The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-16
CopvHl6Nr&0 i8l1


you; but he was kind to me when carnein
his way-as often happened. In the bexin-
ning-it was a hot day and, suppose L
looked wilted-he gave me some flowers.
Gave them in IA nice way, you under
stand; and / was grateful that he had no
tced me- suppose he saw what I felt, for
after that-every day--came more flowers.
-. was-alarmed little; but then /
saw that he had done no more than leave an
order with his florist. It meant Just 4 kindly
impulse. But to me-" she smiled wry
smile that was very like the self-oontcmptu-
Gus tolerance Billy TrudeIl had shown the
day before-"to me it meant more !. -.
Mind, knew, with the sensible side of me,
how idiotic was. /. I'm clever, in my
way; I've prettiness of sort-but what Is
that to him1 There are many such INN
his own class. My mother was lady's
maid before she married father. He was
plumber. J. Such things don't count with
me, their daughter, against the facts that
they were of good stock, clean, sturdy, self
respecting; but it would count with-many
people. I'm telling you this to show you
that / was all to blame for thinking-any-
thing SO p-eposterous-as / sometimes
thought. -. Mother and are alone now.
We're not poor, we love each other, and
her-or take her into life that would make
her unhappy-whatever the temptation.
;. My most ambitious dream ended In
place away from the dty-a place with .
garden. >. Well he went away-to be
gone a long time, / understood; and
made myself face that and accept it. But
he came back Unexpectedly and L knew
that wasn't strong enough to 60 on seeing
him, and having him kind to me, with
out caring too much. : =. i left you If
he had come to me, kheye-ever given me
a thought
Come now, be sensible. Let's talk
business. Let's" ~ sas
at can't couldn't stay. There are
places enough. 1t isn't possible, tell you,
now" But weakly she let him put her
in her old chair.
Take off that hat. Your gloves I'm
going to give you-I'm going to dictate to
you, at last!" Pen laughed exdtedly and
rumpled his hair. Lord. to think Of iii
-. Here, look at this batch of letters!
Same old Notwithstanding and Hight crouch
ing and nobody to answer back. Just for
the good it'll do me, send 'em letter. Talk
to 'em the way you"
ooh, no, begged Miss Parkman, instead
lily; and laughed. And then leaned on her
familiar table, her hands before her eyes,
womanishly weak.
"There, there. Pen furried about
"Ill be back-just going to get-something
to work with" He shot out, closing the
door behind him, burst into the grave young
mans box and brushed him from his labors
without ceremony. GO out" he ordered,
go to- want to use this phone in private
minute. Hello! Hello-Centydl"
He kicked the door to in the grave young
mans superior face and began his search by
wire for Billy Trudell.
Miss Parkman was making mysterious
marks on the letters Pen handed her and
commenting crisply on the condition of the
correspondence, when Trudell came In.
Penny Bond was for carrying through the
pretense of unlooked-for arrival; Miss Park
withdraw; but Billy Trudell was In no
mood for hindrance.
"Dear dear -" he said, as
though it were word he had coined for
her; and put her hands to his lips. Pen
had reached the door by then; and went
out, closing it softly.
He told it to Sue by telephone, as casually
and gleefully as he could manage; and her
involuntary cry as she heard made him
vince He sat for some minutes after they
had finished, looking at the oriace through
which her voice had come to him; and he
vowed new tenderness and care for her as
solemnly as though before the high altar.
Her doubt and her bitter hurt she had kept
from him, for love of him !; and for love Of
her he would never let her know he, had
blundered upon her wasted martyrdom.
But he meant to be very, very careful in
time to come; and he bought her pearl
pendant on his way to the train.
Sue was the first to mention probabilities;
she came down from a final inspection of her
sleeping boy and perched on Pen'schair arm
where he was taking last cigarette before
the library FIRE.
What are you to do for satisfactory
stenographer-you poor boy1" Her tone
implied that Billy Trudell might have shown
more consideration. Pen chuckled and snug
gled his head down on her satin shoulder
I'm going to hire Tillotson's best one"
he confded. Don't know whyyI haven't
thought of it before. Great idea, WHAT"
She laughed, pushed back the locke
blond hair that Donld drop over his fore
head-yerv fAnderlv-And UfaSferedO IL