The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-16

her up-who, what, where about her.
1t doesn't matter-though there's really
nothing but all this rot of position TO mat
ter. Yet the rot is what scared me
away from her-I confess it. Thered be so
much said. And fancied she wouldn t take
me-Lord, of course she wouldn Il Except
for what could give her. went away
as you know, but couldn't stay away. I
came back to-ask her; and that first day
saw you two. 1 thought-well, you're
the glib, young, clean-cut sort that women
fancy-oh, yes, you are! 1 stepped down
and out. :. And now I've got to sit in the
Club window the rest of my life and-and
hear this sort of thing Tillotson said of her
and not be able to do anything. It's fine
mess, look at it all around!"
Pen sat back, Imply.
Il don't know what use my eyes are" he
said feebly. "Not the first thing of all this
did dream. Why,I never saw hey-as you
see her"
"For which am grateful" Trudell was
drunk with the relief of speech after his
mighty repression. "She's as sweet and
clean as northwest wind. You know she's
clever-but not how clever: keen, UP to
things, big and wholesome thinking! She
could be-all a man could be and all a
WOuldIl NC, 10 IlRnI Indut I1cI
hands are the most beautiful woman ever
possessed. There's no flag, or pearl powder
or lip tint there. But what I want
what 1 really rant, Pen, is a place away
from-things I've always known. want
place-with garden for her where could
watch her fussing round flowers; and I'd
wear slippers and smoke pipe, and she'd
scold to me about the maids and my ties
I'm hungry and thirsty for the blessed
bother of her-you know, don't your"
eyes, / know" said Pen; and wasn't
ashamed of the lump In his throat.
He was late in getting back to the letters
that waited his signature-the most recent
inoompetent's second try. His personal
mail awaited him, atop the pile. The first
letter he opened was brief note from Miss
Parkman telling him that she had left Tillot-
sons and would be glad to return to Bond
and Griscom's at her former salary.
After an hour of the hardest thinking he
had ever expended on any woman save Sue,
he wrote asking her to call the next after
noon at three. 1t was non-comnittal note.
At two minutes before three Miss Park
man came. Pen was irritated to find himself
almost afraid of her-afraid of what he
might discover; but looking at her with new
eyes nc was COIQDSllGQ I'd dQuQI IldI she was
pretty girl-decidedly pretty girl She
might have been-anybody, positively she
was so knowingly trig and up to the minute
in the smallest detail of her street things.
"Of course you know" he told her
frankly, "that haven't found anyone-or
two-to fill your placer"
81 hoped supposed you hadn't" she
answered, equally frank.
81 want you to tell me" he said, why
you left us"
Miss Parkman showed neither surprise
nor confusion, but she didn't reply at once.
She made answer finally, looking at the
polished desk top.
81 can't tell you any satisfactory reason.
/ had been here long time, and T.
suppose developed nerves. / can promise
it won't happen again-if you're willing to
take me back" She looked straight at him
then, and he saw that she was moved, for
some reason unknown to him.
you'll think it strange that insist, no
doubt, but there are reasons why hang it
all, Miss Parkman forgive me-I'm not
clever at mincing words, and want you to
be sensible. You always were sensible. Re
call the way you left-the day you left. /
was talking to earnestly-and you
badly; and we were inter
IuplcQ. MISS uCdQ mCcQ
sharply and her eyes grew keen. Pen stam-
mered on. 1t might have seemed-er-in
short, I don't know myself. +. Deuce
take it, did have anything at all to do with
your leaving here! Not that I think so,
but
Miss Parkman came from her chair as
though hand had wrenched her up. She
was scarlet, angry, contemptuous-any-
thing but conscience-stricken.
care you trying to tell me that anyone
would-cos.Id- think-''
"I'm afraid" said Pen, scorching, that
they could, really, don't you know"
Whereupon Miss Parkman turned her back
to him and stood so full minute, hands
clenched.
what must tell you" the girls voice
was almost harsh will make my coming
back out of the question; but to make you
very sure-why, 1 asked to come back be-
cause I ,ods so sure of you. was interested
in the business, of course, but In a way that
no one-however close to you-could have
found Objectionable. Don't you know
that?"
"Ye" Pen exploded. 81 do. I felt it,
all TIE