South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-05
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from his grasp. My name in Pink
hammer. You viii excuse me-.
The man dropped 70 one side. ap-
parently astonished. As walked
20 the clerks desk I heard him call
20 a bell boy and say something
about telegraph blanks.
You viii give me my bill" I said
% the clerk. "and have my baggage
brought down In half an hour. 1 do
not care 20 remain where I am an
nOyed By confidence men.
moved that afternoon 20 another
hotel. a sedate. old-fashiOned one
on lower Fifth Avenue.
There was a restaurant a little
way OF Broadway where one could
DO served aim ost al fresco in a tropic
array OF screening flora. Quiet and
luxury and a perfect service made II
an ideal place IN which 20 take
luncheon or refreshment One after
noon was there picking my way 20
"A table among the ferns when I felt
my sleeve caught
Mr.. Ballfordt" exclaimed an
amazingly sweet voice.
I turned quickly 20 see a lady
seated alone-a lady about thirty.
with exceedingly handsome eyes.
who looked at me as though 1 had
been her very dear friend.
You were about 20 pass me-" she
said. accusingly. Don't tell me you
did not know me. Why should we
not shake hands-at least once IA
I 5 years7"
I shook hands with her at once. ]
Il a
table. 7 summoned with my eye
broVs a lowering waiter. The lady
was philandering with an orange
ice 7 ordered a creme de menthe.
Her hair was reddish bronze. You
could not look at It. because you
could not look away from her eyes.
But you were conscious OF sunset
while you look into the prOfundities
OF a wood at twilight
Are you sure you know me?" I
asked
NO" she said smiling. Il was
never sure OF that"
What would you think" 7 said. a
little anxiously. eff / were TO tell
you that my name Is Edward Pink
hammer. from Cornopolis. Kansas
What would I think 2" she re-
peaded. with a merry glance. why.
that you had not brought Mrs. Bell
ford TO New York with you, OF
course. I do wish you had. 7 would
have liked TO see Marian" Her voice
lowered slightly - you haven't
changed much, Elwyn."
7 felt her wonderful eyes search
ing mine and my face more closely,
Yes, you have she amended.
and there was a soft, exultant note
IN her latter tones: Il see it now.
You haven't forgotten. You haven't
forgotten for a year or a day or an
hour I told you you never cold"
I poked my straw anxioUsly in
the creme de menthe.
I'm sure I beg your pardon" I
said, a little uneasy at her gaze.
But that IS just the trouble. have
forgotten. I've forgotten every
thing"
She flouted my denial She laugh
laughed deliciously at something she
seemed 20 see in my face.
I've heard or you at times" she
went on. you're quite a big law
yer on Nyest-Denver, isn't II. or Los
Angeles? Marian must be very
proud or you. You know, I suppose,
that / married six month after you
did You may have seen fl in the
papers. The flowers alone cost two
thousand dollars"
She had mentioned Is years. Fif-
teen years is long time.
Would Il be too late" asked.
som swhat timorously, Ito offer you
congratulations
Not II you dare do t." she an
swered. with such fine intrepidity
that I was silent, and began 20
crease patterns on the cloth with my
thumb nail.
Tell me one thing" she said.
leaning toward me rather eagerly
"a thing I have wanted 60 know for
many years-just from a woman's
curiosity. OF course-have you ever
dared since that night TO touch.
smell or look at white roses-at
white roses wet with rain and dew ?"
/ took a sip OF creme de menthe.
1t would be useless. 1 suppose, 4"
1 said, with a sigh. for me to re-
peat that I have no recollection at
all about these things. Ny memory
IS completely at fault. need not
say how much I regret it"
The lady rested her arms upon
the table. and again her eyes dis
dained my words and went travelling
by their own route direct 10 my
soul. She laughed softly. with a
NLAsthEt Qud4lLE IN the BOunu--iL was
laugh OF happineSs-yes. and Of
content-and OF misery. 1 tried to
look away from her
You lie. Elwyn Bedford" she
hreathed. blissfully. ooh. I know YOU
lie,"
+ EaZed duly into the ferns.
My name IS Edward Pinkham-
mer.'' I said. Il came with the del
egates 20 the Druggists National
convention There is a movement
on foot Tor arranging a new position