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Mrs。 Peters came back with a bottle of sarsapa…
rilla。
〃I'm glad I happened to have that dollar；〃 she
said。 〃You're all run down； boney。〃
Mr。 Peters had a tablespoonful of the stuff in…
serted into him。 Then Mrs。 Peters sat on his lap
and murmured：
〃Call me tootsum wootsums again； James。〃
He sat still； held there by his materialized goddess
of spring。
Spring had come。
On the bench in Union Square Mr。 Ragsdale and
Mr。 Kidd squirmed； tongue…parched； awaiting
D'Artagnan and his dollar。
〃I wish I had choked her at first；〃 said Mr。 Peters
to himself。
WHILE THE AUTO WAITS
Promptly at the beginning of twilight； came
again to that quiet corner of that quiet； small park
the girl in gray。 She sat upon a bench and read a
book； for there was yet to come a half hour in which
print could be accomplished。
To repeat： Her dress was gray； and plain enough
to mask its impeccancy of style and fit。 A large…
meshed veil imprisoned her turban hat and a face
that shone through it with a calm and unconscious
beauty。 She had come there at the same hour on the
day previous； and on the day before that； and there
was one who knew it。
The young man who knew it hovered near； relying
upon burnt sacrifices to the great joss； Luck。 His
piety was rewarded； for； in turning a page； her book
slipped from her fingers and bounded from the bench
a full yard away。
The young man pounced upon it with instant avid…
ity； returning it to its owner with that air that seems
to flourish in parks and public places … a compound
of gallantry and hope； tempered with respect for the
policeman on the beat。 In a pleasant voice； be risked
an inconsequent remark upon the weather that in…
troductory topic responsible for so much of the
world's unhappiness…and stood poised for a mo…
ment； awaiting his fate。
The girl looked him over leisurely； at his ordinary；
neat dress and his features distinguished by nothing
particular in the way of expression。
〃You may sit down； if you like；〃 she said； in a
full； deliberate contralto。 〃Really； I would like to
have you do so。 The light is too bad for reading。
I would prefer to talk。〃
The vassal of Luck slid upon the seat by her side
with complaisance。
〃Do you know；〃 be said； speaking the formula
with which park chairmen open their meetings； 〃that
you are quite the stunningest girl I have seen in a
long time？ I had my eye on you yesterday。
Didn't know somebody was bowled over by those
pretty lamps of yours； did you； honeysuckle？〃
〃Whoever you are；〃 said the girl； in icy tones；
〃you must remember that I am a lady。 I will excuse
the remark you have just made because the mistake
was； doubtless； not an unnatural one in your circle。
I asked you to sit down； if the invitation must con…
stitute me your honeysuckle； consider it with…
drawn。〃
〃I earnestly beg your pardon；〃 pleaded the young
ran。 His expression of satisfaction had changed to
one of penitence and humility。 It was my fault；
you know …I mean； there are girls in parks； you
know … that is； of course； you don't know； but 〃
〃Abandon the subject； if you please。 Of course
I know。 Now； tell me about these people passing
and crowding； each way； along these paths。 Where
are they going？ Why do they hurry so？ Are they
happy？〃
The young man had promptly abandoned his air
of coquetry。 His cue was now for a waiting part；
he could not guess the role be would be expected to
play。
〃It is interesting to watch them；〃 he replied； pos…
tulating her mood。 〃It is the wonderful drama of
life。 Some are going to supper and some to er
other places。 One wonders what their histories are。〃
〃I do not；〃 said the girl； 〃I am not so inquisi…
tive。 I come here to sit because here； only； can I be
tear the great； common； throbbing heart of hu…
manity。 My part in life is cast where its beats are
never felt。 Can you surmise why I spoke to you；
Mr。 ？〃
〃Parkenstacker；〃 supplied the young man。 Then
be looked eager and hopeful。
〃No；〃 said the girl； holding up a slender finger；
and smiling slightly。 〃You would recognize it im…
mediately。 It is impossible to keep one's name out of
print。 Or even one's portrait。 This veil and this
hat of my maid furnish me with an incog。 You
should have seen the chauffeur stare at it when he
thought I did not see。 Candidly； there are five or six
names that belong in the holy of holies； and mine； by
the accident of birth； is one of them。 I spoke to you；
Mr。 Stackenpot 〃
〃Parkenstacker；〃 corrected the young man； mod…
estly。
〃 Mr。 Parkenstacker； because I wanted to talk；
for once； with a natural man one unspoiled by the
despicable gloss of wealth and supposed social su…
periority。 Oh！ you do not know how weary I am of
it money； money； money！ And of the men who
surround me； dancing like little marionettes all cut by
the same pattern。 I am sick of pleasure； of jewels；
of travel； of society； of luxuries of all kinds。〃
〃I always had an idea；〃 ventured the young man；
hesitatingly； 〃that money must be a pretty good
thing。〃
〃A competence is to be desired。 But when you
leave so many millions that ！〃 She concluded
the sentence with a gesture of despair。 〃It is the mo…
otony of it〃 she continued； 〃that palls。 Drives；
dinners； theatres； balls； suppers； with the gilding of
superfluous wealth over it all。 Sometimes the very
tinkle of the ice in my champagne glass nearly drives
me mad。〃
Mr。 Parkenstacker looked ingenuously interested。
〃I have always liked；〃 he said； 〃to read and hear
about the ways of wealthy and fashionable folks。 I
suppose I am a bit of a snob。 But I like to have my
information accurate。 Now； I had formed the opin…
ion that champagne is cooled in the bottle and not by
placing ice in the glass。〃
The girl gave a musical laugh of genuine amuse…
ment。
〃You should know；〃 she explained； in an indul…
gent tone； 〃that we of the non…useful class depend
for our amusement upon departure from precedent。
Just now it is a fad to put ice in champagne。 The
idea was originated by a visiting Prince of Tartary
while dining at the Waldorf。 It will soon give way
to some other whim。 Just as at a dinner party this
week on Madison Avenue a green kid glove was laid
by the plate of each guest to be put on and used while
eating olives。〃
〃I see；〃 admitted the young man； humbly。
〃These special diversions of the inner circle do not
become familiar to the common public。〃
〃Sometimes；〃 continued the girl； acknowledging
his confession of error by a slight bow； 〃I have
thought that if I ever should love a man it would be
one of lowly station。 One who is a worker and not a
drone。 But； doubtless； the claims of caste and wealth
will prove stronger than my inclination。 Just now
I am besieged by two。