The Red Cloud chief., 1895-07-26
THE LETTER.

crty all his life, fearing it as he
fought it, feeling for the skinny
throat to throttle It. and yet dread
ing all the while the coming Of the
time when it would gain the mastery
and throttle him-whon such "a man
is told that he Ia rich. it might be
imagined he would receive the an
nounccmcnt with hilarity. When
Richard Donham realized that he was
wealthy he became oven moro So
bercd than usual. and drew n long
breath as If he had been running q
race and had won it,. The man who
brought him the news had no idea
that he had told Dcnham ANYTHING
novel. He merely happened to a Y
lyon are Il rich man. Mr.. Denham,
and will never miss it,"
Dcnham had never before been
called u rich man. and up to that mo-
ment he had not thought Of himself
as wealthy. He wrote out the check
asked of him, and his visitor depart
ed gratefully. leaving the merchant
with something TO ponder over. He
was rs much surprised with the sud-
dcnncss Of the thing as if someone
had left him a legacy. Yet the money
was all of his own accommodating, but
his struggles had been so long and
he had been so hopeless about il, that
from mere habit he cXcrtcd all his
energies long after the enemy was
overcome.
When Mr.. Dcnham left his Office
and went out into the street, every
thing had an unusual appearance TO
him. He walked along, unheeding
the direction. He looked ct the fine
residences and realized that he might
have a fine residence If he wanted it.
He n handsome carriages: he, too,
might set up an equipagc. The salts
faction those thoughts produced was
brief. or what use would a fine house
or AN elegant carriage be to himp He
knew 10 one to invite TO the house or
To ride with him in the carriage. He
began to realize how utterly alone i'm
the world he was. He had no friends,
no acquaintance even. The running
dog with its nose TO the ground. sees
nothing of the surrounding scenery
He knew men in a business way, Of
course, and doubtless each of them
had a home IN the suburbs somewhere,
but he could not take a business man
by the shoulders and say to him. i'm
wife me to your house; ] am lonesome;
| want to know people" Suddenly,
a girl rose before his mental v~ision--
a modern girl, She was the only wo-
man in the world with whom he was
on speaking terms, and he knew
her merely because her light
and nimble fingers played the bust
ness sonata of one note ON his Office
typewriter. Miss Gale was pretty.
Of course-alI typewriter girls arc
and it was generally understood in
the Office chat she belonged TO a good
family who had come down in the
world. Her somewhat independent
air deepcned this conviction and
kept the clerks at a distance. She
was Il sensible girl who realized tina,
the typewriter paid better that the
piano and accordingly turned the ex'
%perience Of her white fingers on tn,
former instrument. Richard Denham
sat down upon a park bench. why
notp" he asked himself. There was
no reason against it except that he
had not the courage. Nevertheless,
he formed II desperate resolution.
Next day, business vent on al
: usual. Letters were answered ant
= the time arrived when Miss Gal,
. came in to see il he had any further
commands that day. Dcnham hest
tated. He felt vaguely that Il bust
ness office was not the proper place
for "A proposal; yet he knew he woul,
be at a disadvantage anywhere else
= In the hrst place he had no plausibl,
4 excuse for calling upon the younI
woman at home, and, in the secon,
: place, he knew IL he once got thcr,
he would be stricken dumb. 1t mus
either be at his Office or nowhere.
Sit down a moment, Miss Gale" h
n said at last; II wanted to consult yol
= about IA matter-about a bushes
matter"
I" Miss Gale seated herself and auto
m~atically placed on her knee tn
shorthand writing-pad ready to talk
down his instructions, She locke
up at him eXpectantly. Denham, /
an embarrassed manner, RAJ. his fir
- gers through his hair.
IS 81 am thinking" he began, SO
=" taking a partner. The business
very prosperous now. In fact, ii Ia
been for some time"
''Yesp" said Miss Gale, interrog;
tivoly.
T. Eyes, | think | should have n par
. ner. II Is about that | wanted
e speak to You"
: Don't you think il would be bette
IL to consult with Mr.. RogersP L
= knows more about business than
6. But perhaps it is Mr., Rogers who
to be the %partnerp'
'No. IL is not Rogers. Rogers is
= good man but it is not Rogers"
: ''Then l think in an importa'
matter like this Mr.. Rogers, or son
= n who knows the business as tho
: 0ughly Is he does, would be able