The Girl from His Town

Excerpt: ...when they struck their vein? Miss Lane had drawn herself up in the corner of the sofa, and sat with her hands clasped around her knees, all swathed around and draped by the knitted shawl, her golden head like a radiant flower, appearing from a bank of snow. 162 Her fragility, her sweetness, her smallness, appealed strongly to the big young fellow, whose heart was warm toward the world, whose ideals were high, and who had the chivalrous longing inherent in all good men to succor, to protect, and above all to adore. No feeling in Dan Blair had been as strong as this, to take her in his arms, to lift her up and carry her away from London and the people who applauded her, from the people that criticized her, and from Poniotowsky. He was engaged to the Duchess of Breakwater. And as far as his being able to do anything for Letty Lane, he could only offer her this politeness from the woman he was going to marry. I never sing out of the theater. Her profile was to him and she looked steadily across the room. It's a perfect fight to get the manager to consent. Blair interrupted and said: Oh, I'll see him; I'll make it all right. 163 Please don't, she said briskly, it's purely a business affair. How much will she pay? Dan was rather shocked. Anything you like. And her bad humor faded at his tone, and she smiled at him. Well, I'll tell Roach that. I guess it'll make my singing a sure thing. She changed her position and drew a long sigh as though she were very tired, leaned her blond head with its soft disorder back on the pillow, put both her folded hands under her cheek and turned her face toward Dan. The most delicate coral-like color began to mount her cheeks, and her gray eyes regained their light. Will two thousand dollars be too much to ask? she said gently. If she had said two million to the young fellow who had not yet begun to spend his fortune, which as far as he was concerned was...