Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-03-14
THE BALCONY GIRL
BY MOLLIE MATHER
GO, 1922. Western Newspaper Union.)

coming from the direction of the bal
usual, the evening guests were dane
!. ing.
Presently low ejaculation attract
ed his attention. He had not noticed,
in his absorbed entrance, a young
woman already seated far back in
the small balcony. Now, with her
low exclamation, she drew back the
rose-colored curtains and stood prepar-
atory to depart.
The young woman reached for her
soft boyish hat and was slipping into
her long, gray coat She gathered
somewhat confusedly, a number Of
written pages from the chair, which
she evidently had recently occupied.
Stacy arose detainingIy. "Pease,"
he said, do not allow me to drive
you away from your corner. l can
find another secluded spot"
ut is necessary that l remain here
for time" she said perhaps, If
you, too, are comfortable in the bal
cony neither need disturb the other"
THANK you," Stacy agreed. The
young woman left the rose curtains
slightly open. 1.-THE light does not
disturb your" she asked. 81, too, look
down into the dancing hall occasion
ally"
Not at ALL" Stacy pleasantly as
sured her
When she caught his gaze once or
twice the girl smiled uncertainty.
At last Stacy turned in his chair
"You must forgive my speaking" he
said, II cannot help but be interested
in your strange choice of writing room
the music-the dancers whirllng. Is
1t not all distracting And now, my
nterrupting. But Pm Internally lone
ly. Do you know what that means?
To be absolutely away from es'~ry
one you know, in big, cold ho,,'
Why" Stacy laughed, ut has been
sort of comfort to sit beside YOU
here while you worked Human com.
partnership, even If given unconscious
, ly Now, I suppose you will run
away"
Il do know what 1t means to be
among strangers In a big city," she
answered gravely, land I wish that
l might be more companionable. But
l must write. At the strike Of twelve
leave" said the girl.
Twelve sounded sooner than either
anticipated. Promptly Stacy's COM
panion arose. Good night" she said.
He thought Of her great deal on
the following day. Why had she been
there among all those beautifully
CARRIED women In her plain white col
/ Jared frock? Why had she kept hid
den in the interior Of an observation
balcony, busy with pencil?
"a society reporter; that's the solu-
tion,' he told himself.
But when James p. Barney decided
that the conference must wait another
day Stacy decided again to spend his
solitary evening watching the dancers
from the balcony. He had formed,
during the day, an acquaintance with
the hotel manager, Mr.. HoIcomb, who
! escorted his guest genially to the bal
cony steps.
| Expect some excitement here this
evening"" he confided "Our detectives
are after jewel thief-been entering
our rich patrons rooms.
/ Stacy was unaccountably perturbed.
1 Uncomfortably he took his seat in the
tiny gallery and looked quickly tow ard
the interior. The girl was there But
this time she was sewing. Sewing in
gay place of amusement The society
reporter theory vanished. The girl re
turned his grave bow and continued
her task But on this occasion she
appeared not so composed. Her anxious
interest in the affair below was plain
ly diScernible. From time to time
she parted the curtains nervously to
look down on the dancers. Then, al
Il slight crowding in a cretain part of
the hall, the girl snatched hat and
cloak from the chair near by, and In
a moment was down the stairs and
almost lost in the throng. Almost
Stacy caught up with her as she was
joined by vision Of girl in rose
tulle Together the three reached the
street. Then Stacy spoke.
81 thought from your mad haste'
he said, quietly, that you must 10
In trouble. Can be of help to you?"
IF you would" the balcony girl
breathlessly requested, "call taxi
We are lodging in Wardam street"
Wondering still, Stacy obeyed.
1--WE were eager to get away, my sis
ter and l." she explained, because
Mr. Holcomb thought there might be
a disturbance on the floor, because of
the arrest of some jewel thief. Mr..
Holcomb is an old friend of our fam
lly's. He came from our village. He
invited Daphne and me to stop at the
hotel, bat we preferred TO stay where
we could afford to pay our way. He
has BE- N kind in asking Daphne t.
the dances She teaches school In