Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-07-20


ing In 50 public place, Helen sought
a secluded seat at the end Of the cor
ridor. 1t was now twenty minutes OF
seven and Warren had said six-thirty
sharp.
A throbbing orchestra mingled with
the hum Of voices and shutting OF feet.
A gilt-braided page dashed by shout
ing, Mr.. Yatest Mr.. Caldwell" A
messenger boy passed through with
handful Of kilograms.
"How are you, grille" The man
on the lounge beside her Helen rose to
greet a girl in an abbreviated checked
suit, twenty-button boots, patent leath-
er hat and white fox boa.
A pretty blonde girl, powdering her
nose with her gold chatelaine acces-
SORES, was now Joined by an elderly.
yOuthfully groomed man with gray
spats and a carnation In his button
hole.
Some of the couples strolled toward
the white-and-rose dining room. but
most of them passed out. making no
pretense of patronizing the Astorbilt
beyond using 1t as convenient meet
ing place.
To Helen it seemed an imposition
upon the hotels hospitality. The wom-
en- were fiagrantly the greater para
sites. They used the dressing room,
the powder. the service Of the attend
ing maid, wrote their notes on the ho-
tel stationery, appropriated few ex-
ira sheets; then met their friends in
the corridor and sailed of to dine at
some cheaper or livelier restaurant.
Possibly the hotel folks counted on
a percentage of future clientele from
this seemingly profitless patronage.
for they made no effort to discourage
1t.
Watching with absorbed interest
this shifting panorama. 1t was ten
minutes Of seven when Helen next
glanced at the clock.
Had Warren been detained at the
Office? He was usually most prompt
never more than few moments late.
Anxiously she rose and strolled
through the main lobby. There were
countless men in gray business suits
and rough straw hats-but Warren
was not among them.
When she returned to her seat 1t
was taken. Every chair and lounge
that lined the walls of this popular
corridor was now filled. Apparently
seven o'clock was the universal meet
ing hour.
Feeling painfully conspicuous Helen
stood by one Of the marble columns.
Surely he would not keep her wait
ing here unless something serious had
detained him.
The bronze clock over the archway
proclaimed seven. Again she walked
through in the vain hope that he
might be waiting in the lobby. Pass
ing the mems cafe-she stopped short
with a leaping heartbeat.
At the second wall table, his back
toward the door-sat Warren. A tall,
gray-haired man was opposite him.
They were leisurely talking and smOk-
ing over leisurely glass of Scotch.
The blood rushed to Helen's face.
That he should let her wait for over
half an hour in public corridor while
he lounged here!
Aquiver with indignation, she stood
in the doorway, expecting him to
turn. but his cigar finished, he drew
out another and reached for the match
safe.
Blindly she rushed back through
the corridor. Smarting under this
humiliating neglect, her mind leaped
to action.
Her cheeks ablaze, she made for the
ladies' waiting room. With a tense
ly held pen she scrawled:
81 have waited here since half pas,
six. Now l am going home. Wher
you are quite Throughout can either
phone or come after me-"
Again she was at the door of the
cafe. Reckoning a passing page, she
thrust the note In his hand with ar
agitated:
"Give this to the gentleman in the
gray suit at the second tablet"
: Pausing only long enough to see the
boy approach Warren. she dartet
across the lobby, through the revolv
ing doors and down the street to tn,
subway.
Her thoughts still chaotic, sh,
reached their darkened apartment
Without even turning on the lights
she CROPPED her way to her room ant
threw herself on the couch in a par
oxysm of angry tears.
That he should have treated hel
with so little consideration or respect
With all his brusque neglect he hat
always been punctilious about their ap
pointed meetings. And now for hin
to spend a deliberate half-hour in tn,
mems cafe while she stood waiting II
the public corridor!
| The thrilling bell sent her stumblin,
through the dark. There was som,
! mistake! He was phoning to explain
Then her leaping hope dropped sick
eningly as central drawled: "'Xcus
1T, please"
Turning on the lights, she sank OF
the window seat. Why did he no
phone? He knew she would be hom
by this time. Was he coming for her
Her anxious gaze strained down tn
dark street.
! Twelve minutes to eight! Ten-fv