The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-10-13

One would think that mat critical
selfae12ssinntion might Rave satisfied a
vainer girl than she; yet, Us she turned
from the mirrOr. she sunk down amid
her cushions again with q deep-lr1wn
sigh
Not until the day before the breakin.
up Of the house patty at the villa,
| did Hal Everdene deliberately SEEK a
ttS,a-t.tc cor versatile with the fair
critic who held him in such contempt.
| Then, seeing her seated in shady
nook on the lawn, he approached and
threw himsen down, In pose Of care
| les grace, on the turf beside her.
After a little idle talk ne looked up
into her eyes with his bcyish. yet lazy
sm2e, which M " seemed E,zier than
ever, and that is saying much.
Miss RalstOn," he began lii tone
| that matched the smile exactly, do you
know I'm growing tired Of this endless
round OF doing rotl,ing. When the
outing season is over / believe I shall
80 home and settle down to work.
IT he had planned q sensation, the
stare of blank amazenyent he encoun-
tered from Meg's gray eyes must sure
" have repaid his trouble.
ITO work. she echoed incredulOusly.
''YOu!"
Even /, Miss Ralston," he retorted.
flushing trifie under the faint ring Of
| scOrn which he detected in her voice.
Why not? have studied law, you
| know"
But yOu-yOu are so rich. you have
she demanded, her speech foundering
q IN <hA oh,
still held her senses dazed.
Because, as told you. am weary
| OF this empty existence, and desire
| change. suppose have right to
work-tO practice my professionalism
| nOt?" he asked somewhat haughtily,
his brown eyes flashing with fire she
had never seen in them before.
Instantly all her Old scornful bitter
ness against him rose up afresh in her
heart.
NO" she flashed out Indignantly, a
proud crimson suddenly staining the
pearly whiteness Of her cheek. mo,
Mr.. Everdene, you have not the right.
You lead Il life Of unmanly ease and
luxury until it pals upon you, and now,
merely to secure a new sensation for
| your jaded energies. you selfishly pro-
pose to step into the ranks Of honest
labor. and with your superior oppor-
tunities, snatch from the toiling poor
| the work which is their only capital.
| their very life. their all! No, better to
| continue your idle life, selfish though it
! may be, than to become Il still more
selfish robber of the poor But, pardon
me, Mr.. Everdent." her manner alb
ruptly changing to one Of cold polite
! ness, Il have some preparations to
| make for my departure tomorrow, and
l really must say au revOir."
And with her proud head uplifted, she
| swept away, leaving him to gaze after
her with new and worthless wonder
| in his handsome eyes.
Inconsistency, thy name is wom-
an he muttered, with blending anger
and amusement. And long he lay there,
brOOding overs the second "bitter dose"
which Miss Meg Ralston had admins
| tered.
Two years later Margaret was visit
ing in the city which was Hal Ever
dene's home. She was at large re-
ceptiOn, and the brilliant rooms, as well
as the whole town outside, were ring
ing with the fame of the man she had
OASC UcSplSSN I1c WIS AuOWu GS the
peoples lawyer" the friend Of the poor,
the Fighter of their wrongs Among
them he had found his 1ife-work, and he
exacted not a dollar for his services
He had just won difficult case, in
which a lovely young girl was his
client. and it was limited that she would
eventually become his bride.
| Margaret's heart ached strangely as
she listened, and she stole into a cur
tanned recess to hide the mist that
dimmed her brilliant eyes. Suddenly Il
| rich voice thrilled her very soul.
Miss RalstOn, it was saying, "have
YOU no greeting for the worthless fell
low, who. but for you, would never
have found his SOUL his aim in life:"
| And she turned with outstretched
hands and shining. glorious eyes.
Mr.. Everlene. Oh, I have heard
such things OF you tonight. All! can
| you ever-ever pardon me:"
For having made me what I am?'
he smiled, lifting her hand to his lips.
Yes, if you will let me tell you ali that
was in my heart even then. All! Meg,
are you willing to be the heroine of my
love-story:"
''My hero!' she whispered softly as a
breath.
And in those words the story was al
ready told.