Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-02-16

IN the bureau drawer which contained
her Bible and mother-of-pearl card.
case; incidentally she turned her back
on Minnie
Ihere is a parlor in the highest
priced and highest-storied hotel ~,
broadway, which is done in pale cole
and pink; it is like a small. rare ic,vt.j
box softly tufted in satin and lighrc
with opal globes; through its graceful
~ hung doors you can see into tia
gllstening lobby beyond, but the onll
sounds that penetrate are strains OF
far-away music and the s0f, swish Fl
women's gowns.
Within this golden retreat Minnie
dropped into the soft embrace of p
brocade divan and gave herself up t.
its luxury; closing her eyes ever SO
slightly she. could imagine herself
1ourneying through Lady Audrey's gar.
dens. in gold and crystal sedan chair,
with graceful ennui in her pose and
Gala lilies in her hair. The hush of
velvet rugs and faint music lulled Min.
MES dreaming senses, her tense hold
on the tan purse-one dollar md thir
ty cents-relaxed, and size nestled
deeper in the pink brocade
\ man in a frOck coat and shiny
patent shoes dropped YEARLY on the
farthest end of the divan. His hair
was gray at the temples and his eyes
were surfeited with too much living;
he was the typical clubman and diet
tante of the Seventh-day world.
Minnie regarded him with the little
intake of breath which proximity to
those of his sphere invariably caused
her. From the supercorrect cut of
coat to the shining fingernails he be-
spoke Inverness coats and cabs. Min
ME did not exactly know what consti-
tuted an Inverness coat, but no draw
ing-room novel was complete without
one. She could also picture this tired
eyed man in the dark mahogany quiet
OF his den, or strolling the white and
brass deck of yacht. Her half-closed
eyes to all intent and purpose were
regarding an oil painting which hung
beyond his head, but none of his de-
tails was lost upon her; she knew that
his cane had gun-metal knob and
that his shirt studs were gold.
She had rehearsed her hour for so
long that she was not even surprised
when he leaned toward her and spoke.
THAT is very warm and rich bit
of work. You admire his school?" He
referred to the oil painting, and his
tones were deep and serious.
"It's just beautiful" replied Minnie,
who had not even observed the por-
trait.
Her temples were throbbing violent
ly. She felt that she was contaminat-
ing this seventh-day creature in even
replying. and that he would resent her
if he knew, just as she resented Mr..
Snuggs in the white goods.
II see you riding in the park quite
often. Only few mornings ago was
bold enough to canter after you, adj
miring your mount"
"Thank you," she replied, taking the
plunge and fitting her small head bit.
"The women in my family have al
ways ridden WELL"
"If you bespeak the race, doubt it
not"
He spoke the words with patrician
grace that thrilled her; she CROPPED for
suitable reply, but none came. There
was pause; she observed that he
wore crested ring Oh his right hand
She felt it incumbent upon her to JUS
tify her unattended presence, and
glanced with wall-restrained impa-
tience into the lobby beyond.
He was on his feet Immediately.
you are waiting for some one. Can
l be of any assistance?"
THANK you; no. My maid will be
here presently; she is unnecessarily
long"
She sank back and let her eyes rest
on a misty landscape framed in silver
He followed her gaze.
II have the twin Corot to that rare
bit in my private collection. l am
very fond, of it."
"Oh!" she murmured. "How lovely ~
"There is something compelling in
the strength of that stretch of mere
meadowland."
Eyes" she agreed cautiously. 81
love the country"
He adjusted pair of pince-nez and
regarded her as If seeing her for the
first time.
"You are an exotic, and yet you
crave the natural?"
She closed her eyes and the delicate
line of her profile met the pink
brocade.
YES" she recited, "this artificial
life, the routine of ball and function,
the formally of livery and society
make me long to fly back to Nature"
The man moved toward her with a
new interest.
STRANGE" he half unused. "that
when l left my club an hour ago that
same call within me prompted me to
tell my man, on the spur of the mo-
ment, that we are off for the West to-
morrow. l, too, am weary of the honk
of the automobile, the chug of yacht,
the litter of society. l want the wide
ness and the mountain tops"
She sighed appreciatively.
II sometimes even long to change
places with my maid"
II cannot tell you how all this in
terests me-" His face betrayed his
eagerness.. "Often have / sat behind
my chauffeur and envied him. We
suffer from ennui, but we do not heed
the call; we crave Households, but
cling to the yacht and ocean liner"
Tao 4....o AIsx.,io