South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-30
Life in Bloom
BY katherine Hopson.

Vile who were attending the insti-
tute al the county seat went to-
sether 20 nearby cafeteria for
luncheon. but Enid Fulton, on the
plea OF having shopping 10 do. left
them and made her way TO the
Gerry tea room
In her light spring suit and
smart little toque framed by her
fun OF fair hair, and with a bunch
Of fragrant narcissus at her belt,
she was comfortably aware that
she made charming picture.
VIII he be here today?" she
wondered a she climbed the stairs.
But one swift glance as she entered
the room. told her that the man
who for the past week az noon had
sat at the little corner table. had not
come
She had noticed him he first
time she happened TO lunch there
for ne was OF the type not often
seen in small towns The nervous
energy i'm his 1.-the figure. the
keenness of his gray eyes betok-
ened stimulation OF cosmopolitan
life. Though he seemed utterly
obliyious Of surroundings. yet al
ways he seemed to dominate the
room with his striking personal
ity
A cat may look at a king-if
sufficiently unobtrusiVe, she had
whimsically told herself. and during
IN 81 rrrr "a
seated herself where she could
watch him unobserved. During the
six years she had held the principal
ship in Paxtonville. her men ac-
quaintances had been OF the most
casual sort-and life had flowed on
uneventfuHy
I'D almost forgotten the species
could be a matter OF personal con-
Germ. she thought as she took her
seat
This noon she ate her luncheon
deliberately but the man did not
come. Just when she had given up
expecting him, he entered the room
and took his accustomed place by
the window. As usual his thoughts
| seemed a thousand miles away, and
as usual his personality seemed TO
dominate the room in compelling
waves Enid kept her eyes reso-
lutely away from his direction. but
all the time was tinglingly aware Of
his presence
She finished her ice. and as she
paid her check at the cashiers desk,
Enid asked:
ono ,-Or t-,,orr- +bo ,,,,,,, - -
gentleman al the corner table by the
window"
NO. he's a stranger. I never saw
him until he commenced taking
lunch here this week" replied the
girl.
Enid gathered up her change and
passed on out into the bright spring
sunshine.
IN probably never see him
again." she told herself
She walked slowly, pausing 10
glance now and then into the shop
windows. She did not want TO 90
back 10 the stuffy assembly hall
where institute was being held. She
had a paper TO read at three. but
/ If she chose, she could cut the first
I part OF the program, which was 10
I be a lecture on The Principles of
\ Education" by a professor from the
state university.
Il don't want 10 hear anything
about education, I'm sick of the
/ subject AS she turned corner
/ bordering on a tiny strip Of park
( she was disinterestedly aware that
someone was coming from the op-
posite block but her eyes were on
the tulips in the border bed, and
/ she paid no heed until suddenly she
/ found herself face 10 face with the
interesting stranger OF the tea room.
He half stopped. then started on,
I then paused again and lifted his
/ hat
Please don't be offended he
smiled. But I've been wondering
If YOU are really as interesting as
YOU look You aren't walking fast
50 I assume YOU have a few mo-
ments 10 spare. May we sit down
for a little while on this bench"
TO be asked 10 be interesting is
about as paralyzing as TO be told 10
be funny" she found herself saying
They sat down. and their talk was
OF light generalities, both avoided
asking direct questions. Yet each
seemed 10 be saying things that had
lain dormant in their consciousness
for years. because nobody under
stood. =, length he looked at his
watch and said reluctantly.
Il have "a business engagement al
two which | can't get out of. but
I'll be free at three. may ] see 500
somewhere then? You may bring
a dragon Of chaperon-anyth thing
only let me see YOU again 80
Il have an engagement myself al
three. which Will keep me for nearly
am hour. and I have TO take the
$50 car for home. don't live
here
For q moment he looked ooyishN
crestfallen Then his face bright
ened: Well, suppose we exchange
cards in lieu OF an introduction. And
If you'll permit me, III come 10 your
home sometime armed with proper
credentials
She agreed. and as she read his
card. things seemed 20 whirl around
for moment. for the name she read
,,-aS Mr. Bruce DurStOn