Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-03-29

Am-That Is to Say-May Present
MyseIf7-You Are-Who Are Your"
hands among thousand-he would
know the very touch of them-he had
always thought her hands so unusual
for working girl. When this girl
drew off her gloves But how utter.
ly absurd Though the resemblance
was truly amazing
An experienced traveller, st. Croix
knew how to. expedite the tedious Gus.
toms business and in a very short time
he was helping Lady Sylvia into q
taXicab.
Seated at her side in the cab, lis.
tening with strained attention to the
tones Of her voice, stealing glances at
her exquisite profile, noting the move
ments of her gloved hands (if only
she'd take off her gloves), st. Croix
felt every minute more bewildered,
more uncertain. There was some.
thing in the very atmosphere of her
presence that made him feel as If he
were sitting beside Meely-yet the in
congruity Of identifying in any way
this elegant creature with Nicely
Schwenckton-her civilized speech
with Meely's Pennsylvania Dutch dia-
lect, her grace with Meely's vulgar
clumsiness, her sparkling countenance
with Meely's heavy dullness, the SIM
plicity of her couture with Meely's
elaborate pompadour-
The wild absurdity of his predica-
ment in not being sure made him feel.
as he told himself, "woozy!" ..
All at once he recalled that Nicely
had tiny brown mole under the lobe
of her ear-he had kissed it often.
Her hands and that mole! If he could
only lift the lobes of Lady Sylvia's
ears and have look! But suppose he
found the mole there-what would It
mean and what would he do about It?
Surely this was the weirdest expert.
ence that had ever fallen to the lot of
a man!
"You have changed so much since
you were child, Cousin Sylvia! I'd
never have recognized you" He put
out feeler.
"No, of course you wouldn't. When
you last saw me, was homely little
tow-headed, bow-legged, pigeon-toed.
freckle-faced kid!'
The words had vaguely familiar
sound to St Croix. He seemed to hear
again the unaccountable indignation
with which Nicely Schwenckton. that
day in the woods on the hill, had re.
peated, "Bow-legged!" His head swan
and he felt almost i'll.
Suddenly he turned In his seat and
looked straight into her eyes with q
very definite and frank suspicion
'This." he inquired with what he felt
to be subtle cunning. his eyes probing
hers like gimlets. twas of course your
first crossing?"
"Well, I've crossed the Channel so
often that crossing the Atlantic didn't
seem anything! Why. I'd hardly know
I was on a boat at ALL crossing the
Atlantic. Why. crossing the Allan.
tic"
She was evading direct answer to
his question land covering the fact
by voluDly chattering.
Seated opposite each other, present
ly, in the dining car, he waited In
strained suspense for the critical mo.
ment when their waiter would bring
their order and Lady Sylvia would be
obliged to remove her gloves; and at
the same time he was wondering how
he could contrive to have look be.
hind her ears for that tiny mole; for
that mole could have been no part of
a makeup; he knew 1t too intimate.
ly not to be quite sure that II didt
come off!
49," she suddenly remarked, rest
ing her folded arms on the table and
bending forward confidentiaIly, your
brother. Marvin. won't have me, will
he?"
st. Croix made an effort to conceal
his surprise and embarrassment at
this unexpected broadside. He felt It
lacked delicacy.