The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-10-21
NO. 6.

nalia-but as part of the everyday life
of the inmate
Into such room, thought Chalmers
(and to such a woman, too, perhaps), a
man could come and be at his best; here
a man (and this mythical woman) could
meet upon common level, talking,
thinking, bringing out the best that was
In each other, forgetting or unheeding
that lesser and baser life that must per-
force be lived out in the world and
among men.
Into such room (and to such wom-
an, too, perhaps) he had once thought
it might be possible for him to come;
but that time had gone now. He must
only think of these things impersonally.
To this point in his reverie had Chal-
mers come when Miss Tenant entered
| the room.
! "You have come at last" she said, in
an even monotone, as she gave him her
hand.
| Chalmers was not prepared for the
| coldness or restraint of her greeting
Yet with charity that not many who
knew him would have thought him
"You blame me for not coming SOON
er," he answered; "but did not know.
Your letter and his and the paper that
you sent all came to me at the same
time. Since then have come as fast as
| steam could bring me. have been in
| Mexico"
Thus much he felt he must say in his
own defense, but it availed him nothing.
"You should not have gone away so,'
she said. "You are older than your
brother; you have some duties"
''You do well to reproach me-" he
said moodily. 81 went away for you
and for him."
"You should not have gone," she said
again insistently, sat least not so far
not in this way. There was no reason
why you should go at all; and he had
only you to look to-"
Doubtless she had been sorely hurt.
Women do not stand well the breaking
of their idols. And to cover her hurt,
womanlike, she turned upon him who
had been in nowise to blame
Chalmers thought to himself that it
was strange that he should not resent
this. He had always been man who
was impatient of criticism. Perhaps if
he had been in any way to blame in this
matter, if there had been any self accu-
sation to contend against, he might have
resented her words. She was calm and
pale and cold. But looking at her more
closely he could see that she kept her.
self under control only by the most de-
%n,. nd affN Nrk II
any harder for her.
Eyes, have been to blame" he said
finally. 81 should not have gone. But
have come back now to help him-and
you, if you will let me. Tell me what I
can do"
"Oh, don't know" she answered.
81 am only woman. I could do moth
ing. I thought when you came you
would know-you could suggest"-
She had depended on him, then. The
thought gave Chalmers a new determi-
nation to be gentle with her and help
full, whether she asked him or not.
He watched the nervous twisting of
her long slender fingers for moment
the only sign of emotion-before he
spoke again.
81 don't understand what has hap
pened. l have had no word except that
you sent me. have seen no one here.
You see am wholly at loss"- II.
eyes, understand. You must know
the whole story"
~ would like to spare you," he said.
81 might get it from some one else; but
it would be better if you could tell me-"
81 can tell you," she answered, and
then she lifted her head and Chalmers
saw in her eyes a CLINT of the old time
fire and pride. 81 can tell you," she re-
peated; "why not? He did not mean to
do any wrong. l want you to be sure
of that, as ! am. But he longed so to
be rich man, to have control of money.
He wanted to pay back all that you had
given him, and to make more-even
more than you had. He wanted to do
the things that can be done only with
money, to be in the front of great enter
prises." She stopped moment as if to
consider whether it were best to say
that which was next in her mind. Then
she continued:
II think he was always little jeal-
Gus of your money; and it was only the
more hard because you We're so gener-
GUS with him. He wanted to show you
what he could do alone"
81 used to be afraid the money would
come between us" said Chalmers; "but
l could not help it, 1t was not my fault
that had the most. You know that it
came through my mother, and father
always insisted that it should remain
wholly mine. George would not have
envied me if he knew how little comfort
it has been, 1t was because 1 had this
advantage, Lima, that gave up to him
so readily in other things. And it has
brought me nothing else worth the hay
ing"
He looked tixedly at his companion as
he said this, and she flushed deeply
under his steady gaze.
Eyes, know" she answered, "hut
let us not speak of the past, He wanted
to make money. There was great
panic in the stock market last fall-per-
hapa you knew Chalmers shook his
head negatively at this)-and George
thought that it was his opportunity.
don't know much about these things
perhaps do not tell this quite right"
she said apologetically, "but will tell
you as understand it. He thought if
he could buy them when stocks were
so low he would be entirely safe, He
put in everything ne had Che only told
u, =, .