The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-10-22

come into the store with his mother,
who was making some purchase there.
With worldly wisdom he had not
approached her while the other clerks
were present. But he had found the
means to see her two or three times.
And he had asked her to dine with
him the following evening.
She was not ignorant of the world.
She saw from his demeanor that It
did not, occur to him that she was any
thing but one Of the underlined, under
paid drudges in his fathers store.
She had known what significance
would attach itself to her acceptance
But she was desperately lonely, and
the thought of an evening in restau-
rant. and at a theater afterward, the
sight of other faces, the touch with
life was overwhelming.
'TIl have to accept or 60 home"
she thought YEARLY.
IF she could have known at that
moment letter, signed by the editor
of the magazine, inclosing check for
seventy-five dollars for her drawing,
and asking for more, lay in the wire
basket beside the desk Of the editors
stenographer, ready to be posted on
the 1norrow-if she could have knownl
She got up from her chair. The
boy was going out of his room at the
same moment. They knew each other
by sight; sometimes they sat near
each other In the cheap little restau-
rant where they got their meals when
ever they could afford the luxury.
They were both too shy to speak to
each other, and desperately alone; but
now, staring into each others faces
in the deserted hall on the top story
Of the rooming house, they drew to-
ward each other like abandoned barks
drawn by some current into vortex.
"Are you going to dlnnerY asked
the boy timorously.
"Yes," she answered, looking at him
with shy approval.
Lets go together" he said, great
ly daring.
They descended the stairs together.
At the street door she took his arm.
and they proceeded toward the res
taurant, without word being spoken.
That was the most wonderful meal
either Of them had ever had. Their
conversation was monosyllabic, but
there was little. need Of words in the
happiness Of this strange sympathy.
And afterward they strolled together
up and down the Lit streets. They
paused at the theater door. Women
in costly furs, accompanied by men In
evening clothes, were going in.
'Pma glad I'm not among that
crowd" thought the girl, and won
dered how many young DarrOws there
were among them.
And the boy, utterly abashed at the
thought Of the temptation that had
come to him, and feeling himself Who'll
ly unworthy Of the girl whose arm
was still linked in his, was planning
to see Mr.. Vincent on the next morn
ing at nine and tell him of the con-
spiracy.
"It's great, isn't itr' said the boy.
Just living, I mean"
"Yes, it's great" the girl answered,
and she knew then that she would
have strength to refuse young barrow
and to remain at her post. It was
only humble post in the outwOrks
of civilization, but suddenly she felt
like soldier.
II thought once Of going home and
giving up-all this" said the boy
vaguely, as they strolled homeward.
"But now I'm going to stay"
"And I'm going to stay, too" the
girl answered.
They reached the door and went up
the stairs together in silence. At her
door the girl turned.
II have enjoyed it SO much" she
said. II have spent such happy eve
ming" She blushed at her own au-
dacity. 1T has meant such lot to
me-you don't know how much" she
continued, feeling absurdly conscious
of the moisture in her eyes.
"You don't know how much to me
ALSO" he answered. And he never
knew how it came about, but the next
minute they were In each others arms,
and her lips met his in that first kiss
which everybody knows to be the.
sweetest.
"We'll fight 1t out together" said
the boy.