The Press., 1921-10-27
Rosarnorld Schuyler
 and Jane
By JESSIE DOUGLAS

progress. It was an empty room and
 an empty life, he decided wryly.
 Lonely! It reeks of loneliness !'' he
 said to the listening walls.
 As he turned he saw square ot
 paper lying on his floor. An envelope
 A letter. He whisked 1t up and ex-
 amined it. It was written in a forth
 right feminine hand in black ink on
 gray paper. He ripped it open jag
 gedly.
 My cousin, Jimmy Cosgrove, has writ | ten me that you have come to stay in the l city. l should be glad if you would come l up to see me; have tea some afternoon, l perhaps some Sunday al five? Then we 1 can talk over Jimmy and Chicago. where
 lived as child. Sincerely. | "ROSAMOND SCHUYLER" | Mark Travis read it through twice
 before he laid it 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 l eyes and that same earnest look that 1 Jim had.
 "HOw jolly it 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 chatter of plates and voices served as a background to their talk"
 Life had rather lost it's savor 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 stranger in a strange city.
 He had come almost alone to New York-to call it d-hard-merce nary
 "I'n 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 dignitied curtains of cream that shut 1Ce ot,. To% ting only the best society, he hesi- tated
 That was the number all right, but would he go? Perhaps she wouldn't be his kind al all.
 But he found himself climbing the steps and ringing the bell as though he were a dummy. Once he had said Miss Schuy ler'', to the stonyfaced 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 Ea rued the day he had come. He was aware of rugs that his feet melted into and glea1ning 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 roOin. A girl SiIhOuet- ted at the window was playing with the tassel of the curtain; her slim fig ure in black and dcIicately outlined.
 Mark Travis forgot the beautiful room and the luxury and wealth, for he saw that she was sWeet-l0oking and her lashes were wet with tears.
 I'm Mark Travis" he said, rising and taking the hard she held out to him.
 "Oh, yes," her voice nuttered, and he saw she was rather shy and fright ened of him. "1-I 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 s;Iw 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 you?" she asked. "and will you have one lump or tWoY' she handled ! the silver teapot so skillfully and passed him white cup delicately frag- ile.
 Have you been loneIy?" she ques- toned; ''it's so hard at tirSt-''
 And Mark Travis found himself tell ing her about his work with the old ! lawyers and how deso,ate he had felt, ! while she pushed the heavy carved ! box of cigarettes toward him and | begged, Wont you smoke; like the smell so-"
 But in little pause his eyes rested \ on the beautiful room, the great carved mantel that must have cost thousands of dollars and the long table with its two lamps. ! This girl and he were as widely seDa- rated as though they lived in different I couldn't ask her to dine with him at 6O-cent Italian restau- I rant, nor sit with him ill the balcony l nor ride home on the 'bus-he \ caught himself up with jerk and re- alized she had asked him question.
 Oh, yes. like New York; tha S-"
 rustic and a chatter of high-heeleu slippers on the polished floor and ne. turned to see some one else entering he room.
 "Ah, MT. Travis, Jim wrote me about he saw her nod to the other girl in her straight black dress. She gave him q shy, sweet look of arewell as she slipped away.
 Rosamond Travis sank down in a .hair by the fire.
 She was weedy and fair, with too much rouge and drawling, affected 'oice.
 "Jim's such funny old thing" she aid in a bored voice. 'HoW he stands