Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-20
THE DAILY NOvEEErTE
BarbGra's Journey

DARBARA LANE walked slowly on
~ her way with never n glance into
the shop windows so alluringly display
ing their spring openings. Why tanta.
could provide only. life,s barest necessi-
Yet, juat before she reached the mar.
row doorway opening on the dinsy stairs
employed, Barbara actually did pause
before a plate glass window containing
a scattered array Of pamphlets and a
picture IN ny,specked frame. 1t was
not at all artistic--that picture-merely
portrayins a huge black steamer with
bright red tunnels. yet to the girl II
breathed of faraway climes, strange
peoples. exotic fruits and flowers;
to enter the shop. ''Id like one Of your
booklets on--on-" her eyes fell on
stack Of literature on the counter, ION
the tour to California" she said.
she hurried to the Office. During the
humid afternoon the presence of that
pamphlet lessened the monotony of adj
dressing ,, envelopes and even made less ,ss
Gray. Junior partner. swung by. on his
way 70 join the bcvy of merry girls Who
had stopped for him on their way to the
shc and Stan had been such good
girls who had everything, money,
clothes. automobiles, like Kitty Van
Alden. get the men. tooH .
That evening, however, Barbara for
got for little Stanton and Kitty. pre-
sumably enjoying one another's society
at the club. Absorbed in text and illus
trations of the California booklet, she
wandered In far places.
Then, as she closed It with a sigh. the
great idea sprang into being. Why pre-
tend for only an hour or two; why. not
play she was actually taking the trip
40, h,,A Aav ya hIy pn
From now on, Barbara's days were
full Of interest. So completely did she
throw herself into the game that when.
week latsS sS, at the nssd Sss
where she was going to spend her Sat-
urday afternoon of, she absent-minded-
ly replied, Coronado Beach; and then
had the grace to blush at the blank stare
So consclentiously did she map out her
itinerary and study the towns along the
route that unwittingly she won bit OF
ssnor mamSsr Of f0m the rm r M
that Miss Lane" he said to young Gray.
81 got an address wrong to one Of our
western clients and she corrected It. How
many girls would know that Trinidad Id'ua y. y
Stanton would have agreed to any
commendation of Barbara. For he and
Barbara had been the best of friends
once. What on earth made a girl dIop
at all? .....r..... .... ... %
Now make-believe tours as well as
real ones must como to an end some
time When Barbara, meticulously ad-
herring to schedule, had at last com.
passed the journey. she decided that
what was worth doing once was worth
doing again and went back to the steam
ship office. With. ner attention was
caught by woman conversing with the
clerk. ...
II can't make up my mind. Which
would you advise. the Bermudas or call
well. they're both good" replied the
clerk. nonconunittally.
I'm afraid the ride across the con.
tinent would be dreadfuliy tedious
complained the woman.
At that. Barbara could not contain
herself. "oh. but It's wonderful" she
The woman turned sharply. you've
been there?" >,
and before she realized she was telling
the other of the glories Of Pixies Peak
and the Garden Of the Gods, Of the
marvels Of the Rockies and the Santa
Barbara missions. She stopped at last,
abashed.
You've made II sound very interest
Ing" remarked her listener. I've JUST
hired companion to take the trip with
me. But I think I'd rather have YOU
I'll let you know In the morning II you,ii.
give me your address, Would you go
Two minutes later, rather dazed'