Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1922-01-05
WELL-MET
BY MILDRED WHITE

In the marble pillared balcony. Below
In the lobby of the great hotel, people
moved continually on their various
ways; But the one for whom her
violet eyes were seeking, had evidently
been delayed. She arose to slip off
her heavy fur cloak, and stood slim
figure in modish blue
Impatiently, she swayedS upon it's
chain, the key of her hotel room, she
had decided not to leave it at the
office until sure of being called for,
yet she was anxious to leave, anxious
for the homlier comfort of her fathers
fireside Elaine dangled her key as
she bent over the padded railing
then, dropped it. She was too as
tonished to draw back into obscurity,
as she saw the weighted key land
deliberately on dark uncovered
head-a mans head with no deep
cushion of hair to relieve the blow.
The man painfully surprised, glanced
up quickly, rubbing his pared crown;
then he stopped to recover the key.
Elaine saw him still smoothing his
head as he read the room number on
the metal tag attached, then he waved
the key up to her in announcement
that he would restore it. He came
slowly up the wide stair, and he was
young, and tall, and good to look
upon.
"Your key, 1 presume" he said
rather coldly.
ST am so sorry" she began con-
fusedly, $50 careless of me. | did not
realize"
The young man sat down promptly
before her, '"That you were aiming
a blow" he finished. His own laugh
ing eyes, now expressed open admira-
tion and his words might have in
tended double meaning. Elaine
flushed, very prettily, but her tone
was severe.
81 was" she remarked, waiting for
someone, the time seemed long"
"It usually does seem long the man
responded pleasantly, ''when one is
waiting for, a someone. Happy some
one"; he added daringly, and sank
further back in his opposite chair.
Elaine turned to him. her round chin
tilted, "You are-also waiting?"
Dismissal was in the question. The
young man merely smiled. "For your
apology" he told her, "you cracked
me on the head" She did not want
to laugh but the mans smile was as
| engaging as his manner was ridicu-
lous. Elaine did laugh, and promptly
| regretted that friendliness.
'When my key slipped" she III
formed him, II was standing there,
| looking for Tom Tom, is the man /
love. He is coming to take me away"
| The pleasing countenance Immediately
became forlorn. away" the young
man echoed. Elaine nodded.
''To a home" she explained heart
lessly, "of our own Across the
| balcony the orchestra played. For a
time the young man listened in ,lence,
| then his somberness lifted.
"Would you mind" he politely quese
| toned, telling me the name of this
| lucky Tom. knew a couple of Toms
at college, Where did this particular
| Tom of yours go to college?-if he
went" Elaine dimpled.
Tom attended college in this city.
[ think that is why he likes so much
to come back. Toms other name Is
Cavers." The stranger leaned forward
and joyously clapped his knee "Well,
would you believe it" he crie "Tom
Cavers, good old Tom! Why, he was
the best friend / had here In school,"
Elaine raised her eyebrows. '"That Is
amazing" she said. "Never hear Tom
speak of Jerry Wraybourne?" the
young man went on. The girl con-
sidered, then shook her head. "But
it's not strange" she admitted, II
don't remember half the names of the
people Tom talks about"
"You are going off to home OF
your own" Jerry Wraybourne slowly
repeated. He tossed his dark head,
"Oh Well" he muttered, every man
ought to have at least his one happy
hour. This, Is mine. | am going to
order tea on the balcony, and you are
gong 10 pHTIdKe Oh Ii Win lie. LOU,
across from me at a tea-table, as /
have dreamed the you, would be-"
he broke off abruptly.
"What nonsense" Elaine jeered but
her violet eyes softened. The music
came to them now, fraught with new
tenderness, as they sat. "It's queer"
the young man was saying, chow
some fellows reach out and get what
they want. while some other poor
devil dreams a dream of hope, all his
life, only to wake up at last with"
he laughed shortly, "a blow on the
head I suppose your Tom will be
coming along now. I'd better get out.
You see, / may as well confess I've
been lying to you. / never knew a
Tom Cavers. Just wanted to prolong
the pleasure Of looking into your face.
/ thought if seemed to be friend
of this Toms, it might give me at
least this chance" The girl iInpul-
.:.-o1-u xD,+ ont hor hand Across fha