Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1907 — John Norman's Opportunity. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

John Norman's Opportunity.

By C. R. Frame.

Copyrighted, 1907, by E. C. Parcel!*.

The bands of the city clock pointed to 6, and the streets leading to the (Station fairly hummed with life. Suburban shoppers, business folk and the Idle minority were all homeward .bound. Electric trains whirred and clanged In every direction, and eager crowds surged Into them. “Rosedale! Rosedale!'* shouted the starter. Helen Grey gathered her suit case, string bag and Boston fern and made desperate efforts to secure a place. In her haste she tripped on a loosened shoestring and fell heavily Into her seat. She was weary beyond words with the day’s shopping. It was a hot evening, and the train was packed. Passengers behind her crowded and pushed, jamming her against a man 'at the seat's end. A brass curtain rod (Which she was carrying prodded him sharply In the ribs. She turned to apologize, but the words died on her lips when she found herself confronted by the eager face of “the enemy.” •{With a brief word she drew the offending rod Into place and tried to edge away from him.* He had passed her early In the morning bound cityward In his motor car. She had encountered him a number of times during-the day. and when she had committed her one extravagance, lunch at Maclean’s, he, too, had sauntered in and bad seated himself at a window table beside hers. The enjoyment of her lunch was spoiled by the scrutiny of John Norman's gray eyes. The feud lietween the Normans and Greys was of the fine, unreasonable New England type. There had been real cause for grievance at the outset, two generations back, but when the

grandnieces of Ezra Grey came to live In the old homestead John Norman, grandson of William the Offender, was more than ready to bury the hatchet, and it was his irony of fate that he should fall in love at sight with Helen Grey. He was rich and popular and the most eligible of Rosedale bachelors. He had never before been anxious in regard to friendship with women. During his thirty-six years there had been so many things that he had considered more important. But for the past four months he had planned and schemed to reach a friendly footing with his neighbors and had failed. They quietly Ignored his friendly advances. snubbed him a few times, and now the fear of marring the armed neutrality kept him from overstepping their limit. As Helen settled beside him in the tram, he was very conscious of the pressure of her arm against his and of the weary droop of her pretty head. He had had her under espionage all day and this accounted for his unusual proceeding, going back to Rosedale by trolley. He was eager to take some of the heavy bundles that incumbered her lap, but be dared not make the suggestion; her shrinking movement from him and her unfriendly glance were earnest of a rebuff. Twilight deepened, and the lights twinkled in the car. When there was elbow room, she must tie her loosened shoestring. She made two or three attempts to reach it, but to tie a shoe in a crowded car, with bundle laden lap and gloved fingers, is no easy feat. John Norman was aware of her efforts, as his foot was beside hers on the rail of the seat ahead. When he felt a sharp tug at his shoestring, he understood its significance. He knew also by the energetic twist that the offending string was tied in a hard knot and that was as it should be. She signaled the conductor to stop at a coroer some distance from her home, rather than at the nearer one, where they must alight together. He understood the significance of this also. She was getting off, bundle laden, to avoid the possibility of any association

with him. Norman's hand stroked his mustache to conceal the smile at her transparent tactics. As the car slowed, she rose burdened with bundles. Then came a struggle, confusion and sickening distress, as she dropped back fairly on John Norman’s knee. Then she realized what the trouble was—she had tied her shoestring to his. She was profoundly grateful for the cool, matter of fact way In which he took her wild behavior. She struggled to her feet again, and all of Rosedale that was riding home In that special electric craned its neck In Intense enjoyment at what was going on. The motorman, angry at the delay, clanged the bell with furious insistence, and the conductor’s sharp, “Hurry up, hurry up, lady; don’t keep the car waiting!” added shill further to her nervous embarrassment. John Norman’s clear voice rang out, “Walt a minute, conductor,” in the tone of one used to being obeyed. The conductor had a profound respect for Mr. John Norman and ran forward to stop the clanging bell. In the meantime Norman had produced his pocketknife and had cut the knotted laces, his and hers. She gave a confused murmur of thanks, and Norman, hastily catching up the parcels, followed her out. There was no word of protest, and his sympathetic glance revealed quivering lips and big brown eyes suffused with tears. The car whirred away, and a faint echo of laughter was borne back. It was the last i straw. “Fools!” he ejaculated, while the girl leaned against a nearby wall and laughed till the tears ran down her cheeks. The vagaries of women were beyond his comprehension, and he looked his bewilderment, standing mutely, with suit case, bulging string bag and pot of fern. “Please, please forgive me,” she pleaded. “I cannot imagine how I came to do such a stupid thing.” He liked the pleading tone and the kindly way In which she looked at him. “It was a happy mistake for me,” he said eagerly, “and I hope that we may be friends.” She had an Inkling that there was more than the thought of good fellowship in his mind as he held her hand In a lingering good night. Some months later Mrs. John Norman, looking particularly pretty and charming, leaned across the dinner table and put a pertinent question to her husband. “John, do you remember the evening that I tied myself to you?” “Of course I do. Is it likely that I should forget anything so delightful?” She hesitated. “Isve been thinking”— Color came to her face. “John, did you know that I tied that string to yours?” Norman leaned back In his chair and chuckled. “Of course I did. Why, didn’t I tell you, dearest? Do you think that after watching and waiting for months to make your acquaintance I would throw aside such an opportunity? You tied yourself to me, and I knew it a significant omen for our happy future.”

HE LOOKED HIS BEWILDERMENT, STANDING MUTELY.