Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1922-02-07

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Y. Cat3tpnE Haod61e53 <2ne - Mn
seK with . Gt4kf a. Ella befi npok(
hl1 name. He knaR from the tore a
his nfstef,a voice thar 6ho had zsnoken
befofo, and had b&eb IGNORED. ~ s
You asked, my dear - he ouea-
tionad. q q I, ,s ~ s. &
When ycu, are Goink away. Elix-
aheth retorted, ssieu't lt about dine for
one Of your trips - Z
| 'sYes,p = Carlton answered, II outht
/ to be In, New York thIs week"
| He frowned Il was diplomacy e
pretend these business trips nore
and q bother. Otherwlse, the two ell
| derly and dominating sisters who were
! his housekeepers and companions,
would feel themselves cheated Of the
participation OF pleasure.
As q matter OF fnct. Carlton Saun-
tiers, In the prosy regime Of his small
town home. looked forward to these
escapes into an outer world with "a.
cret anticipation and enjoyment.
Elizabeth and Katherine were rood
sisters, annoyinaiy anxious concerning
his welfare.
J. Carlton appreciated their solici.
tude. while he fretted under the con-
stant surveillance. There were those
who Insisted that the kindly man
might long ago have reioiced In a
home Of his own with a wife to share
It, had II not been for Eliznbeth's and
Katherlne's rule. But the brother In
his heart refuted this.
Were his sisters NOT br.npinp beforo
him constantly possible applicants for
matrimony?
"Yes," he answered Elizabeth again.
'T must be In New York this week"
"We will pack your yalise." Katherine
said, .'and don't forget to wear your
rubbers."
But when he walked into the New
York hotel few .days later he had
left, unconsciously. his habitual diff
dence ut home. His name on the regis
ter was signed merely Jack Saunders.
The clerk bowed In greeting.
"Can't give you your usual room"
he explained apologetically, 1--WE are
filed up."
The room the bellboy ushered him
into was comfortable enough. But as
he turned to place coat and hat on the
hanger, j. Saunders stared: filmy
blue cloud OF something had forestalled
him there. While all about the small
room was the indefinable fragrance of
that mystical romance. which he had
missed. Lilac. or lily of the valley or
lust sweet spr!ngtime--what was th,
alluding odor which enchanted his
senses?
A tap on the door. Carlton turned
guiltily. "A woman's face was raised
to his--her ewes were as blue es the
filmy cloud ON the hanger. but they
were not the eyes of n Young pirl-nor
yet the calm gazing ewes that Eliz-
abeth would have recommended.
"I am afraid I left some OF INV bc-
Iongings in this room" the sweet.
faced woman said. 81 had decided to
occupy It when the clerk discovered
that the one prefer WINS yacated
So they carried my grin In there.
am sorry" she paused. and then at
his bow of permission, gathered up
her apparel and went ON her way.
eu.
When ]. Carlton went into the dining
hall at evening, he saw the young won.
an seated alone at a secluded table.
He liked the plainness of her blue
serge dress. which was such 81 different
plainness from Julia Wells, or his sis
ter's: and he liked the pIquant hat
that she becomingly wore. AS he
passed down the corridor to his room.
1t gave him an unaccountable feeling
of relief, to hear the woman at the
hall desk address the lady of the blue
cloud as Miss Darby" Miss, then
she was not married. He speculated
about her, as he bent over his writing.
The usually matter-of-fact John Carl.
ton could not write; he could not take
hold Of his work; he decided to retire.
And there on the floor at his feet. Law
pair of small blue slippers. quilted
satin slippers with ridiculous funny
pompons upon either toe. So, she had
forgotten these. They were the sort
of slippers Cinderella of past dream.
Ing might have chosen--to slip on in