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Show J Sydney Chase was a sort of Billie j BurksVfet, o to speak She was small and slenderly rounded, with reddish hair anl brown eyes ami an Ingratlat- I ing little smile. And she was rather new to Hathaway & Eaton - where shr H jj hail berrt taken on in the clove section H ! fioln' to thr Emerald Club tn-nlghi. H ; t Miss Chase' asked Miss Parker a hie. swarthy rlrl with regular garden' i hedges of eyebrows. She knew very I well that the new Kirl wasn't goinc J Sydney ca' no hint of chagrin H "Ho Vm not going. Is It a dan. Ing I jlf Miss Packer raised an eyebrow at H ' this ipnoranre. Oh. hadn't you even H jj heard about It? Yes it s a dancln- dub I a real swell one loo I'm goin' with I Mr McKay he's In the Gent's Fur- H jjii nishings," you know." H mj "That will be nice." Sydney's tone H. vas politely indifferent, but she felt H pj4j the pang she was infendeil to feel She Hi i could not understand why they all seemed so determined to shut her out I from their pleasures, and Uirn :o flaunt H M theni before her lonely eyes H ft Miss Packer, however felt vaguely H frustrated in her assumption of social I superiority. "Little eat'" she mut- H tered. tossing her head I Occasional;, in thr shops there Is H to be seen a girl, bronchi there by Heaven knows whai exigencies who in I apiaranre and refinement so overtops , hrr fellows that Hie difference Is e I dent at first glance. For quite obvi-J obvi-J otis reasons these girls are seldom popular, and even the knowledge that I they are owed to one's superiorly does j not Invariably heal the wounds of hu- ! miliation and studied Insult Een though she did consider the source, Sydney could not but wince at Miss Packer's snubs. Besides she was only a girl and she was lonely I The approach of a customer saved her from the scratch of the little cat ! remark, and she was surprised to feel In the manner of this customer an un-) un-) accustomed friendliness, a sympathy. a something undrrstauling. She was a young woman beautiful and beauti fully dressed, and Sydney did not won-i won-i der at the Interest she seemed to be Jj excitlnsc among the other clerks She felt someway a little happier when the I j beautiful lady had turned away with a smile that seemed to have so much I more In It than mere amiability It i was somehow comforting like the pres- sure of the hand that means "Be of jj good cheer " The floorman sauntered up He was Mr. B. F Wirt, commonly called 'Ben "Some class, eh?" said he, with a glance after the figure of the beautiful Sydney cordially agreed "She was "Well do you know who that Is? I It's Mrs Valentine Burke she used to I work right here In this very store." Jj "That's what she did when she was I Christabel Shannon. And she married Burke, the millionaire, and seems to be living happy ever after Terrible ; romantic ain't It?" j "1 should say." smiled Sydney. ;j . "How's this fair one to day?" in- 1 quired Bennie softly, smiling his own 4 eweetest. "Well, thank vou," with no coquetry I "Say, goin' to the Emerald to-night?" 1 Sydney shook her head. "No." "Don't you want to go?" persisted Mr. Wirt "Or no bid?" I "I haven't been aaked," she admitted. I "Come, go with me, then," he Invited I "Why, yes I'd like to." She spokr ' with a slight hesitation which Mr. Wirt did not notice. I "All right. Fine doln's" said he, I quite elated. "I'll see you later." 1 Tbr first stare that night showed the 1 curious Emeralds why Bennies chest ! ws swelling with pride of conquest I Starved as she was for pleasure. 8yd- ( ney's cheeks began to glow as the j younc men crowded around her for J dances, and the smile on her wistful mouth became more Irresistible. J The evening was half gone when two si range young men appeared In the j doorway, ha vine: wandered up from the I street, probably allured by the strains J of "Kiss me. my honey, kiss me" I Their dinner jackets proclaimed them gentlemen to the doorkeeper, who after j a consultation with the president of I the club, received their money and ad- j mitted them I Their looks, their air of being on a lark, their self-possession and their clothes labelled them from a somewhat higher sphere, and the glrlB to whom they were Introduced beamed upon them. Both were presented to Sydney Mr Meadows aud Mr Tremper M m sorry, but my card Is full." she responded to their Invitations to dance Mr Meadows moved on to the next girl, but Mr Tremper remained standing before her, looking rather deep Into her brown eyeB with his clear, steady gray