The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-06-17
A TAG DAY
ROMANCE
by JESSIE e. sHERwIN

/ aud well hitting showed signs ~ mend.
INK aud wear. stood ~ the corner "
two busy streets. cardboard In one
hand. white cnrunfiou In the other.
She was forlorniy sal a. q face and
eyes. staring vaguely 10 smiling
pleasant lady who was unr 81 the tag.
gers. The latter bad noted her d..
pressed hammer and un some inirr.
tive impulse - hnl hr1rfalnc~s haI
approached her with uu.bvrIy inter.
rst and had said:
"Y"u must wear the insignia ~ the
day dear know you are one 81 u
in sentiment"
And then the true lady unphtruslvr.
" placing flower and card into the
/ girls hands mingled with the crowd
seeking rial subscribers
The tears came into the ewes OF Yer.
da Lund. Amid her loneliness q be-
Ming act ~ consideration meant much
/ hut n emphasized the ,irrarincss and
drstiiuiion that faced her cut ~
work a stranger IN strange city. she
/ had been compelled that morning 10
give up the cheap little room she oc.
/ cuplei. She wns faint and weak.
Help the good cauSe'' hailed y
brisk CHEEKY voice. AMI the distracted
veria felt tax and flower drawn from
her clasp and bank note substituted
! Bevilderrdly she looked mp 20 note
smiling genital young man. For q
! moment be seemed quite magnetlHrd
by her sorrowful. hu, soulful eyes
! They transmitted Co her a strange I'm.
/ prrssive thrill
II won't forget that lovely facr IN y
hurry" he spoke 20 companion.
"Oh. wait. walt" cried Verbs
"Nou have made n mistake" hut the
surglng crowd had swallowed up the
I two men
Almost stupidity she stood gazing n,
the dollar note There was waited
from n near restaurant fantalizlug
whlh Of food. She turned towards II
almost herrrly Then she ran away
from the temptation she pushed aside
/ the jostllng multitude. staring ahead
/ % try and discover some tagger ~
whom she could deliver the dollar She
battled her way even more strenuous.
/ ~ Ahead she made out the young
man who had given her the money.
Finally she neared him. She put out
a hand To halt him. lie was alriiy
sweeping his lips with the swee,
flower.
+ "Oh please" painted veria. extend.
Ing the bank note. II am not tag.
ger. had no right 90 take It,
There she wavered. there n sudden
film came across her vision She
swayed weakly. Bryan Latham
caught her In his arms as conscious
ness deserted her
EDO not move dear" spoke a gen.
tie womaniy voice many hours later
and verda stared vaguely about her.
She lay upon n couch In the rest room
~ an office building A screen was
set across a corner % the apartment
and the matron stOnd regarding her
with a smile. "wlll you not tell me
something about yourselfr' she asked
And veria told her all Of her power.
~. OF the flower and tag and ~ her
temptation 90 assuage her hunger
The matron wound "A sympaihlzlng
arm about her. There were tears ~
tenderness and pity Ia her eyes. She
went away and returned with a server
containing a dainty. but strengthening
repast the first food of which yerda
had partaken for night and day
1T was Mr. Latham who left you
here" this woman told her. "a true
kind-h.arted gentleman. II there ever
was one. He was very anxious and In.
terested. lie seemed 90 surmlse that
YOU were Ia trouble. lie has telephoned
twice about YOU and wishes you 20 re-
main here until business hours are
over"
Il am Mr.. Latham's sister" inter.
rup,ed an intrudlng voice. and IA we'll
dressed lady appeared Just beyond the
edge ~ the screen. is this the young
lady my brother told me abouti he
telephoned me and II can be OF any
service 10 you let me be your friend"
She was married aud had a family
of two little children. and when the
matron had taken her aside and ialks'l
with her Ia low tones Mrs. Warner
returned % the slide of Yer,ia.
"YOu poor frlendless dove ." she
murmured. kissing her. we are 90.
Ing % mend some ~ the injustice ~
life that has fallen 90 your lot. Ny
auto Il below and when you arr strong
enough 10 accompany me We will soon
have you under roof where You
must welcome a long perfect rest"
verda Lund retired that night the
guest ~ true souled woman with
plenty ~ spare Tor those she could
help. aud glad 10 besfow a. She dld
MOI me.ti1n her brother until several
days later. aud by that time her little
ones had learned 10 iipllze the stran.
ger whose gratitude aud joy made her
love the whole world
Very unobiruslyely Bryan Latham
came ~ tie house az last He did
not obtrude himself upon Verda. but
be could not conceal an interest her
every time he met the glance ~ the
pleading eyes that had thrilled him
frum the FIRST.