Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-25

then workman from the factory appeared
in sight. He wore red shirt and was
smoking pipe, and his arm was about a
rosy young woman in a white apron, to
whom he pointed out the finest horses with
the stem of his long clay pipe.
THAT is certainly Il iao:e comfortable
way" the young man said. "It is what
should like best. What is the opinion of
your magazine on that style of PRONE
nader" and he laughed. might |, do you
thipk" His little betrothed tossed her
head.
II hope, Herford," she said, "that am
lady, though not rich one" and she as
sumed a prudent air aud walked apart
from him.
Now Marjorie knew perfectly well that
Herford had not the slightest intention Of
making vulgar demonstration of affec-
ton on the principal thoroughfare of the
town at its busiest hour, but this vision Of
the equipage of Mrs. Clipper and her
daughters in all their inery, bending su-
percilious glances-or so she fancied--
upon poor pedestrians, finished the work
of the little demon within her She walked
on stifily, her fingers interlacing within
her muff, keeping distance between her
self and her escort.
There was little triangle Of a park hard
by, deserted in this winter weather, but
there were benches there under the bare
trees. Herford led her in at the gate and
made her sit down. st is so mild that you
cannot catch cold." he said. ~ ought to be
ashamed of myself. Pve walked too fast
for YOU" He seated himself beside her, but
her features kept their woebegone express
sion.
hox L aI <,o Co., H. 4.
"only don't want to exhibit my common,
homemade things any longer among those
elegant costumes l should be as good
clothes, their jewelry. You asked me if /
was tired, Herford. am, but not of walk
ing; Pm tired of living, if l must be poor
and never have anything nice-never-
never-never."
my pet" he said, "what ails your You
are ten times prettier than the Clipper
girls-twenty times. Pm sure your frocl
is very nice and it becomes you; and all
that is worth nothing if one has enough,
as you always have and always shall while
I live."
Enough" she answered; "why should
common things be enough for me when
others have but to wish and take? Why
shouldn't have velvets and real laces and
diamondsp Why shouldn't l ride in my
carriageS"
"Oh, you SHALL" said he, some day.
Pm certain to get on, and then you shall
have thousands of blank checks, and Pll
send a messenger to the mines of Golconda
for specially big diamonds, or if Golconda
isn't worked nowadays, wherever they are
to be found. Meanwhile we can be happy
together happy and contentn
"You make light of everything" she
said; 'you have no ambition. / think
you'd be content forever in little shanty
in a by street where the negroes live, with
sunfiowers in the garden behind the clam
shell borders and stovepipe through the
kitchen ceiling"
"Assuredly, if you shared it," Herford
answered
Sharing it would only double the mis-
cry" Marjorie cried passionately
But since we shall never live in a
shanty in a by street, where so many sun
flowers flourish" said Wayne. "why think
of it?"
"Oh, Plum row and Maple street are al
most as bad compared to these avenues"
Marjorie said. at seems criminal to be
content with common things when there is
so much that is splendid to be had for tax
ing the trouble. Only lazy folks are not
willing to make sacrifices for future good"
Marjorie" said the young man, more
seriously than before, 81 know fellow
who is engaged to a girl. He loves her and
thinks that she loves him. He could marry
her and live together in plain comfort, but
he is going to leave her for long years in
order to make fortune. l told him that
he was selling his birthright for mess of
pottage, but he answered that I did not
know what / was talking of; that women
cared so much for money and all that it
would buy, that poor man had no right
to marry; that the girl he was engaged to
was quite willing to part indefinitely, SO
that they could some day live in luxury.
What do you think of her, Marjorie?"
"She is very sensible girl" said Mar
jorie.
Herford's face flushed.
Marjorie" he said, still trying to laugh,
though it was hard work, Gilt me and
marry millionaire" She did not smile.
NO." she said. II shall keep my prom
Use, but cannot help wishing"-
THAT / were millionaire" he said.
"Oh, that goes without saying" she an
swered, shivering a little as she rose. II
suppose we might us well go home" And
they left the little park in silence. And it
was he who kept the distance between
them on their way to her door. Arrived
there she said:
"Well, here is the shabby old place
again." and he only answered, "Goodby."
Ten minutes afterward she was saying
to herself:
1--WE parted without a kiss for the first
time since our engagement" Half an
n
pentance. But it was little too late. She
was to pay her penalty for that demon Of
discomfort which had so spoiled poor Her.
ford Wayne's holiday afternoon. Mean
while, Herford had gone home to his
mother