ones. "I'm sorry, too " he was saying, when suddenly. "Extra, waltr!" the floor manager shouted Tremper smiled "This is my lucky night. Isn't It?" Sydney felt her heart quicken She rose to put her hand on his arm. Ignoring Ignor-ing the sight of Mr Wirt, skating across the floor In her direction She had never fell other men In dancing any more than prancing automatons, auto-matons, but she was conscious of Tremper's arm about her waist Thv spoke little and the music seemed to L be carrving them on without personal L., effort flk .May I have the next extra?" he mmmmmmmm&LLLLiLii "If there Is one." Her voice was very low. "Maybe we can fix It," he said, with his boyish smile Strangely, when be had seated her. she did not seem to want to dance again She rose reluctantly when her next partner approached She found herself wondering whether there would be another extra It was gelling so late that It did not seem likely. The next to the last dance wa; railed Bhe 'aw Tremper standing by the musicians and spf-aklng to th leader Something paBsed from his hand to laftrr's. After the two-step the leader railed smilingly to the floor manager ami he shouted: 'They'll give us another extra' Partners foi a three-step!" Tremper was i omlnc arross the floor toward her. Even body was staring It was in the air that the stranger had bribed the musicians that he might dance again with Sydney Chase! "You see, ' be whispered, standing before her Ht ryes were like stars, but she rose in silence Wirt looked on blackly "I suppose I may not take you home"" TrerapT broached presently She smiled. "No" "You came with that light fellow over there" " "Yes " "Forgive me for this 'extra' business." busi-ness." She was silent "Did you mind'" anxiously. "I guess not she said "Will you let me call on you. then?" "Why" she hesitated Her heart fluttered; her white lids drooped under his gaze. "If you wish " "I do wish Where do vou lle?" She told him. After the dance: "Oood night " he said quietly, and he and his friend had gone, before "Home Sweet Homo" was over. Wirt scolded a good deal on the way home about strangers being allowed to come in that way Nobody knew who they were comin In and makln' fun of everybody. But he was afraid to scold her Sydne felt rather dazed She was tremulously happy and frightened at the same time. She could think of nothing ?ut t h n gray-eyed fellow and the way he had looked at her. When she came home from work the next night, flowers had come for her, and the next night he came himself. It was a dingy old boarding house and there was no parlor, only a sort of little lit-tle alcove off the hall, where there were two swains already walling for their ladles to descend "Can't we go somewhere9" whispered Tremper, as he released her hand "If you like I'll get my hat " Like all the other homeless couples, they --pent the evening in street cars, and in the park, and In a little restaurant restau-rant She told him she worked at Hathaway & Eaton', half fearful lest this news should cool him It dldn'L "And v. hero do yon work?" she Inquired In-quired He laughed a little oddlv. "I'm afraid I'm not much of a toiler I'm pretending to lawyer' a little now " ' Oh. you ought to work steady." she incited him, not quite understanding He looked at her with a sort of rue ful tenderness. "I'm I've been an awful muff." A little time passed Wirt wa? forgotten. for-gotten. Sdney could not stop to think until Tremper had kissed her They had come home from somewhere some-where and as she turned at the door to say good-night, he suddenly bent and touched her fresh lips And she had torn from him and darted into the house Tears were on her cheeks when her own door ahnt behind her. Perhaps she ought never to see him again She knew the store was buzzing with gossip about her. Tremper. with his fine clothes and his free ways and his "air." obviously a "gentleman." and what did a gentleman want with a shop-girl like Sdney Cha6e? Not any good probably Much of this talk fli tered to the girl s ears, and at firi it had not troubled her greatly. Unlm-aginatie Unlm-aginatie indeed must be the girl who never dreams of a Prince Charming from some world above her. She had no notion whatever that his estate might be especially exalted. Nor had she, in spite of what she saw in his eyes ever said to herself: "I love him and he loves me For the first time. then, she really fared what that kiss might mean Tremper was a different dif-ferent type altogether, from the men she knew, and sho had read far too many novels not to