Saint Mary's beacon., 1917-02-08
DOING NEN YORK


Tom Crawford jlngled the change IN
his pocket and looked out at the snow,
the drst Of the season. de had much
the same thought now that he had bad
when the first yellow buds on the
naples ln front OF the house were
swelling In the spring. Why was Il
that the seasons changed 20 fast and
be was stiIl NOT engaged to Marthaf
The whole thing amounted % this:
Tommy was never sure that he wanted
Martha forever until some other fellow
came along aud threatened 20 carry
out the program himself
y Think he said. with q shrug.
'that need { change. A week or two
Of New York win put new Iife into me.
The girls there have dash and style
that's diverfing after a diet OF quiet
village ma.dens. Even Martha. pretty
az she Is. has about as much pep ~
milk toast."
SO be packed up. fixed things at the
Office so he could leave, and called
Martha on the phone 10 say '.good-by."
"Isnf II funny answered Martha,
when she heard the news. Il was just
going to call you and tell you the same
thing. I'm going to New York. too.
Cousin Walters wife sent for me TO
make them VISIT. and I'm starting to-
morrow, Wouldn't II be funny n I'd
see you theref'
Now this was Tomfny's cue 10 say:
"Of course You Will. II you give me
your ADDRESS" But instead he mn
swered hastily "Yes. wouldn't Il but
FIN afrnid won't be so lucky. Every
minute will be full 10 the limit; bust.
ness must be attended to. you know.
But hope you have q fine time. little
girl. and won't quite forget me while
you're doing society"
And with his mind firmly liked upon
the good time be Intended 10 have with
Bnnton from Albany. whom he had
wired 10 meet him. he boarded the
8 80 express and forgot oil about
Martha.
But when he reached the hotel next
morning he found telegram from
Brinton saying that be couldn't be
present at the festivities.
This was a damper. because be hnd
always counted on Brinton TO steer
him around.
He tried to mink of what he and
Bnnton hnd done IN the mornings on
their last visit 10 Manhattan: surely
they had done something 70 choke ~
the nmc. Then be remembered. Why.
sleep. Of course. They never got 10
bed until three or four. and they rose
AZ noon.
The day passed 10 some way. lie
went to the Hlppodromc 10 the after
noon and the opera Ia the evening. But
an BohefDe" bored Tim and he left
b,.forc u wns over. He picked q cnba-
ret ni random. but he did not enjoy II.
The people were ali In two or foura.
He was the only one alone and be
dldnt know soul.
BUT Tommy was game. He had come
TO New York for . time. 20 a time he
would have II be died Ia the attempt.
The next day was new round OF soli-
thry pleasures. varying little from the
first. and the NEXT was almost like H.
Then one day Is be was walking
along Firth avenue two women came
ont Of q shop and wsre climbing into q
limousine when one of them cried.
"why. there's Tommy Crawford. Hello.
Tomin
And Tommy turned 70 see Martha
beaminE on him deiiKhtedly and hold
ing out her hand.
"cousin Mary. want you 10 meet
Tommy. Mfr. Crawford Come and get
In and drive home with us won't your
TN dying for a talk. rye been having
such a glorious time I'm crazy 10 tell
someone all about it,
Tommys lonely heart gave a few
longing tilumps How he wanted 10
accept. E3us he remembered hts excuse
Of urgent business "No. thank you"
ne drew out his watch. TITS getting
late and have an appointment. But
III ring you up and maybe you can
Cousin MARY mentioned a night for
dinner. and after considerable reGec-
tion ana dellberation Tommy mur-
INJURED thar she was very kind and he'd
certainly DO his best 10 arrnngc 70 20.
II was almost week ahead.
And In the meantime II seemed that
Tommy wan due TO collide with Martha
and her friends everywhere he went.
and Tommy's heart had many a jeal-
ons pang when he saw The number Of
men who paid her attention.
Then came the night Of the dinner
Tommy found the affsir a state cere-
mony large enough TO leave hia alb
sance and Martha's afterward prae-
tically unnoticcd. They bad slipped
into the conservatory.
"You1l never guess how lonely rive
been, Martha" confessed Tommy with
meaning he thought the girl little
guessed
"poor Tommy sympnihized Mar
tha.
"And can't have ali these fellows
moDopolizing my girl this way" be
went on y love you. Martini. Let's
get married here IN New York before
we 10 home. Don't say you can't care
for me, dear" anxiously. "rm crazy
about you.
And n Martha stilI hesitated. Il was
because she hnd known how Il was
from the beginning. And. II she cared
TO punish Tommy, now was the time.
But to show how really superior she
was TO any other girl we know. she
smiled up Of him adorably, albeit o
trife mischieYously, and said "Yes.
III marry you. Tommy. II you're not
too buoy"