The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31

him, OF course, as only a sympathetic
girl could do under tine circumstances.
Blu. he actually proposed marriage to
his consolatrice before the interview
was over. He had only been in love
with love all the while, but he did not
know it. He had mistaken the symbol
for the thing.
There was a Red Cross girl at the
theatre booth OF one OF these officer
hotels. 1t was her business to secure
seats for any of the officers who might
like them. Her task has been difficult
and of q delicate nature, because nine
times out Of ten the men did not know
what they wanted and they relied on
her judgment to send them to what
ever she liked. Opera, light and grand,
always drew heavily. as to enjoy these
one need not know the language.
However, d fellow happened aiuns vo-
casionally who knew what he wanted
One Of these, after many hesitations,
whispered that he would like to see
ar Immoral" piece. She sent him to
: g. tango tea parlor.
She was one of those tawny blondes
| with long dashed hazel eyes set China
/, wise in a creamy complexion. She wax
| dreamy, rather psychic, of equable dis
position and serviceable to all alike
Men fingered at her counter because
| she was restful and agreeable.
For several days off and on she had
noticed man who leaned against a
i pillar observing her. He never seemed
to want anything, did not approach to
speak to her, in fact seemed aloof and
alone and rather out of place in the
gay, careless throng. His face was
tanned by exposure and his rather
rough exterior bespoke him as being
from the front, where he must have
been roughing 1t. She saw him speak
with only one man, and this young
fellow frequently came over for a
friendly Irritation with her. That wa.
all.
This man of the pillar, as she came
to call him herself, rather discon
certed her. He would disappear oc
casionally for days at a time, she
would almost have forgotten him
when presto! there he was again. TIL,
thing that puzzled her also was tina
he seemed to wear many different uni
forms; once she had thought him {
Major, and the next time he wa:
dressed as a private; once she hao
seen him In civilian dress, but hi.
clothes were not of American make
and yet she felt sure he was an Ameri
can.
An AvowaI ana IA Confession.
Finally one day. when there wer,
not many around. he came over ant
spoke to her. WELL" he began will
some show OF emotion, 81 might a.
we'll surrender. Do you know / hav,
been just about hating you. The frs
time 1 saw you / knew I was har,
hit. have had a presentiment tina
you were going to be something II
my life. God knows what that vii
be. 1 have tried not to speak to 70,
and think 1 could have made goo,
; If that silly jackass of a friend o
mine had not kept all the time lean
ing over the counter trying to MAX
love to you. I'd like to kick him."
Under the soft. creamy skin tn
color rose. But she passed thi
rather uncertain declaration owe
} lightly, as she had many another
! NlhlJs bllO StAl iACSNAANSS VI III
manner. she too felt vague present.
ment. She was not without world
experience. She had been and wa
still supporting a mother in America
and life for her was rather serious
He was not glib of speech after hi
first onslaught; he left her abrupt
: without any explanation of himsel
| and she did not see him again 70
days, but she frequently looked at tn
pillar where he had stood.
T Finally he came again, this time evi
IDENTIFY with some fixed purpose in hi
mind. He came straight up to he
, desk and in very humble fashio
J asked II she would not be kind hearte
: and go out to dinner with him; sal
he was homesick and blue. Going ou
, to dinner with lonely officers is on
{ of the pet diversions of the Red eros
r girl; she accepts these invitations a
a matter of course, as part of he
duties, pleasant diversions in her dali
! grind.
The dinner was followed by attend