understand that men kiss and ride, away And that kiss taught her afresh what it would mean to her if Burton Tremper. too should ride away Rut women must work as well an weep these days, and morning found her as usual lealng the car at" Hathaway Hatha-way & Eaton's corner Tremper was there before her. and for a moment they looked at each other without greeting, pauelng on the edge of the sidewalk He was grave and pal t ' Sydney. he began without preface "last night forglvo rn won't you But I meant it and more, too Will you marry me?" She lifted her eyes full of wistful questioning to his. then lowered the white lids to mask their answerine fir" Her whimper was brief: 'Yes" They stood silent, the careless bustling bust-ling tide of the city street flowing past "I must go ' she murmured presently. present-ly. "I'll be late." He taught her hand "No. don't ito You needn't work do !" She smiled "Oh, I mu-t " He submitted 'Then I'll meet you at noon and we'll have luncheon together. to-gether. " "All right " Their hands clung a moment and they parted. At noon. Tremper was boyishly gay "Oh. what's the use of waiting'' Come, let's be married to-day, and then it will be done for good and nobody can undo un-do It" ' Is anybody likely to try?" she laughed softly, not taking him seriously seri-ously "Well, nobody will succeed, " and be shut his mouth tight. He tried to get. her to marry turn Immediately. though vouchsafing no greater reason than what's the good of waiting, and that he wished her to quit work at once. At length she promised that in a month three weeks maybe and he had to be sat isfled. Lair that afternoon, a boy brought her a note Sydney, my girl I can't see you to-night My mother arrived unexpc, tedly and I musi spend the evening with her. Don't let anyone frighten you. I love vou B T Don't lei anyone frighten you' That frightened her Her heart sank In sudden and unaccountable panic. I'pon leaving the store she bought a penny paper from the boy who sold them at the employees' entrance, and being fortunate enough lo gel a seat on the c ar she unfolded it median I cally. There is something almost uncanny un-canny In the way the vital paragraph finds Its way to us. She turned the Stewart I). Tremor, of Philadelphia, arrived In the ity this morning on a ?urprlse visit to her son. Mr Burton Tnraprr. who has been sojourning with us in the office of W r Reade an old friend of his father s Tbr Trempers are among thr richest and most aristocratic aristo-cratic of Philadelphia's smartest rei 1 1 is said that young Mr Tremper came West to escape his social popularity, as his millionaire million-aire father wished Mm to pet down to business. Mrs Tremper's stay Is indefinite. Sydney leaned back and closed her eyes She knew the color had left her cheeks Almost as -dearly an If It too. had been sot forth on the primed page, in her hand, the whole situation un folded before her. Burton himedf. his words and actions, appeared In a new light And therr was no doubt In her mind that certain information had been the rause of his mother's "snr- In Tremper's company, they had inrt men who lifted their hats and looked curiously at Sydney. Probably some family friend had "considered it his duty to report gossip. She laid out no plan of conduct She only wished not to think at all. She was consdous of a sort of wear re grei that she had not been married that morning. For the first time a little quiver of pn n tout hr) the girl's lips Please, don't.' she murmured "Is It true that yon were entirely un aware of my son s position?' The tone implied Incredulity Sydnev looked Into her tormentor's eyes. "It is true." Mr- 'I remper made a gr-inre of Impatience. Im-patience. "You niufel see the absurdity "FORGIVE ME FOR-THIS EXTRA BUSINESS " Thai she had not been the onlv one to note that paragraph, the renewed stares and whisperings at the store made evident. Again she must pretend not to hear the oft-repeated tale of Christabol Shannon, who had actually married Valentine Burke With a quickening heart, and a sinking of it too. she turned from this repetition to a handsome woman of fifty, severely but elegantly dressed, who sat down at her counter and asked for gloves. Sydney had showed her several shades before a vague familiarity of feature, and something oddly searching search-ing in the well-bred gaze enlightened her The color crept hotly to her cheeks. The lady saw H "Are you Sydney Chase?" she asked abruptly In a low voice Tes, madam, ' quietly. "And I I see that you recognize mo" "I think so ' "I am Burton Themper's mother " The girl inclined her head In sllrne. "Will you trv these on?" She Indl cated the gloves selected. Mrs Tremper, somewhat taken aback, assented, and for a moment-watched moment-watched the small, white, well kept bands busy themselves it her own with i deft strength that seemed somehow Indicative of some force of chararter In the girl herself. But she had something to say "You ran probably guess tha i did nol come here to buy gloves, but to s-e you." Sydney made no reply "Mr. ileadows thought it his duty to Inform us of Burton s Interest " she was going to say infatuation i "in you." Still no words from Sydney. 