The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-10-28


yenances. When he had first met
Leonie he had not only been enchanted
by the bold and brilliant aspects of her
physical beauty, which time and the at
triton of city life ouly polished and
made more perfect, but as we'll by the
irresistible dash and go of her PERSONAL
ity. She was neither dull nor course of
mind, and knew how to retain as well
as to attract the admiration of men.
SO, as their intimacy grew, young Chal-
mers cursed the puritanical sentiment
that hedged them about, and strove by
lavish generosity to make up to her in
some measure for the loss of those things
that he could not do for her before the
world.
So far as his relations with Lima Ten
hant were concerned, of course this af-
fair with Leonie would be over some
day. and he expected to settle down
finally into the substantial, matter of
fact citizen. Then he could not hope
for better wife than Lima would be,
but he wished she had something more
of Leonies chic,
Leonie did not mean to harm the
young fellow. She knew that he spent
great deal of money for her, but it did
not occur to her to question its source
Perhaps it would have made no differ
ence, anyway. Perhaps she would have
let him go on just the same. But, again,
perhaps she would not, for she really
cared for him. In his treatment of her
he had been different from other men
she had known. He never seemed
ashamed of her friendship. He seemed
to recognize her right to place in the
world, her right to the very place that
she held-if that was the one place to
which she was best suited. Society had
no right to prescribe her lines. How
could the world know whether she
would fit into any one of its dull, accus-
toned grooves? How can the world
know that of any of us? He would
have been glad to have fewer lines HIM
self.
Ogden Chalmers was probably no bet
ter and no worse than other men, and he
had never preached high standard of
morality for the guidance of others. He
was content to take men and things as
he found them. Yet he felt strange
repugnance when the necessity present
ed itself of going to this woman's house.
Already he had associated her in his
mind with Georges downfall, and as the
chief cause thereof; and as the cause
likewise of the disgrace that had come
upon them all. Toward the woman her
self he felt a dull anger, more because
she had crossed the clean, white path
way of Lima Tenants life than for
aught else.
He expected to find her coarse and
loud and probably insolent. He would
make his business brief and be done
with her.
II don't think I shall detain you long"
ne said at once when she came into the
room where he waited. 81 am Ogden
Chalmers, and have come to make you
IL plain statement and proposal. My
brother is in prison and mainly through
you. cat this the woman demurred by
a negative gesture and tried to speak,
but Chalmers stopped her,) 1t is my
purpose to have him released, if it can
be accomplished, as soon as possible,
but only upon one condition" AT this
the woman looked up curiously and he
continued: That condition is that there
shall never be any chance of his meeting
you again. If you consent to this am
willing to pay. you well, more than you
could possibly make out of him." he
added sneeringly.
'And if do not conseut?"
''Then | shall have to cease my efforts
for his release"
''You are very hard" she whimpered,
81 care so much for him, and then
never to see him again"
"Stop," said Chalmers. ~ will not
listen to such stuff. You cared for him
for the money You could get out of him,
and tell you that is at an end now"
"You don't believe, then. that | could
care for him disinterestedly as an honest
woman Would-say as Miss Tenant
would?"
Chalmers flushed Indignantly at this
use of Miss Tenants name.
I'VE will not discuss that lady" ne
said briefly.
You may not-I will" said the WON
An detiantly. II have seen her; she is
very beautiful. | grant you that; and
she thinks she cares for him. But she
did not know how to keep him by her,
and if she knew of me she would never
forgive him That is how she cares
But would forgive him everything
II told you that would not discuss
tnat," said Chalmers. Il will make
you proposal. If you will go to Eu-
paid five Thousand dollars every year.
But if you ever come back, if You hold
any intercourse with him. if you let
him know where you are, this shall stop
and at once. want to make sure that
he will never see YQn again. Do you
>onsent2"
There was perhaps needless brutality
IN Chalmers words and manner, and
there was an angry glealn IN her eyes as
she answered:
"4ou make very hard conditions, but
will do it for his sake"
put it as you will" answered her
companion coldly, "only SO that you do
it. 1t is settled, them"
She nodded at him by way of repIy,
every well, then" be said, rising to
&c, MY lawyer will call ON you i'll the
morning and complete all arrange
ments.'
From there Chalmers went at once to
Lima Tenants, feeling the while that it
was almost 3 crime to go tro.n so un-