The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-10-09

he Will succeed arST, and then ne
can afford 10 be an invalid" answered,
but acting on the old mans solicitade.
did ali Icould to tighten the load
One afternoon as We Were Walking
home noticed that Mr. Prime seemed
especially grave and moody, and venr-
ured TO inquire if anything serious had
happened.
''Oh, no: Il mere triding loss that IS
unimportant IN itself, but serves to i'm
press upon ME still more deeply how
easy it is to imagine and difficult TO per-
form" he answered. 1T seems the sim
piest thing in the world to make a
fortune honestly, until one attempts It :
But why are you SO anxious 10 make
fortune:' asked after silence
Anxious to make a fortune? Because
1t is my ambition; because | have
always had the desire to try and spend a
fortune well. Money is the greatest
power in the world, and every man who
is strong and vital seeks to acquire IT,
Why did you ask.
Il have sometimes thorgLt that a
large fortune would be an uilwelcome
responsibility" | said, noticing how
much his words resembled what my
father had said to me- 1T would be
so puzzling, should think. TO spend it
wisely"
And for that reason would you have
men afraid to try? How else is the
world TO progress? Those who have
leisure to think are those TO set man
Kind an example" he replied. with a
ferceness that made his face glow.
Ny own heart. welled TO my lips at
my companions ferver. He, however,
ashamed as it were at the extravagance
into which he had been betrayed, turned
the conversation with some careless Jest,
and for the rest of the afternoon talked
a badinage that did not deceive me.
''At least, let me say that am very
sorry you are worried. added.
In the indulgence Of his subsequent
gayety noticed that Mr.. Prime seemed
to play the dandy more consummately
than usual, as though he were rejecting
that. come what might, he would go
down as he had declared, with a smile
on his face and a dawless coat on his
back. | had never known him TO be
more amusing and nonchalant than in
the half hour which followed his previ-
GUS outburst. When we reached fow-
er stand at the corner Of the streets
where our ways divided he asked me to
wait minute, and selecting bouton-
Mere and a beautiful white rose he pre-
sented the latter to me.
''You have saved me from much wea-
rinsss during the past two months, Miss
Bailey" he said. This flower may
brighten the dinginess Of your lodgings"
Alice Bailey was the name by which
was known to Mr.. Prime. / was free to
take his words in any sense chose, and
believe that they had reference TO my
work at the Office or to my companion
ship, or to both. In acknowledgment Of
his politeness dropped little curtgy,
as | might have done TO any one Of my
real acquaintances on similar occasion;
and as did so l noticed that he regard
ed me with a strange look of admiration.
fssYou did that" said he, las if you
had never done anything else; and yet
dare say you were never in a ballroom in
your life.
Never" l answered, with smile.
"Adaptiveness, that is the word. Our
people are so adaptive. But there is
something about you which puzzles me
more every day, Miss Bailey Excuse
my OBTAINING you, but I am in philo-
sophical vein for the moment and need
r would I,o,,oa !,
you, but you have always forbidden me
that pleasure. Frankly, you have puzzled
me; and that curtsy caps the climax.
There are certain things adaptiveness
cannot accomplish, and that is one OF
! them"
Have you no faith in the child OF
| Nature?" | asked archly.
Il had none in that sense a few mo.
ments ago, but all my theories are falling
to the ground. Forbear, though, Miss
Bailey" he said, with sudden air OF
sportiVe mystery; ''you cannot afford to
ruin your chances of success for the sake
of a merely ornamental gift. You play
the grand dame so well, that you are
sure to reap the penalty of it. Forbear
warn you, before it is too late. 1 know
of what l speak. I have been a gentle
man for years, and am acquainted with
all the ms and outs of the calling 1t is
a poor one; avoid it. But you viii par
don this somewhat lengthy monologue
have kept you from your supper. Good
night. Come, Ike.7
As / tripped across the street, with all
| the grace and elegance at my command
could not resist the temptation to look
once over my shoulder. Mr.. Prime
stood watching me just where had left
him, and he raised his hat as he caught
my eye, with the style of a cavalier sa-
luting his mistress A pretty way, for
sooth, thought l, for an aristocratic
banker to part from his hired clerk. But
l felt sure that my secret was safe.
Our relations were from this day on a
different footing, or rather it was ap-
parent to me that Mr.. Prime was very
! partial to my society. remember thai
he asked me to walk with him on the
following Sunday, and we spent the
beautiful spring morning in sauntering
about the park. felt a little sorry fol
my companion that I should have to ap-
pear so unfashionahly atttired, but did
not dare to do otherwise. He seemed
wholly Indifferent to the circumstance
/