The St. Charles herald., 1922-11-04

had caught train from Washington
to attend to q little business In New
York before he took the boat Tor
Charleston. He looked up and down
the street, humming with the busy life
of the metropolis. He had the after
noon before him.
He would walk over to the avenue
and get up on top Of bus and watcn
the human tide ebb and flow. 1t al
ways interested him. Then, he might
catch a glimpse of her again. She
lived in New York. He had wanted
| to telephone to her the first thing that
morning but, after four years, she
was probably married. Anyway, she
would never forgive him for not tell
ing her why he had failed to answer
| all those letters she had sent. Those
letters and his damnable pride! His
| mind must have been sick along with
his body, otherwise he would have sent
| her some word. Too late now!
| He squared his broad shoulders, try
ing as always to keep one from sag
i ging when he limped. There was no
traffic cop at that corner, but he de-
termined to move on and take his
chance with the other pedestrians.
blue limousine was purring noise
lessly down crowded Broadway. Pref
ty thing. Brand-new model, too. Then
cry arrested his attention. "Stopl
It's Bill! oh, Bill
He looked after the car, dazed a
bit. The chauffeur had jammed on
the brakes. The door of the car was
opening. Alice Mobry was running
back to him.
He limped back to the car, helped
her in, got in beside her. But to have
saved his life he could not think OF
word to say. He just looked at her.
He had forgotten that girl could De
SO pretty. Then his devOuring eyes
rested suddenly on her hands, little
hands, gloved in gray. They were
trembling. She was clutching them
together. His subconsciOus mino
must have forced him to make the
movement. He certainly did not thinh
, about it. But he put his own Ovel
= hers and held them close. Right there
z on Broadway, with all the world t.
see.
"AIice, dear, It almost killed me no
to write to you. but when found ou
that II was going to be lame for III
--limping along painfully-did you
care that much?"
She had presence Of mind then t
order the chauffeur to drive home an
the run to Park avenue was mad
silently.
"Was she married. He didn't care
He was going to tell her, tell her ono
more as he had whispered his Low
, on a starry April night over ther
IN Madame jules little flower gal
! den. near his billet. He could sti
|. smell the yellow roses In that OF
, world garden that had been Arcadi
TO them-Arcadia, along whose dowe
) ing trails ones feet may pass br
once!
> She did not wait for him to tak
the initiative. The correct old butte
had scarcely closed the door until 81
whirled toward Bill. eyes bright, liz
uuiyering, her hands out. "Begin
the very beginningl Oh. knew
I onH had faith enough, you woul
come back! Tell me everything
Everything!
: But for a full fifteen minutes It WI
wordless explanation
He forgot about Stan until dinn'
was announced. Alice's father al
mother and her quaint little gran
mother in silk and lace had been pl
:. ing him with 30 many questions, gent
!. reproaching him for not showing
- - sooner and getting the welcome "a
had been waiting for him all the IN
that he could think Of nothing bell
as essential as proving to the entl
~ ~ satisfaction Of those good people Ju
- how he had felt about the whole mi
L ter. Recalling his engagement at I
- - club. he rushed TO the telephone
al call Stan.
~ .sTell him to jump into a taxi q
- - rnn ON over herew Alice urged at
os elbow. "Then we can ask
~ aThat you, Stan7 This is BILL wa
- 10 know II you can be my best %
ne AZ noon tomorrow Trying to get
mt to say eight o'clock. but she insists
~ having her beauty Sleep" He smil
:. - erd slinped the receiver to Alice's g
no Quite distinctly she heard Stan's
,,,s c,ted voice. by George. old m'
von,ve found Alice! Haven't yot
re-.
lde African's Teeth His passport