The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-06-22

back But nOw that I am so near her,
l can't go, B~arnabee, after my failure
in the northwest
she knows you are here!"
No: she has not known of anv OF
my later movements. l would have
told her, but that the telling would
have dissolved the last faint hope of
my having her some day. l have been
away five years and wasted all of them.
but for the experiences they have
brought. l have to begin life all over
again. The question, where to begin,
is not so bOthersome as how to do it. ="
Barnabee twirled a goblet on its
frail edge until its sparkling contents
almost spilled, and looked across the
remnants of the finished dinner at the
story-maker. Hollan's career might
have been like the others, but not to
the extent hat it had wine and song
IN it. She could never account for his
neglect because of that. His checks
Were clear and his eyes were strong.
There was a manly air about him
which showed his prosperous era had
not dwindled away in dissipation.
Didn't your town have a fire that
nearly destroyed it? Where were you
them" Barnabee asked.
Il had the circulation of the Chron-
icle. / obtained it soOn after l went to
the Pacific slope. and the money l sent
to you was made from it. For three
months l VI on the upgrade. The
paper was approaching its zenith, and
it carried me along with it as its circu-
latiOn grew. IOu were as persistent
about my going away as she was about
my ~remaining. If you had known when
to call me otf-when | had reached my
limit should be here with her now.
You know, Barnabee, when we were
together IN the little country town,
how we flew the same kite, went to the
same swimming-hole, threw stones at
the same windows in vacant houses?
You have not forgotten when you came
into your money. expanded your ideas
of life beyond the bounds of that little
place, and came to the city to enjoy
yourself? After you left l speculated
whether you and | should ever take up
our pleasures together again. Then
'AAS III i0lC L was III BOfCL III
she knew il; there she was in her
riches and luxury. and l knew it. l
don know why o how, but she held
open her heart to me and walked into
it. Those We're days of happiness and
love back there with her. Iawoke one
day to a realization of our differences.
Ten thousand people knew me-; where
she came from before l found her, ten
thousand knew her. Twenty thousand
tongues would say l saw money in the
wedding. What she saw in it was only
an imaginary virtue or two of mine. 1
tried to turn my heart against such
thoughts. but there was Il pride in my
poverty. They should not talk of her
so"
Hollan paused, for it was clouuing
mp in his atmosphere.
Then | went to the northwest" he
continued. presently. When my
wealth equaled hers l would return.
The country was new. and | had the
energy. i have enough for us both,
she sand to me. 1t is our hearts, and
my money, ana nobody else'S concern
She pleaded with me to come back,
but | could hear those tongues waGging
across the three thousand miles which
lay between us, and they kept me
away from her. When the fire came l
was on the upgrade. as | said. 1t was
the last of the month. when the
building burned the books
were destroyed, and 1 stood watching
the accounts of 10000 subscribers going
in the flames. l could not recall
the names of a dozen of them, or the
amounts, so l lost all. The only thing
l saved was 4 strip of ground in an
other part of the city. 1t could not be
BURIED up, though the ire tried to do
it. Those lots cost only $500. l had