Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1922-11-10
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER M9

girls, charming girls, girls with for
tunes and girls with names, to fall
in love ut last with just little no
body like herself.
81 would fall in love with him."
she told herself, land what would
be the good Of that? He must be
used to having every woman he meets
fascinated"
She took out his picture again and
brows, the speaking eyes, the finely
cut face that was strongly masculine.
When half an hour later she heard
steps mounting the stairs 1t only took
her half minute to turn out her gas,
to slip into her closet behind her
clothes and to stand there breathing
heavily as Mrs. Johnson opened the
door.
she's out" Mary heard the good
woman pant ON her downward way.
During the next ten days Mary
led strangely delightful, strangely
new kind Of existence. Sometimes
the telephone rang in the evenings
when Mrs. Johnson was out and Mary
heard again John NOrthrops voice. She
knew now his errand was fictitious.
to meet him.
John NorthrOp, who had always had
everything he wanted, was unable to
understand this strange, elusive girl.
He knew her only by her volce-sil-
very sweet with deeper undertone /;
he had seen u lite picture of her on
Mrs. Johnsons mantel. Friendly eyes,
shy smile and Il plquant pointed chin
had seemed to him the personltica-
ton Of that exquisite voice. He
must meet her. He could still hear
the light tlutter Of her laugh on the
telephone, the question that her good
by held. He had been pursued too
long not to know the delight of the
pursuer. lie even found himself rest
less and dissatisfied these last days
he decided on one last strategy.
Mary would never meet him; she
had resolved that, she could almost
picture the look of disappointment
that would flash across his dark face
his strained pOllteness, her own
tongue-tled humiliation.
And yet In spite OF that she bought
herself a charming frock, frock with
hint of gold In Its brown depths and
hat that bore the hallmark Of Paris
She tried them on on Saturday
IL, hnI La, al
from the office, and turned startled
at Il knock on her door. A white
box with susplciously fragrant odol
made her tremble moment with ex
element ViOlets, with heavy purple
heads and an exquisite bow Of golt
and brown ribbon! There was no card
Of course, and Mary hesitated befor
| she fastened them to her belt.
How could she stay indoors now
Spring was calling, and although sh
had only the city pavemen,s and IN
faces of strangers who would pas
unrecognIzlng, she waited to feel
part Of this teeming life.
But halfway up the block her knee
trembled under her and she felt tn
blood beat into her temples. Sh
would have known him anywhere
Only one man had such dark, cryptl
eyes, only one man could have sucl
distinguished manner. Blushlnl
furlously, she looked away. and theI
voice, the most beautiful she hat
ever heard, stopped her.
81 shouldn't have dared speak un
less I'd seen you were wearing my
vioets !"
'HOw do you know they are yOul
vloletsT Mary asked, lifting n pail
Of shy soft eyes.
~ chose that gold and brown rib
bon myself and had those vlolets sent
to the girl who would not let me meet
herw
But now that we have met, don't
you thlnk-don't you think" Mary
stumbled, backing away
Il think you are the most elusive
and charming person | have ever
wanted to know" he cut In, "and
If you will just let me try I'd like
" HllbM AOA ! w llVl AIif
person you have evidently heard
was!"
Mary stlll hesltated.
"But I"
"Oh, | say, Miss Martin" he begged
boylshly, "lf you'd just give me n
chance | know I'm only duffcr,
but I'd Ike to show you that | could
be your friend"
Down the block street organ was
grinding mel0dlOusly. The faint
green Of the maple was blur before
Mary's eyes.
Spring again.
There was something strangely
poignant In life as John NorthrOp fell
into step beside her.