Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-04-05
"a Newspaper
Clipping
o0
/, 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate.)
By SUSAN cLAoErr

Hugh Mcintosh sorted his letters
rapidly, pausing for an instant to look
at the superscription upon a small,
square envelope, the handwriting of
which he did not recognize. This he
laid aside for the moment for more
pressing business and then forgot it.
This was strange, for 1t was an in
sistent thing, lying as 1t did alone upon
the desk in front of him. Once his
eyes fell upon it and he stretched out
his hand to take it up but was inter
rupted and not until he left the office,
hours later, was he conscious that the
letter was still unread.
He picked 1t up and slipped it into
his pocket, thinking to read it at his
leisure and again 1t was forgotten.
Yet he was neither a careless nor for
getful man, but at this time he was
absorbed by an important case that
claimed all his energy and determine
ton to carry 1t to a successful issue.
Beside this, he believed it to be an In
vitation which he had no time to ac-
cept.
Two months later as he was passing
the White House he collided with a
woman in white who had suddenly
stopped in his path to read the suffrage
banner held aloft by a very tired
looking girl. With an apology he was
about to pass on, when he caught a
side view of the face under the broad
brimmed hat. "You," he said, stopping
short and holding out his hand. 8"
thought you were In California"
ST was until two months ago." Mary
Bowie answered, "and 1t is good to be
back, ever If my throat does contract
with an ache every time a uniform
passes me. War seemed farther away
out there, but here, where almost every
other man you meet is in khaki, 1t is
very near"
EYES," he said, looking at her with
appreciative eyes, "living in Washing
ton we are In the midst of things and
the war is brought very close. But
suppose we forget it for a time. Come
and take lunch with me. I know a
place where they give you wonderful
rolls and a delicious salad. That is, of
course, unless you prefer a hotel"
"My tastes are still simple" she re-
piled with a laugh. "Rolls and salad
sound good to a hungry woman"
SIT is rather a shabby little place."
he answered, almost In apology.
"What matter? Washington is a
city of extremes. Two blocks up the
venue from the White House is
s~habbiness indeed. Walk down Seven
teenth street until you reach the Cor
coran Art gallery. What do you
pass? Gentility, nothing more until
you come to the wonderful group of
buildings further on. That is the one
thing about Westinghouse strong
contrasts"
81 did not bring you to lunch to talk
about contrasts and extremes. I want
to hear about yourself. Why didn't
you let me know you were in town."
"Don't you read the daily papers?'
she asked carelessly. st believe I was
announced even to the details of my
travelling dress, which was an old one,
by the way, and did not deserve no
toriety."
81 never read the society news and
frivolity does not sit well upon you,
my dear young lady. What reason
did you have for not sending me your
card?'
"Are you sure I did not?"
"Quite sure. 1t would have reached
me If you had sent it."
II forgot your address and did not
think to look in the directory. You
can give it to me now, if you WILL"
He looked at her steadily. "Are you
quite sure that was the reason?"
why not? 1t is the best I can
think of on the spur of the moment"
she returned lightly.
"Why should there be a reason?" he
asked again.
"Why do you always look for one?"
she countered back. 'Think of it as a
woman's whim."
Neither whims nor ~frivolity be-
comes you," he replied shortly, "but I
will give you my card" He drew a
fiat case from his pocket and, not find
ing what he wanted, laid several
papers upon the table. U%ppermost on
the pile was the unopened letter re-
ceived two months before.
Mary Bowie's eyes widened, then
became expressionless as she glanced
from it to her companion, still search
ing for his elusive card. AS he raised
his eyes they, also, were caught and
held by the square envelope.
81 forgot it," he said simply. SIT
reached me when I was absorbed in
an important case. OF course it was
in%excusable. 1 meant to read it when
/ had leisure, but whenever l started to
open it I was interrupted. If you will
pardon me / will look over it now"
LET it wait. An hour or so will
now make little difference to your cor
respondent"
81 have never correspondent with a
woman in my life, and l doubt if this