Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-08-15

hanging on a strap or wedged in be-
tween others as weary as myself Of
the daily, deadly round of mOnOtOny !"
Then her brown eyes widened and
the froWn lifted as the ear came to
an abrupt halt al the drawbridge and
Emily caught glimpse Of breakWater
and sea and sails on a far horizon It
was always that way on the ride to
and from the office where Emily
earned good money as a skilled typist.
That mOmentary sight Of the sound
caught at whatever wanderlust lived
in Emily's cty-raised heart.
And this morning when she was on
her way to give decided mo- to Pc
ter Williams proposal that she share
his salary as assistant manager Of
Horton & Hastings, the company
whose employees they both were, the
distant blue waters particularly ap-
pealed. Oh, to get away from it all !!
to sail and sail and said
Deep down somewhere In Emily's
heart tiny voice whispered: why
not?"
The humping Of the trolley car over
the bridge reused Emily to more than
mere dallying with the interesting
proposition 'IlI do 1t !" she all but
cried aloud. "I'll do that very thing T"
That was how it happened that on
that particular morning the office Of
Horton & Hastings was minus it's star
typist. Nor did any Of the puzzled
force picture Emily as she actually
was-hrrying first Of all to the bank
and then to the station; sending tele-
phone message or two; buying ticket
to the neighboring big city; and,
finally settling back in the train with
a current magazine, a box Of choce-
lates and a shrug Of uncOncerned
shoulders. Peter felt sure she was Ill
and kept impatient tabs on the clock
until the noon hour arrived and he
could telephone III privacy to Emlly's
boarding house.
Then when he did he turned white
Miss Richmond said Emily'S land
lady acidly, had sent an expressman
for her trunks, with never a word at
the breakfast table about her plans ~
Life for Emily had become interest
ing at last. A modest room in a mod
erately priced hotel breakfast as late
as she pleased, and a varied menu to
choose from; sightseeing tours
through the shops; matinees and CON
CertS galore.
Then. oddly enough so inConSequen-
tial q thing as heavy downNour
brought the first twingp of regret 70
Emily. Shut indoors through a thrifty
desire to spare a new suit she had
recklessly lavished half months sal
airy on, she read steadily for several
hours. Then impuSively she threw
the book across the bed.
Lovp-love-Iovr Was there moth
ing else to write about? Wasn't there
anything else worth while in the
world?
An hour later. and Emily, driven by
sheer boredom out into the storm, took
refuge from the penetrating chill Of
seety rain in a huge moving picture
palace. Settling down in the all but
absolute darkness She gave herself UP
to watching, at first half-heartedly
then with more interest the picture on
the screen. Strange to say, there was
lust a reminder of Peter in the Stal.
wart hero. Absurd though it was IN
der the circumstances Emily'S heart
beat trlfle faster.
The story progressed, the plot thick,
ened and resolved, and at last the
heroine melted into the Peter-like
heros arms. Emily heayed a tiny sigh
At that moment. out Of the dark
ness at her side, "A masculine hand
took hold of her arm.
Like a flash Emily leaped 10 her
feet, squeezed past the unpaTdonably
impudent person at her side with
never glance, and rushed out in the
rain. Then she drew long breath.
She had heard of strangers attempting
such familiarities, but had never SIP
posed such things could happen to her
If Peter could have been there But
then it was only to lone women that a
thing of that sort occurred. Suddenly
Emily's eyes filled That was what
she was-"a lone woman in strange
city"
And there came to Emily a longing
for the dingy old office with Jim the
office boy loungng outside the rail
and Peter working away at his desc
over in the corner, and her typewriter
before her. Work and companionShiT
why. they were worth more thar
shopping tours and loneliness, moving
pictureS and unprOteCtednesS
II say, Emily, I didn't mean
when touched you In there"
"Peter!" Emily could not believe
her ears nor yet her eyes, although
surely this man at her side was the
r1an she hadn't wanted to marry.
Eyes, dear" said Peter shame
facedly. Here | am. hunted VI
the expressman who took your trunk
and traced you to the city and found
YOUR name on the hotel register. And
oh, perhaps was unpardonably curl
Gus, but when you realize it was be
cause | love you, Emily! To-day
followed you into the theater and
after while got seat at your side
although / kept my head turned y
TT.