The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-28

taught him a variety of things besides En-
glish She was a curious mix
ture. this fascinating Mathilda, and Gun
mar, though not lacking In common sense,
found himself unable to judge her. Two
attributes, however, be learned to distin-
guish in her. He took her to be adorably
simple and kind hearted and full of good
impulses. But he could not deny that she
was an outrageous firt. He imagined, too,
that she put up with him sometimes be-
cause she pitied his loneliness. and at other
times for want of anybody more desirable.
When you can't get tobacco to smoke, they
say in Norway, moss is a fair substitute.
Anything of the masculine gender was fair
game for Mathilda, and her time hung
heavily on her hands when no masculine
creatures were about. Her mother affirmed
that a firtatious disposition was so deeply
i~ngrained in her nature that it was useless
to blame her for it. She had, the same au-
thority asserted, winked at the doctor
when she was born.
One would nave supposed that Gunnar,
armed with this knowledge, would have
been proof against her Establishments.
But no knowledge is q protection against
that kind Of assaults. There was to him a
delicious thrill Of danger in the situation
which to her was entirely absent. She had
seen more of the world han he, and some
times, in order TO tease him, gave him
grandmotherly advice. She wormed his
innocent secrets out of him, and OBJ
tanned finally a confession Of all his mis-
deeds. He felt 50 desperately wicked in
having won the love Of Ingerid, and then
spUrned it, that il was a great relief to
him to be able to call himself hard names
in the presence Of n sympathetic listener.
He did not fail TO perceive that Matilda,
while condemning his faithlessness, looked
upon him with a ~livelier interest after this
confidence, and he could not help feeling
darkly heroic in the midst OF all his
wickedness.
What a lovely character, he argued, this
gentle maiden must have TO forgive all his
past, and treat him with such kindness
and sweet consideration. Why, knowing
how disinterested she was, should he hold
back from her his other and far more i'm
portant secret He had repeatedly limited
at it in her presence, and though her curl
osity had been vaguely piqued she had
failed to rise to the occasion. She treated
his mysterious illusions as if she only half
believed them, and replied to his lark OBJ
seryations with an absent minded vivacity
which tried him sorely. He felt at last that
his self respect compelled him to reveal the
plot Of which he was both victim and
author. He was irritated beyond all en-
durance, and anticipated with a morbid
satisfaction the sensation he would make
when he should explode bis bomb. But
here he was again destined to ~disappoint-
ment. The shrewd Mathilds betrayed no
moot r-eansrhn.a.A Nfn-.n- A~4 -, -
she gave him from under her long lashes
that she thought he was ~romancing, but
was too considerable to tell him so. He had
then no choice but to produce his proof,
and when Mathilda finally had no choice
but to believe him he could no longer
charge her with indifference.
She betrayed an a~lacrity and an indigna-
tion on his behalf which were extremely
flattering. He felt with gratifed vanity
how immensely he had risen in h.r esteem.
Unsophisticated though he was he observed
that she dressed with more care for their
lessons and exerted all her arts to please in
a way which formerly would never have
occurred to her. 1t was an intoxication
Of bliss TO sit at her side on her sofa, while
her hair grazed his cheek and her hand
sometimes by some vaErant impulse stole
into his, and her dark blue ewes suddenly
flashed upon him u glance full of tender
meaning. she could puy on a look of such
appealing innocence that Gunnar had to
exert all his self restraint TO keep himself
within bounds. \ wild desire seized him
more han once TO clasp her in his arms
and cover her face with kisses, but at such
moments his fancy would c%onjure up the
sweet face of Ingerid with fearful eyes and
lips quivering with intaDtine distress, and
the sense Of his own b~aseDess would over
whelm him and sober his passion.
Gunnar saw MIR. Norman almost daily
during these two years. He had an idea
that his chief watched him, and during
his constant u"naunOUnced rounds through
the factory paid special attention to his
work. He saw him frequently speak to
the foreman Of his division, and twice,
after these conferences. Gunnar was pro-
NOTED and his pay increased. When Mr..
Norman addressed him, n he occasionally
did, it was usually TO ask him how he was
getting on with his English. One day,
when the bell had runE aud all the Other
hands were hurrying away. Gunnar was
so enCrossed Ia a delicate piece of work
which had been i~ntruStcd to him that he
could not tear himself away. Suddenly, /
as he looked up, be saw the chief standing
with his hands on his back gazing at him.
As Gunnar paused, Mr.. Norman took up
the piece Of metal at which he had been
filing and examined il critically. Look
here, Finn Nsrsko," he said, Won are not
a bad workman"
Gunnar bluShed with pleasure. He had
never heard Mr.. Norman praise any one
before.
Have you any brothersf" asked the
chief after a while As he laid down the
metal.
NO. l have neither brothers nor sisters
And your parents, are they deads'
My mother is alive, but my father
is dead. Yes, ] supposed so. And you
had to 60 out into the world 10 earn your
living. | suppose you send part Of your
earnings 10 you mother
Yes, as much Is | can spare
That's right. lam glad you are a good
son. That Is what l like TO hear
About "A week after this conversation
Mr.. Norman again paused in front of Gun
bench. "How much do YOU pay for
your board % he asked.
Five dollars a week.
Il live alone. II y0u will take a room
in my house You may pay for it 10y extra
work which / viii give. mostly copying
and mechanical drawing. You'll then be
able 70 send five dollars more every week
TO your mother"
But do Won think. sir. that I'll be able
TO do that kind of work."
Leave that 20 me. know what I am
But. sir, I don't think ! can accept it
We'll. do a. you like. You may give
me your ausver tomorrow
Mhnn ha COT hn-1n tr.- mint Enrnar