Page:The Star in the Window.pdf/112

102 where could she see him? Surely not in the Alliance's parlors, pleasant as they were, and designed especially for young men callers, with a series of alcoves along one side. The partitions between the alcoves were low, and did not conceal the head and shoulders of those inside the enclosures. Somebody would be sure to see her caller, Reba concluded. Mamie had already caught a glimpse of him once at the "Movies," and had jovially inquired afterward where Reba had picked up that "gink." Miss Park herself might see him—the wonderful Miss Park, for whom every night of late a marvelous young man of the summer-hotel type called in a low gray racing-car, and whisked her away with him to her home in one of the city's exclusive suburbs.

Reba had developed a burning admiration for Miss Park. Miss Katherine Park had become a model to her of all things fine and splendid, and, unexplainable as it was to Reba, the object of her worship went out of her way to be kind to her (or so it seemed), not in a patronizing way—that was the strange part—but just as if Reba were a friend of hers. More than once she had slipped her arm familiarly through Reba's at the lunch hour, and eaten on a tray beside her in the Cafeteria; more than once Miss Park had climbed the two long flights to Reba's room, and sat down with a bit of sewing and talked; and last week they had gone shopping together.

Reba had asked Miss Park, rather shyly at first, where the best place was to go for a new dress or two which she wanted to buy, and Miss Park had personally conducted her. They were going shopping again the day after to-morrow. Reba was very