Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1921-07-22
Rosamond Schuyler
and Jane
By JESSIE DOUGLAS

MARX travis thrust MS nandS deep
into his pockets and began to pace his
room. He had plenty of room to walk,
for, besides the cot and the desk in
the corner, only a chair impeded his
progress. 1t was an empty room and
an empty life, he decided wryly.
Lonely 1t reeks of lonelinessl" he
said to the listening walls.
AS he turned he saw a square Of
paper lying on his floor. An envelope.
A letter. He whisked 1t up and ex-
amined it. It was written In forth
/ right feminine hand In black ink on
gray paper. He ripped 1t open Jag
gedly.
MY cousin, Jimmy Cosgrove, has writ
ten me that you have come to stay in the
city. ! should be glad If you would come
up to see me; have tea some afternoon,
! perhaps some Sunday at five? Then we
| can talk over Jimmy and Chicago, where
! lived as a child. Sincerely
"ROSAMOND SCHUYLER"
Mark Travis read it through twice
before he laid 1t down. He liked the
lOoped black writing and the address
engraved in blue on the gray paper.
! Good old Jim hasn't forgotten me-"
he muttered. "Rosamond Schuyler
charming name"
He pictured the girl with deep blue
eyes and that same earnest look that
Jim had.
How jolly 1t would be to know
someone in New York To go perhaps
to the little Italian restaurant down
on Eleventh street that he had discov-
cred and eat macaroni while the blue
smoke curled thickly about them and
the clatter Of plates and voices served
as a background to their talk"
Life had rather lost its SAVIOR these
last three weeks alone here. Places
enough to go, and things enough to
see, but always alone. No one to
laugh with him, nor to make him for
get that he was a stranger in strange
city.
He had come almost alone to New
York-to call it cOld-hard-merce-
nary
"Tn go and see this RosamOnd
Schuyler" he said. "What a pretty
name that ~ Rosamond - she'll be
charming"
He threw his shoulders back next
afternoon as he walked up Fifth ave-
nue. in a blaze Of sunshine. His tweed
suit was pretty we'll worn, but he'd
had a shoe shine, and he carried his
fair head with an air and swung
along, feeling for the first time that
he was a part Of the life of the city,
instead of being just the newest man
In Gresham & Minors.
But when he turned east at Fifty
third street and found that the house
was an imposing brownstOne one, with
dignified curtains of cream that shut
off the windows and an air of admit
ting only the best society, he hest
tated.
That was the number all right, but
would he go2 Perhaps she wouldn't be
his kind at all.
But he found himself climbing the
steps and ringing the bell as though
he were a dummy. Once he had said
"Nliss Schuyler" to the stony-faced In
dividual who must be her butler, he
knew he was in for it.
AS he crossed the thick rug and
came into the dim, beautiful drawing
room he rued the day he had come.
He was aware Of rugs that his feet
melted into and cleaning furniture and
color and flowers. He sank down into
great armchair, trying to feel at
ease and cursing his stupidity.
Then he saw that there was some
one else in the room. A girl silhouet-
ted at the window was playing with
the tassel Of the curtain; her slim fig
ure in black and delicately outlined.
Mark Travis forgot the beautiful
room and the luxury and wealth, for
he saw that she was sweet-looking and
her lashes were wet with tears.
'Tm Mark Travis" he said, rising
and taking the hand she held out to
him.
ooh, yes" her voice futtered, and
he saw she was rather shy and fright
ened of him. IL heard about you"
He heard his own voice talking and
then the girls. She had gray eyes in
stead of blue and her brows were dark,
and had a charming way of lifting.
She smiled once and he saw dimple
peep out near her mouth. Then he
forgot everything but the desire to
take away that unhappy look about
her eyes.
you've just come to New York,
haven't your" she asked, "and will you
have one lump or twO?" she handled
Tie silver teapot so skillfully and
passed him a white cup delicately frag-
lie.
"Have you been lonely" she ques-
toned; Its so hard at first"
And Mark Travis found himself tell
ing her about his work with the old |
lawyers and how desolate he had felt,
while she pushed the heavy carved
box Of cigarettes toward him and |
begged, "Won't you smoke; ! like the |
smell So"
But in a little pause his eyes rested |
on the beautiful room, the great |
carved mantel that must have cost |
thousands of dollars and the long