'Last night my son was frank enough to tell mr the truth Hr r0n fessed that he had really asked you to marry him." There was a momentary tremor In the small, capable hands Mrs Tremper'3 voice hardened "And that vou had consented That is truer" "Yes " Theie was a tiny pause, slgnifi. anf . ominous; Mrs. Tremper proceeded with a hint of difficulty "I admit it Is quite evident. Miss Chase, that you arr not the ordinary shop-girl Mv son Informs me that you are Talrly well educated. or your beauty" the words seemed a condescension conde-scension forced from her there can be no question " of the whole affair now," she decided In low voiced vehemence "Such a mar riage I3 absolutely out of the question I shall take Burton home with me. Men iecoer from such things quickly. I am very sorry for you, Mlas er Chase but the matter Is entirely ended ' Is It?" said Sydney-Mrs Sydney-Mrs Tremper started and bit her lip But she made up her mind to keep her temper In the face of any Insolence "You must remember that to marn my son is to ruin him." Her voice was like Ice "You will not promise me, then, not to see him again"" Sydney was folding the gloves care fully. "No Do you wish to take these; with you.'" The great lady made some inarticulate inarticu-late assent. She laid thr monev on the COUntei with a hand that trerablrd in spite of her Sydney took it with a perfectly steady one She turned to another customer until Mrs Tremper's change came, then shr i"" i Into that lady's hand with the saleswoman's impersonal ' hank you, madam." But her knees trembled when the ordeal or-deal was over. She felt a wild desire to run away from it all Oh. she could now well imagine the pressure put upon Burion. and a thousand questions ques-tions ached In her tired brain Should she hold him for her own sake or glf him up for his" Were her chancrs of making him perfect i happy dlstln gulshable among those of making him perfectly miserable? Self. reliant as rlr.-umstances had forced her to be. shr felt now a strange helplessness, an almost piteous long-inc long-inc to ban upon someone else. If there were only some one. some one ho would be kind who would understand, under-stand, who would know perhaps what she ought to do She was pulling all thought of self a-idr. Khe wanted to do what was right for Burton, what was best for Burion Was It irue that to marrv him was to ruin him' Who could tell? Suddenly an Idea darted Into hm mind that caught her breath with Its daring There was one person tin ought 'o know Un Burke! Shr was Mud. ihey said; she bad retained her giterest in the girls at Hathaway r.aton 8. She had marrlrd Burke, and he did not seem to he ruined. Sydnev rr. .1.. d her young and lovelv and happy surely-wlth the smile that ca reaeed Surely she would understand Shr was sure that Burton would be waiting for ber when the store closed If his mothrr would let him. There was an unaccustomed irony in her smile. He was waiting "Sydney! what did my mother say to yon" " Can't you guess?" "Oh, I can guess." gloomily. ' See here dear." be added eagerly "do you care so much for the money"" "Why. I didn't know you had any," sh lomlnded him gently Mr laughed a hard little laugh. "I haven't That'e what bothers me. I've been a fool " A quick fear stang her. "About me?" He etopped short "Don't you trust me?" She met his eyes and the blood red dened her cheeks again "Yes." simply "I've been a fool about myself, about monr . , about life about everything," be continued sadly She thrust her hand In his "Wait, Burton Oh here's my car Oo home to your mother to-night and think It all over To-morrow, we well decide de-cide " "We have decided," he declared hotly "No. Wait until lo-morrow if " Shr broke from him anil ran out to the approaching car He stood for a moment as if uncertain, uncer-tain, then walked thoughtfully away. At eight o'clock that night Sydney rang the bell