed that
one stray curl had escaped from be
meath the chic straw hat.
"And where might you be going on
such a perfect night as thisT' he
asked.
sIt's too grand to stay In the house.
she answered. "Tm going to take
walk"
She turned as II to go, and Pat hest
tated between desire and a sudder
overwhelming b~ashfulness.
would you be minding IL l wen
along with your" he asked.
"Come along If you want to-" she
said. ~ thought I'd go up along Riv
erside drive"
"Just the place." Pat acquiesced
"Sure, the stars will look grand OF
the river"
When they reached the drive thu
ulOOnn nuu dIlSCh anu was HSSc
yer beams upon the shimmering water
of the Hudson river. And then IA
Flanagan, the unsentimental, the con
irmed bachelor, suggested h a the!
find a bench along the river bank an
watch the boats go by. They select
ed the most secluded bench they coul'
find, and two hours later when tn
patrolman made his usual rounds, n
saw two figures huddled so close to
gether that they looked very much Tx
one person. Perhaps the glory OF tn
calm spring night had affected hin
also. for he smiled understanding,
and crept closer 10 the bench. From
out of the semidarkness he heard
mans voice.
"And sure, Nellie" II was saying, "
didn't think that you would ever MARI.
the likes of me-"
al think you're the grandest maj
in the world" a woman's voice an
swered. "And I'll marry you when
ever you want me to-"