The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-29

roncned the camp with MaXwell's Iettera
Don't get upp' she called to him when he
lifted himsel with ono arm at tho stir OF her
gown over the pine needles. Merely two let
ters that thought perhaps you might want to
SEQ at once"
Ho took them. and glancing at one OF them
threw It on tho ground. This is from Riker
he said. opening the other. If you'll excuse
me-" and he began to read It. well. that is all
right" he said. when he had run 1t through.
He can manage without me little while
longer. but a few moro days like this will put
an end to my loafng. begin to feel like work,
for the first time since came up here"
The good mir Is beginning to tell" eaid
Louise. sitting down on the board which
formed bench between two OF the trees front
ing the hammock. But II you hurry back to
town now you will spoil everything. You
must stay the whole summer"
You rich people are amusing" said Max
WE'LL turning himself on his side. and facing
her. "You think poor people can do what they
like
1T think they can do what other people like. "
said the girl. If they will try. What is to pre-
vent your staying here till you get perfectly
well2'
The uncertainty whether shall ever get
perfectly we'll. for one thing" said Maxwell.
watchiny with curious interest the play Of the
light and shade fecks on her face and figure.
Il know you will get we'll. II you stay" she
interrupted.
And for another thing" he went on. "the
high and holy duty We poor people feel not to
stop working for q living as long as we live.
It's caste pride. Poverty obliges. as well as
nobility"
"Oh. rshaw! Pride obliGes. too. It's your
wicked pride. You're worse than rich people.
as you call US: a great deal prouder. Rich
people will let you help them"
80 would poor people. II they didn't need
help. You can take gift II you don't need 1t.
You can accept IN invitation to dinner. II you're
surfeited to loathing. but you can't let any one
give you meal II you're hungry. You rich
people are like children. compared with us
poor folks. You don't know life: you don't
know the world. should like to do a girl
brought up like you in the ignorance and help
lessness OF riches"
You would make me hateful" ....
II would make you charming"
well. do me. Them
"Ah. you wouldn't like It."
"Why?"
"Because-I found 1t out in my newspaper
work. when I had to interview people and
write them up-people don't like to have the
good points they have recognized: they want
you to celebrate tho good points they haven't
got. II a man is amiable and kind. and has
something about him that wins everybody's
heart, he wants to DO portrayed as very dig
nifed and commanding character. full OF in
flexible purpose and indomitable will"
II don't see." said Louise. why you think
I'm weak and low minded and undignified."
Maxwell laughed. Did say something Of
that kindi"
You meant it."
If ever have to interview you. shall say
that under q mask OF apparent incoherency
and irrelevance. Miss Hilary conceals pro-
found knowledge Of human nature and gift
OF divination which explores the most uncon-
scious opinions and motives Of her inter-
locutor How would you like that?" ,.
Pretty well. because think it's true. But
Ish2plqp't IKE to be interytewed" -
Ing days are over. 1believe II keep on get
ting better at the ratio I've been going the last
week. / shall be able to write play this sum
mer. besides doing my work for the Abstract.
II could do that and 1t succeeded. the riddle
would be read for me-"
What do you mean?"
3" mean that I should have a handsome in
come. and could give UP newspaper work alto
eether." .s.r.
Gould you? How glorious" said Louise.
with the sort OF maternal sympathy she per-
mitted herself to feel for the sick youth. How
much would you get for your play?"
III it wore only reasonably successful. it
would be worth five or six thousand dollars q
year."
And is that a handsome lncome?" she
asked. with mounting earnestness
He pulled himself up in the hammock to get
her face fully in view. and asked. "How much
do You think I've been able to average up to
this timer"
Il don't know. I'm afraid l don't know at
all about such things. But should like to-
Maxwell let himself drop back into tho ham,
mock. II think I won't humiliate myself by
giving tho figures I'd better leave it to your
imagination. You'll be sure to make it
enough
why should you be ashamed Of it. il it's
ever so little" she asked. But know. It's
your pride. It's like Sue Northwick wanting
to give mp all her property because her father
wrote that letter. and said he had used the
companys money And Matt says it isn't his
property Mt ALL and the company has no right
to it. II she givos 1t UP she and her sister will
have nothing to live on. And they Won't let
themselves BIO helped-aDy more thah-than-
you wil!'
mo. We began with that; people who need
help can't let you help them. Don't they
know where their father ISL"
"No. But Of course they must. now. before
long,"
Maxwell said. after the silence that fol-
lowed upon this: Il should like to have a
peep into that mans SOUL"
Horrors! Why should you 2" asked Louise
+" 1t would DO such splendid material. II he
is fond Of his chidren--'
He and Sue dote upon each other. don't
sec how she can endure him: he always made
me feel creepy"
"Then ho must have written that letter to
conciliate public feeling and to make his
children easier about him and his future. And
now II you could see him when he realizes that
he's only brought more shame on them and
forced them to beggar themselves-it would
be a tremendous situation"
But l shouldn't Ike to see him at such
time. It seems to me that's worse than inter-
Mr.. MAXWELL"
There Was sort OF recol from him In her
tone, which perhaps he felt. It seemed to In