at the mansion of Valentine Valen-tine Burke A butler or a footman, enffl' lently stately, opened the door. 1 wish to see Mrs Burke" Sydney Syd-ney was determined not to be overawed over-awed by him He ushered her into a small recept lon-rqom, and she. remarking remark-ing the question in his eye, forestalled him 'Tdl Mrs Burke it's one of the girls from Hathaway Eaton s " He departed, and panic at once seized her What a folish girl she was to do this' What would Mrs. Burke think of her? And 3he knew her tongue would never dare to tell hrr dearest secret se-cret to a stranger. Her courage would have oozed entirely perhaps, had sbe waited long. Very soon shr heard the swish of a woman's gown, and rose bravely to meet its wearer Mrs Valentine Burke, once Christabol Christa-bol Shannon camo forward with out stretched hand and that wonderful smile. Exquisitely gowned as always, she seemed to the eyes of the shabby little shop-girl, even younger, even lovelier, more gracious, than the picture pic-ture she had carried In her mind Sydnev Syd-nev s heart lightened at sight of her, and warmed at the touch of hor cool, firm hand "I am Sydney Chase. Mrs Burke 1 work at Hathaway & Eaton's 1 " she hesitated That always Interests me." came instantly in-stantly the soft clear tones of Christabol Christa-bol You know I used to work there, too. And jes. 1 remember you. Sit here, won't you?" She drew her own chair companiouly near to coier the girl's momentary embarrassment There was no hint of hauteur or condescension con-descension In her manner it was wholly that of friendly equality Chrls-tabel Chrls-tabel was one of those surely blessed of Heaven who larn to sre with the heart Happiness had taught her not to forget, but to remember So she was not looking at Sydney's neat shab blneas she was seeing the brave youth of her. the eyes a little sadder than voung eyes should be. the wlstfulness of the lender mouth, and understanding understand-ing fo well that touch of defiance of sophistication with whih adventuring in thr world had alloyed her natural gentleness "I hardly know how to begin " Sydney's Syd-ney's smile was wistful "Nor what you'll think when I've told you I'm almost a stranger here, but I've heard so murh about you at the store " Christabel laughed "I know im the heroine of all romance at Hatha-way's! Hatha-way's! " Sydney oaughl at the word "That was It! Your romance will you think me too absurd? I wanted your ad vice" "Advice? I'm afraid I'm not very wise. Miss Chase but you'ro surely nreiCOme to a 1 1 the poor w isdom I Can muster ' The cordial inirn: in hor eolce brought tears close to the lonely girl's eye..) "You're very kind1" she cried. Christabel waved this asidr "You said romance' is it that you have one of your own perhaps?" Sydney nodded "And it's Its rather rath-er complicated. Mrs. Burke, aud I wanted ko much to tell some one " she broke off Christabel took her hand they were r much alike., those small, capable hands "It was so nb" of you to tb'nlc of me." I wanted to ruu away at first." Sydney confessed, "but now I feel that I can te quito frank wi'h you." "I am so glad." Sydney took the plunge. "I met a young man he came tip lo one of the dances just for fun one night and well, he came to see mr i had no reason rea-son to think that he was especially above mr became rnagrd and now. I llnd that he rich, that his family Is very aristocratic, and that they are very much opposed to our marriage " "You havr met his family?" "His mothrr " -And she " "Said that if I married him it would ruin him " "Oh. thry always say that." observed Christabel. "That's quite the stock phrat,c ' r "I thought of you." ventured Sydney. , "You married a rich man and you I look happy and he does not seem to be ruined " "We are happy " There was a thrill In Chrlslabel's voice. "But It is not Lf always safe to draw parallels Now, with us. Mr Burke's money was his K own. he had no 'family.' he cared 110th- L, Ing for society, and neither did I Consequently Con-sequently we have gone our own gait j we have been wholly Independent. Could It be so with you7" Sydney shook her head doubtfully. . Jj ' I'm afraid, from what he said that J-wj Mr Tremper must be someway depend- d! ent on his father " , "Tremper?" I Sydney blushed "I didn't mean to, 1 but it doesn't matter." f Christabel nodded her head slowly, "Ah. I see" "Ton know ihe Trempora?" ,'' t 1 "Not prrsonally I know something fa about them though, from hearsay. 