The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-12-08
CHATTER XVII.

There was tho very pathos OF love.
Illness In the air as Helen leaned from
me window watching with never dag.
was one OF those marvellous spring DAYS
when even New York feels the witch
cry OF the season and. astonished. Gloats
because OF the wonder OF II.
what n peculiar looking man that
puying flowers OF Hugo" abe said
10 Adele who was with her. Long since
they had called the cripple by his sur
| name.
Isn't he? He doesn't look like n
person who had any love of beauty in
ms soul. But see, he is buying roses,
Hugo VIII be delighted to have so good
Just then the man gazed up and Helen
mad feeling she had seen that I'M
ptepossessing face before. But before
she could give II more than a passing
thought he had slouched away and she
forgot all about him.
Adele's radiant face had been thu only
one the man had seen as she leaned
from the window when Helen called her
attention TO Hugo's customer. He had
looked disappointed, then look OF UNI
outstanding had crossed his face. This
must be that other one: the one the
flower seller said lived with that other
the one he watched.
Love comes but once--and then per-
haps-too late" Adele hummed in a
sweet contralto voice. Get on your
duds. Helen. 1t is too lovely a day 10
stay indoors. Hurry. 1t is only half
past nVe' Let's take bus ride.'
Always ready for that form of amuse-
ment, Helen laughingly did as she was
bid. She never had overcome her love
Tor the green buses, her delight In sit
tlns atop OF them. But as she pinned
on her hat the words OF Adele's song
rang In her ears:
Love comes but once-and then ner-
hapS-too late" ~
She shivered as she thought OF Lam
sing. He had been with her the eve
ming previous. His parting had been
more more reluctant, more meaningly tender
hands and had looked at her with love.
nlled eyes. She mentally contrasted
Inem with tho passion filled eyes OF
sloane, the brutal eyes OF another.
Love comes but once-and then per-
naps-too late; she murmured as she
too later"
All the poignancy of her unhappv life
poured over her, All her desire for life |
IN Its full richness swept down upon her
Back OF her lay those barren wears
ahead of her-what?
Had she only to open the door 10 |
lansing to know love and life? Dared |
~ "A LTenlOr
81 indecision seized her. What IL she
should come to love him? What If she
should marry him. She had been CROP
ng for life for years. Why should she
urn away because OF a feeling that IL
wasn't fair to him? Who had been
air with her?
What are you incoming there be-
ore the mirror for? You're lovely
nough. Come on! Wen have dinner
It Claremont. I'll make the waiter give
Is one of those small tables on the wa
er side. Wen eat crackers and milk
or a week afterward IL we have TO.
tonight let's be extravagant. 1 want
that spells money"
Very well You shall have It! I got
check today" and throwing off the
mood that had seized her at Adele's
ong, Helen led the way down the stairs,
1to the park and atop the bus.
Neither Of the girls saw the sham
ling figure that followed them-that
the man who for days had spent his
ours off from his duties in watching the
ouse just off the Square and in talking /
the crippled flower seller. After
1ey were seated he also went I'D the
piral steps and skunk down In a seat
|. the back of the bus. The girls had
lken the front seat, as was their habit.
lAnd because, in spite Of her twenty
wen years. Helen was only n girl Mt