ed fer no dance.
But, dom me, if she 's the koind o' female ter run in aither. Lord,
but she 's got a foine pair o' eyes in the face ov' her."

Close together, without venturing to speak or glance around, we walked
forward into the enveloping mist. Her fingers, for appearances' sake,
barely touched the rough cloth of my sleeve. All this had occurred so
swiftly, so suddenly, that I was yet bewildered, unable to decide on a
course of action. The girl, I noticed, was breathing heavily from
excitement, her eyes cast down upon the wet pavement. Once, beneath
the glow of the lamp at the first corner, I ventured to glance slyly
aside at her, in curiosity, mentally photographing the clear outline of
her features, the strands of light brown hair straggling rebelliously
from beneath the wide brim of the hat. I was of rather reckless
nature, careless, and indifferent in my relationship with women. A bit
of audacious speech trembled on my lips, but remained unuttered. My
earlier conception that she was a woman of the street died within me.
There was more than a mere hint of character about that resolute mouth,
the white contour of cheek. She glanced furtively back across her
shoulder--evidently the policeman had disappeared, for she released her
slight grasp of my arm, although continuing to walk quietly enough by
my side, her face partially averted. The night was deathly still, the
sodden walk underfoot scarcely echoing our footfalls, the weird mist
closing denser about us, as we advanced.

At the second street intersection she turned east, advancing toward
where passing trolley-cars promised some life and activity even at that
late hour. Helpless to do otherwise I moved along with her in the same
direction, our grotesque shadows dimly discernible beneath the yellow
mist of light. Impulsively she stopped, and faced me, her hands
clasped.

"I--I--please--I will say good night, now," she said, endeavoring to
speak firmly, yet with no uplifting of the eyes.

Hesitatingly I stood still, feeling strangely embarrassed by this
sudden curt dismissal.

"Do--do you mean you wish me to leave you alone on the street at this
hour?" I questioned uneasily. "At least permit me to see you home
safely. I will not hurt you, or speak a word."

There was a tone of earnestness in my plea but she only shook her head
decisively, lips pressed close together. The faint glow of the
overhead light rested on the slightly uplifted face, a