The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-03-14
AQuiet
Romance
tcopyrish,. 1919. Western Newspaper Unto
BY Hssn Charlotte whitssids


ed down with delicate vlands sat Tyi
rell Hoyt. man OF wealth. leisure an
ennui. He was surfeited with tn
pleasures OF life. had picked at TIL
and that dainty with Jaded appetite
and now sat back. wondering what h
had come In for.
Al table opposite was a fair younl
girl and her aged mother. They wer,
poor. their attire, though neat gnt
clean. showed that, but there was al
expression on the wrinkled face telling
Of a novelty intensely enjoyed, and Of
pride In the shining eyes of the girl
betraylng pleasure at being able Il
thus vary the monotony of treadmil
life by giving to beloved mother what
she considered a treat.
Tyrrell Hoyt envied the old woman
the keen zest with which she enjoyed
the meal. Its cost for the two Of them
would not amount to one-half the
charge for his own expensive repast
was full OF delight to mother and
daughter. For the moment at least
they were supremely happy. Tyrrell
Hoyt sighed lnvolunt.rily. Long since
the spur of interest. of appreciation
had left him. He valued the shallow
ness Of society at its true worth and
life had become a bore In most OF its
aspects. His face grew serious, his
eyes humid as the old lady opposite
him brought back memories Of his own
mother.
The young lady noted the expression
on his face. It was a token Of inter
est, Of veneration, of respect. She
recognized and appreciated the finer
emotions depicted.
He noted later, when the girl came
to pay for the meal, that she fairly
depleted her little purse. He expert
enced sense of infinite pity and
pathos. Some careless waiter had
dropped piece of fruit. The old lady
Mrs. Davenal. slipped upon II. She
would have fallen to the floor had not
Hoyt caught her fragile form.
81 thank you" spoke Mrs. Davenal,
sweetly. This is my fiftieth birthday,
so / am not as steady on my feet as
In younger years"
"Your birthday" repeated Hoyt.
Madam, because you have made me
think OF my own dear dead mother,
please allow me TO offer a tribute of
my interest in so suspicious an event"
Hoyt deftly stepped to the flower
stand that was feature OF the res
taurant, selected beautiful cluster
of roses and pressed them into the
hand of Mrs. Davenal. The quick |
grateful tears sprung TO her eyes.
ooh, slr!" she nuttered. cit seems |
as II you are putting the climax to the |
brightest day of life!'
Irene Davenal uttered few words
of thanks, but they were heartfelt and
expressive. She could not ignore the
manifest respect in the act Of this
man, stranger though he was. She
took her mothers arm and passed on.
The incident had impressed Hoyt
strongly. lie was no Haroun al Ras
child. but had IL not been that to fol-
ow these two might have annoyed or
alarmed them. he would have sought
o learn who they were and where they
ived His soul had lifted, appealed
o by this exhibition of motherly ten
ierness and filial affection. He was
illed with clearer mental atmos-
,here than he had known for years.
He noticed a card on the table which
he pair had just left. Hoyt picked
t up and perused it. 1t bore name
md an address. evidently those Of the
Id lady, given to her by her thought
ul daughter, probably so she would
'e identified II they became separated
nd anything happened TO her.
Before another day had passed Tyr
ell Hoyt had visited the vicinity of 1
hat the young lady supported her
,other by work hard and late in a
ewing shop. Her one thought was OF !
err mother, and even that little birth ,
ay celebration had drawn seriously a
n her little money store.
Tyrrell Hoyt put himself in the way s
{ the old lady one day. She paused c
$ he lifted his hat courteously, recog- a
Izing him.
Surely you are the kind gentleman +
no gave me my birthday roses" she
nd. "Oh, SIR. they lasted for week
nd we pressed and preserved them
ter. We will not soon forget you"
There was netting dramatic or IN
sual In what followed. Ii was only L
] everyday romance, with beautiful =
lding. Tyrrell Hoyt became a wei
,me guest at the humble Davenal
,me. II was the occasion of the first Z
~ of vacation loyal. plodding Irene
I'd taken in two years that he begged Z
his friends that they would allow
m to direct their outing. II
He drove them in his automobile for
20 hours alJ.ig quiet country roads.
, invited them into his country
me, In charge of caretaker. There
as a repast on the lawn and then, as
e delighted Mrs. Da~enal dozed In
hammock. Hoyt strolled with Irene
long the gorgeous flower beds OF the
tate.
How happy you have made NAM
!, 80 spoke Irene feelingly. "Thls
ice is an earthly paradise for her
ter her hard lie in the city"
Hoyt drew nearer to her
You have but TO say the word.
me" he smoke his voice eenfient