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with this lovely and virginal being。 But the tumult in his heart gave him
courage。
After a few friendly and well…received remarks on general subjects； he
laid his card by her hand on the counter。
〃Will you please pardon me；〃 he said； 〃if I seem too bold； but I
earnestly hope you will allow me the pleasure of seeing you again。 There
is my name； I assure you that it is with the greatest respect that I ask the
favor of becoming one of your acquaintances。 May I not hope for the
privilege？〃
Masie knew men … especially men who buy gloves。 Without hesitation
she looked him frankly and smil… ingly in the eyes； and said：
〃Sure。 I guess you're all right。 I don't usually go out with strange
gentlemen； though。 It ain't quite ladylike。 When should you want to see me
again？〃
〃As soon as I may；〃 said Carter。 〃If you would allow me to call at your
home； I 〃
Masie laughed musically。 〃Oh； gee； no！〃 she said； emphatically。 〃If
you could see our flat once！ There's five of us in three rooms。 I'd just like
to see ma's face if I was to bring a gentleman friend there！〃
〃Anywhere； then；〃 said the enamored Carter； 〃that will be convenient
to you。〃
〃Say；〃 suggested Masie； with a bright…idea look in her peach…blow face；
〃I guess Thursday night will about suit me。 Suppose you come to the
corner of Eighth Avenue and Forty…eighth Street at 7：30。 I live right near
the corner。 But I've got to be back home by eleven。 Ma never lets me stay
out after eleven。〃 Carter promised gratefully to keep the tryst； and then
hastened to his mother； who was looking about for him to ratify her
purchase of a bronze Diana。
A salesgirl； with small eyes and an obtuse nose； strolled near Masie；
with a friendly leer。
〃Did you make a hit with his nobs； Mase？〃 she asked； familiarly。
〃The gentleman asked permission to call。〃 an… swered Masie； with the
grand air； as she slipped Car… ter's card into the bosom of her waist。
〃Permission to call！〃 echoed small eyes； with a snigger。 〃Did he say
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The Voice of the City
anything about dinner in the Waldorf and a spin in his auto afterward？〃
〃Oh； cheese it！〃 said Masie； wearily。 〃You've been used to swell things；
I don't think。 You've had a swelled bead ever since that hose…cart driver
took you out to a chop suey joint。 No； be never mentioned the Waldorf；
but there's a Fifth Avenue address on his card； and if be buys the supper
you can bet your life there won't be no pigtail on the waiter what takes the
order。〃
As Carter glided away from the Biggest Store with his mother in his
electric runabout； he bit his lip with a dull pain at his heart。 He knew that
love had come to him for the first time in all the twenty…nine years of his
life。 And that the object of it should make so readily an appointment with
him at a street corner； though it was a step toward his desires； tor… tured
him with misgivings。
Carter did not know the shopgirl。 He did not know that her home is
often either a scarcely habit… able tiny room or a domicile filled to
overflowing with kith and kin。 The street…corner is her parlor； the park is
her drawing…room； the avenue is her garden walk； yet for the most part she
is as inviolate mis… tress of herself in them as is my lady inside her
tapestried chamber。
One evening at dusk； two weeks after their first meeting； Carter and
Masie strolled arm…in…arm into a little； dimly…lit park。 They found a bench；
tree… shadowed and secluded； and sat there。
For the first time his arm stole gently around her。 Her golden…bronze
head slid restfully against his shoulder。
〃Gee！〃 sighed Masie； thankfully。 〃Why didn't you ever think of that
before？〃
〃Masie；〃 said Carter； earnestly； 〃you surely know that I love you。 I ask
you sincerely to marry me。 You know me well enough by this time to have
no doubts of me。 I want you； and I must have you。 I care nothing for the
difference in our stations。〃
〃What is the difference？〃 asked Masie； curi… ously。
〃Well； there isn't any；〃 said Carter； quickly； 〃ex… cept in the minds of
foolish people。 It is in my power to give you a life of luxury。 My social
position is be… yond dispute； and my means are ample。〃
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The Voice of the City
〃They all say that；〃 remarked Masie。 〃It's the kid they all give you。 I
suppose you really work in a delicatessen or follow the races。 I ain't as
green as I look。〃
〃I can furnish you all the proofs you want；〃 said Carter； gently。 〃And I
want you； Masie。 I loved you the first day I saw you。〃
〃They all do；〃 said Masie； with an amused laugh； 〃to hear 'em talk。 If I
could meet a man that got stuck on me the third time he'd seen me I think
I'd get mashed on him。〃
〃Please don't say such things；〃 pleaded Carter。 〃Listen to me； dear。
Ever since I first looked into your eyes you have been the only woman in
the world for me。〃
〃Oh； ain't you the kidder！〃 smiled Masie。 〃How many other girls did
you ever tell that？〃
But Carter persisted。 And at length be reached the flimsy； fluttering
little soul of the shopgirl that existed somewhere deep down in her lovely
bosom。
His words penetrated the heart whose very lightness was its safest
armor。 She looked up at him with eyes that saw。 And a warm glow visited
her cool cheeks。 Tremblingly； awfully； her moth wings closed； and she
seemed about to settle upon the flower of love。 Some faint glimmer of life
and its possibilities on the other side of her glove counter dawned upon
her。 Carter felt the change and crowded the opportunity。
〃Marry me； Masie；〃 be whispered softly； 〃and we will go away from
this ugly city to beautiful ones。 We will forget work and business； and life
will be one long holiday。 I know where I should take you … I have been
there often。 Just think of a shore where summer is eternal； where the
waves are always rip… pling on the lovely beach and the people are happy
and free as children。 We will sail to those shores and remain there as long
as you please。 In one of those far…away cities there are grand and lovely
palaces and towers full of beautiful pictures and statues。 The streets of the
city are water； and one travels about in 〃
〃I know；〃 said Masie； sitting up suddenly。 〃Gondolas。〃
〃Yes；〃 smiled Carter。
〃I thought so；〃 said Masie。
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〃And then；〃 continued Carter； 〃we will travel on and see whatever we
wish in the world。 After the European cities we will visit India and the
ancient cities there； and ride on elephants and see the wonder… ful temples
of the Hindoos and Brahmins and the Japanese gardens and the camel
trains and chariot races in Persia； and all the queer sights of foreign
countries。 Don't you think you would like it； Masie？
Masie rose to her feet。
〃I think we had better be going home；〃 she said； coolly。 〃It's getting
late。〃
Carter humored her。 He had come to know her varying； thistle…down
moods； and that it was useless to combat them。 But he felt a certain happy
triumph。 He had held for a moment； though but by a silken thread； the so