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will prove stronger than my inclination。 Just now
I am besieged by two。 One is a Grand Duke of a
German principality。 I think he has； or has bad； a
wife； somewhere； driven mad by his intemperance and
cruelty。 The other is an English Marquis； so cold
and mercenary that I even prefer the diabolism of the
Duke。 What is it that impels me to tell you these
things； Mr。 Packenstacker？
〃Parkenstacker；〃 breathed the young man。 〃In…
deed； you cannot know how much I appreciate your
confidences。〃
The girl contemplated him with the calm； imper…
sonal regard that befitted the difference in their sta…
tions。
〃What is your line of business； Mr。 Parken…
stacker？〃 she asked。
〃A very humble one。 But I hope to rise in the
world。 Were you really in earnest when you said
that you could love a man of lowly position？〃
〃Indeed I was。 But I said 'might。' There is the
Grand Duke and the Marquis； you know。 Yes； no
calling could be too humble were the man what I
would wish him to be。〃
〃I work；〃 declared Mr。 Parkenstacker； 〃in a res…
taurant。〃
The girl shrank slightly。
〃Not as a waiter？〃 she said； a little imploringly。
〃Labor is noble； but personal attendance； you
know valets and 〃
〃I am not a waiter。 I am cashier in〃 on the
street they faced that bounded the opposite side of
the park was the brilliant electric sign 〃RESTAU…
RANT〃 〃I am cashier in that restaurant you am
there。〃
The girl consulted a tiny watch set in a bracelet of
rich design upon her left wrist； and rose； hurriedly。
She thrust her book into a glittering reticule sus…
pended from her waist； for which； however； the book
was too large。
〃Why are you not at work？〃 she asked。
〃I am on the night turn；〃 said the young man；
it is yet an hour before my period begins。 May I
not hope to see you again？〃
〃I do not know。 Perhaps … but the whim may
not seize me again。 I must go quickly now。 There
is a dinner； and a box at the play and； oh！ the
same old round。 Perhaps you noticed an automobile
at the upper corner of the park as you came。 One
with a white body
〃And red running gear？〃 asked the young man；
knitting his brows reflectively。
〃Yes。 I always come in that。 Pierre waits for
me there。 He supposes me to be shopping in the de…
partment store across the square。 Conceive of the
bondage of the life wherein we must deceive even our
chauffeurs。 Good…night。〃
〃But it is dark now；〃 said Mr。 Parkenstacker；
〃and the park is full of rude men。 May I not
walk 〃
〃If you have the slightest regard for my wishes；〃
said the girl； firmly； 〃you will remain at this bench
for ten minutes after I have left。 I do not mean to
accuse you； but you are probably aware that autos
generally bear the monogram of their owner。 Again；
good…night〃
Swift and stately she moved away through the
dusk。 The young man watched her graceful form
as she reached the pavement at the park's edge； and
turned up along it toward the corner where stood the
automobile。 Then he treacherously and unhesitat…
ingly began to dodge and skim among the park trees
and shrubbery in a course parallel to her route； keep…
ing her well in sight
When she reached the corner she turned her head
to glance at the motor car； and then passed it； con
tinuing on across the street。 Sheltered behind a con…
venient standing cab； the young man followed her
movements closely with his eyes。 Passing down the
sidewalk of the street opposite the park； she entered
the restaurant with the blazing sign。 The place was
one of those frankly glaring establishments； all white；
paint and glass； where one may dine cheaply and
conspicuously。 The girl penetrated the restaurant to
some retreat at its rear； whence she quickly emerged
without her bat and veil。
The cashier's desk was well to the front。 A red…
head girl an the stool climbed down； glancing
pointedly at the clock as she did so。 The girl in
gray mounted in her place。
The young man thrust his hands into his pockets
and walked slowly back along the sidewalk。 At the
corner his foot struck a small； paper…covered volume
lying there； sending it sliding to the edge of the
turf。 By its picturesque cover he recognized it as
the book the girl had been reading。 He picked it up
carelessly； and saw that its title was 〃New Arabian
Nights；〃 the author being of the name of Stevenson。
He dropped it again upon the grass； and lounged；
irresolute； for a minute。 Then he stepped into the
automobile； reclined upon the cushions； and said two
words to the chauffeur：
〃Club； Henri。〃
A COMEDY IN RUBBER
One may hope； in spite of the metaphorists； to
avoid the breath of the deadly upas tree； one may； by
great good fortune； succeed in blacking the eye of the
basilisk； one might even dodge the attentions of Cer…
berus and Argus； but no man； alive or dead； can es…
cape the gaze of the Rubberer。
New York is the Caoutchouc City。 There are
many； of course； who go their ways； making money；
without turning to the right or the left； but there is a
tribe abroad wonderfully composed； like the Martians；
solely of eyes and means of locomotion。
These devotees of curiosity swarm； like flies； in a
moment in a struggling； breathless circle about the
scene of an unusual occurrence。 If a workman opens
a manhole； if a street car runs over a man from
North Tarrytown； if a little boy drops an egg on
his way home from the grocery； if a casual house or
two drops into the subway； if a lady loses a nickel
through a hole in the lisle thread； if the police drag
a telephone and a racing chart forth from an Ibsen
Society reading…room； if Senator Depew or Mr。
Chuck Connors walks out to take the air … if any of
these incidents or accidents takes place； you will see
the mad； irresistible rush of the 〃rubber〃 tribe to
the spot。
The importance of the event does not count。 They
gaze with equal interest and absorption at a cho…
rus girl or at a man painting a liver pill sign。 They
will form as deep a cordon around a man with a club…
foot as they will around a balked automobile。 They
have the furor rubberendi。 They are optical glut…
tons； feasting and fattening on the misfortunes of
their fellow beings。 They gloat and pore and glare
and squint and stare with their fishy eyes like goggle…
eyed perch at the book baited with calamity。
It would seem that Cupid would find these ocular
vampires too cold game for his calorific shafts； but
have we not yet to discover an immune even among
the Protozoa？ Yes； beautiful Romance descended
upon two of this tribe； and love came into their
hearts as they crowded about the prostrate form
of a man who had been run over by a brewery wagon。
William Pry was the first on the spot。 He was an
expert at such gatherings。 With an expression of in…
tense happiness on his f