The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-11
Love Affairs of a Lonely Woman
By MARY HALF

opening it in surprise. It was her tall
 neighbor, Holladay.
 "Yes?' she volunteered in astonish- ment.
 Say, I don't want to be too presumpt-
 uous on first acquaintance.' he began l with an engaging twinkle in the eyes
 behind the horn-rimmed glasses, but Mrs. Selden, our household demon of gos- | sip, told me that you were stranger | in the city, and I wondered if you weren't
 bit lonely?"
 | Jane was nonplussed for reply, but
 the poet" as the landlady had labelled him. continued blithely. Yes, I know what it is to be lone- some in New York, for I had to get my
 share of it when I came from college l You know everyone in New Yc~ rom somewhere else. I don't believe there's a single genuine native. Now, what do you say to going out to dinner with me tonight? I'll take you to funny little
 place where you won't feel lonely, and
 it will cheer you up.'' Jane gasped at the suddenness of it., and at Holidays unconscious assump- 1 ton that it was perfectly proper for hIm | to offer hospitality within a few minutes i of their introduction.
 | 'Yes, you are all dressed up now. and l so you come right along, down to Green
 wich village with me You've read about l II III the magazines, ana IL IS a lOt more | fun than the stories make it out to be. You certainly don't enthuse over the food
 in this place, and I know of a little 60- I cent dinner that would add a century of 1 new life to old man Methuselah, Wait | until I get my hat, and we'll let Mrs.
 Selden save two portions for tomorrow s l hash"
 l He spun about and hurried into his room on the front of the same floor. l Jane was preparing a discreet and | courteous refusal, when he whisked out
 of his room once more. Holladay caught l the meaning e. her puzzled expression l and smiled
 l Now listen, Miss Brown, he be- gan, more serious in demeanor than be- 1 fore. Don't be offended and don't say Inc. I mean my invitation in the incest l sort of way. I know that you are lonely l and you've got a lot of lonesome days and evenings in this big maeistrom of l a city. Just come along, and see a little 1 iollity in nice way. It will be an intro l ducton to New York in a different way,
 and you won't see anything to offend you. This little restaurant where l want l to take you is pretty and it is cheap, for
 I'm only a struggling, starving writer, l you know. There will probably be a few | of my friends down there, a couple of painters and illustrators, also some long | haired social refermers and deformers | and lot of other types. They will amuse 1 you as much as they do me. So please understand my urging just as I mean 1 it."
 l There was a certain chivalrous manner l about the tall young man, and kindly honest ring in his voice that was con l vincing.
 l And Jane. against her better indo- ment of the properties in the case, hesi- | tated.
 Come along, do,'' he urged, and she | finally nodded.
 l If you'n wait until change my l clothes" she began. embarrassed next | instant at the remark She felt that she 1 had no right to wear the new gown, pur- | chased with money furnished by her new | employer. But Holladay, of course, did | not understand.
 "Oh, that's very nice right now, he said breezily. We'll have to hustle to get ] place at the Greenwich Village tavern for everybody gets there by o'clock ! You don't need to dress up bit for that l little place..
 l And so with masculine blindness he ig- | nored James first New fork made gown | the most expensive dress which she had l ever wornl She could dot resist a smile | at his obtuseness. Then, with the thought of the lonely evening before her should she refuse the well-meant invi-