1 They're a kind of family. I think." Christabel continued thoughtfully, "much more common in the East than ?i out West hero Very aristocratic, as K you said not to say snobblBh." She 1 made a wry' little face "It seems to me one of the daughters married an I Englishman with a title of some sort." Sydney caught a half-sob In her 1 throat From the moment when sbe had J7- brheid his mother, the gulf between L Tremper and herself had seemed to H widen until it was becoming an abyss 'TV In depth, a chasm In width wholly Im- passable. But turning an abstract lover into a nS drflnlte Tremper. served to point -Christahel's view of the matter. "What does Mr. Tremper think about all 4,-thls?" 4,-thls?" Sydney admitted that she had really jft not discussed It with him. Christabel K broke in with sudden conviction. i "Believe me, it all depends on what he Is. What Is best for you to do de pends on what sort of man he Is. Can ! he stand alone, or Is his family's sup- 1 port, his Boclal position, vital to him? (ifc Aro you essential to his life does he mm rrally love you, or forgive me Is it m only " . Sydney closed her eyes, her lips ai quivered "I think I hope he does." I "Then." cried Christabel, "leave the decision to him You are willing to D bear what comes, I know. You are yll only thinking of him now Let him jfflj decide for himself. Oh, my dear. It J seems to me we let such trivial things u stand in the way of our lives and our Jj happiness! Why. when I was working in the store as you are now, I thought f? I would do anything for money and L? ease and beauty and all the things we '8 miss so much. These things are pleas-ant. pleas-ant. It would be foolish to deny it, but now that I have them. I see that they are really unimportant beside the H big things, the things that really mat- ! ter! It is my love for Val. his for me. (? that makes us happy, not all this!" j Her gesture relegated the luxury of 111 her surroundings to Its real position fltsQ of minor Importance "If your man Is ifcsa the right sort, you can give him what II lift his money and hl3 family and their lh family-pride never could As for the kj right of It. why should we let some of fhri the world's foolish little harries keep mm) us from our own' This is Tremper's I test if he says Come I'm a man in mtQ( my own right anyway, and I know what I want," then I saw go with him. H I But if he hesitates ab, well" she t , T gave a little shrug J' Sydney understood Yes. It must be l better fo let people decide things out of their own heart-:, inau-ad of frying to iKf make them do what maybe only seemtm right to you Whrn she rose to go, CjJ Christabel took loth her hands. ! "You'll let me know, won't you how '86 It all comes out? And oh. I hope it allS 'oruH. out right' And Mr Burks J kissed the little shop-girl, and knewBlj i 'ha' s'io us iirdy sister under lu.i the skin mm Sydney felt the calm In her heart MM that comes when the heart says, "IflVV have decided'" Thai rhrlstabel's wl lU. 'to tu v. ii', Id ha-. 'mi thr sheerest IwT folly to the world that calls itself proo J Meal did not trouble her did not, in ! fhet; occur to her Jbf The Ions car ride across town J LW brought hrr rrnt ially to her own M jfl dingy neighborhood It was a still ll jH dark- night, and she hurried alon? thtffl flfl lonely block, without noticing a nan 1 .', f in front or h-f l.ntll he had p'anted MW himself before her mmYi She stopped short "Oh-h'" fcj "Where ha . r on n.-cu, runaway?"' ashed Tremper, taklnj; her hands She ihoupht that een In this dim . fRoM Street-lighi she had never seen hint j '.l! look so hovlsh, so full of vitality. Wk'':$ ' r ' d And this look In him k , brought n note of tenderness to asrlff li I le laiiKh l won't tell." MW' "I've been walling for you oh wellwll n " ii long, but l seemed loaavmi M His tone dreprnd "Sydnev I ve beaSMWjflffy through die mill to nlv:hi My uiothSjBJw'v' "nd I have !, n having If hot snoH j hravy all rvrnin-,- I won't try to PH I' politely but If I marry you. - If 1 says shell ser that I'm disinherited. ostracised, sent to the right-about sen-1 WWi Bydney looked into h's cesHB straight, frank, level gaze "Well?" she said, simply. ' S His hands Rri, : h i i'vr been kMB a kind of puppc all my !if I, tit if (9 came fo mr lo-nklr that there are many little worlds In ihs big one. ssfll v oi'ii t injcs what belong to us - In a different one. so '.ve have to le.ive the 1 world we're usrd to. to prt wha1'- ours. Ur;-Say Ur;-Say that I haven't an rr orr o any I j ''! ; family, nor any high-up frlrnds. '.Minima you take mc for the man I m;an to be' "Ws," said Sydney. |