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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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The Voice of the City
〃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 soul
of his wild Psyche； and hope was stronger within him。 Once she had
folded her wings and her cool band bad closed about his own。
At the Biggest Store the next day Masie's chum； Lulu； waylaid her in
an angle of the counter。
〃How are you and your swell friend making it？ she asked。
〃Oh； him？〃 said Masie； patting her side curls。 〃He ain't in it any more。
Say； Lu； what do you think that fellow wanted me to do？〃
〃Go on the stage？〃 guessed Lulu； breathlessly。
〃Nit； he's too cheap a guy for that。 He wanted me to marry him and go
down to Coney Island for a wedding tour！〃
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The Voice of the City
DOUGHERTY'S EYE…OPENER
Big Jim Dougherty was a sport。 He belonged to that race of men。 In
Manhattan it is a distinct race。 They are the Caribs of the North strong；
artful； self…sufficient； clannish； honorable within the laws of their race；
holding in lenient contempt neigh… boring tribes who bow to the measure
of Society's tapeline。 I refer； of course； to the titled nobility of sportdom。
There is a class which bears as a qualify… ing adjective the substantive
belonging to a wind in… strument made of a cheap and base metal。 But the
tin mines of Cornwall never produced the material for manufacturing
descriptive nomenclature for 〃Big Jim〃 Dougherty。
The habitat of the sport is the lobby or the outside corner of certain …
hotels and combination restaurants and cafes。 They are mostly men of
different sizes； running from small to large； but they are unanimous in the
possession of a recently shaven； blue…black cheek and chin and dark
overcoats （in season） with black velvet collars。
Of the domestic life of the sport little is known。 It has been said that
Cupid a