The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-01-04
ADRIFT
BY ELIZABETH sAlELps-

flashed with Rreut. hopes anu tiie won
| derful dreams OF youth, She arrived
| In New York with the conviction tina
an amazing adv enture was waiting foi
her each lime she, turned a corner. She
lived alone for oiNe week In the goa
city of the United States and, OF
course, 1t happened. On the first day
Of her second weeks stay in the old
fashioned brown-stone boarding house
abe descended the dark, musty-smell'
ing halls, with the dim gas Jets burning
to the dining room for luncheon.
Claire was not only dew.y, fresh and
rosy, she had cultivated an tair Of dash
and she was wistful, but Of This latter
quality she was utterly unconscious.
Whom she entered the dining room she
found q stranger nc her table. New
York IS overflled with pretty girls, but
Gilbert Brown sat up when ne looked
at Claire.
Claire looked him over completely
without. apparently, taking her eyes
from the cream pitcher In front OF
her. he was too big. she decided. She
shrank from men so broad and with
such square chins There was some
thing so delicate about her, she seemed
a little beyond Gilbert Brown, but he
started 70 talk anyway.
Luncheon finished, they went mp the
stairs 70 stll glOomier room, known
as the library After another half
hours acquaintance he felt, free to in
qulre. "Tlaven't you anyone to look
after your
She answered with Hitting laugh,
aNO ones ever taken care Of me. II
only have Aunt Annie, who was glad
l. came 10 New York.
EDO hack home. child" he warned
her "you won't stand being banged
about here"
She gave the man a long specula-
i've glance, 81 haven't any home to go
to- she laughed lightly, Diminishing the
subject forever. A thought flashed into
her golden head that here was chance
for adventure. She wanted to dance
and dine IN the restaurants. and her
week In New York proved that she
probably never would, unless she went
alone. She astonished the man by tell
Ing him this. All her glrllsh desire'
for experience beamed trustfully from
her brown eyes as she talked.
"Tli take you to a show" he Offered
eagerly. "First, wen have dinner witt
n cabaret. then a show after" he urged |
Still Claire hesltated. The opportunI |
~ so suddenly presented took he
breath away. His eyes were burnin
Into hers In an uncomfortable way. Tn
to seek adventure was to-
strong 70 deny.
Upstairs In the tiniest hall bedrooi
ever built into Il boarding house Clair
dressed for the evening, aglow witt
the wonder of the adventure ON which
she was starting.
When she met Brown her eager
brown eyes looked directly into his
Her tight grasp on his arm gave him
the feeling OF being n protector in
deeper sense than ever before. She
carried her head high animated with
che joy OF living She intoxicated
Brown
The cheap dazzle of Broadway
wearled him, but Claire laughed up at
him IN childish excitement.
do you like this sort of thing?" he
questioned wonderIngly.
81 can't think you enough for taking
me-" she chirped ITS all more beau
.iful that ! ever dreamed, much more
She started for home willingly when
he suggested It,
''You must not come again." he eau
toned her "other men will ask you"
"But want to come again." she pro-
tested.
Secretly Brown made up his mind
hat IN the morning he would look up
he first train to her home town and
see Tint she took II, II he had to take
Ter to the station himself. Aloud he
'nld, you're the incest little girl
,ver sawr
Claire placed her soft palm over
lis mouth.
"You've told me every minute that
IN pretty"
He caught her hand and held II. He
,new he should drop It, but she looked
Il bin with bright, happy eyes and
milei Browns heart always ruled his
lead and at the touch Of her soft little
rm against his, he drew her close to
lin. He covered her face with kisses.
II want you with me always, sweet
me" he whispered In a trembling {
.olce, 81 don't want to let you CO. She
,ut her arms around him and kissed {
i'm Releasing her he drew his breath {
n sharply. 81 shouldn't have talked
o You at all You're too good for men
Ike me- Tomorrow" he continued. /
Smiling sweetly into his face Claire
Interrupted, Tomorrow wen go al ]
eumring again." Brown clenched her
Unds Ia his strong grip.
al don't want to let you go out OF {
ny life, but"
al shan't Wen he perfectly happy &
prether." Claire laughed and cuddled 5
loser to him. Then she whispered "
This is my first proposall"
Il was several minutes before Gill 81
ert Brown could speak. In his heart b
hitch was big. he was glad for the In q
ocen, OF her. n
little treasure" he murmured, "rn ~
e good husband to you" o
Copyright. 1915, BY the Mcclure Newspa-
per SyuScats.)
Then the Ice Formed.
Her-No doubt you think l am old
r than l really am.