Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-10-23

sSEHss4s;,sssS@// whose progress
| 49, ss$sk$SSss%/ had received q
| STH~Es8gI dual check. First
|tEsM@ MRy ly the supply of
| Ma%,S f,H paper had become
nv ~ exhausted, which,
secondly, allowed the author time to
think of the woman he loved and this
always made him SO utterly miserable
| that ne could not bring his thoughts
to bear upon anything but the ap-
parent hopelessness of the state OF
man.
"Well, Brandon, my boy" he
mused bitterly, tyou've reached the
end at last. Assets. 10 cents; liabili-
ties, an empty stomach and land
lady's bill for $50"
He had thought of suicide before,
but he was young and cluDg to life,
bad as it was, living more in hope than
substance.
The only other alternative was
starvation, and this he considered
worse still. He could not have lsbored
uanually if he had got work to do, for
having been born in the purple he had
always counted poverty out of his life,
so had learned no trade. He dropped
into his chair again and picked up the
manuscript of his novel. How beauti-
fully smooth it read; what q grand
plot it was, and what character was
the poor, struggling. ambition-loving
journalist-"A Fin-de-Siecle Fool. "
All! If he could but finish it. No
more starvation, no more lying to
widow landladies, 10 more dreaming
of the woman he loved but would not
marry.
While hesat thinking of what might
be there came knock at the door, so
timid that he did not notice it until il
was repeated thrice.
"The landlady," he thought, with
out rising,
However, it was not the portly form
of the widow that met Brandon's gaze
when the door opened, but sweet
little vision of girl enwrapped il
sables. He started to his feet with an
exclamation as she came into the
room, the smile on her face lighting
! up the apartment like ray OF sum
mer sunshine.
"My dear Minnie" he cried, as he
| offered her chair and relieved her OF
her muff and boa, "what in the world
induced you to come here?"
s'Curiosity and-love; but"
"Curiosityl Seven-eights of wo.
mans nature! It has ruined many 9
woman and"
''Now it's going to save man, y
she interposed, with smile, which
died from her eyes as she glanced
around the room. "You don't appear
to be very comfortable, and no fire.
You said in your letter you were max
ing your fortune. That is not true. u
Brandon was seated on the edge OF
the table looking at nothing in par
ticular.
Perfectly" he answered, shifting
uneasilg. "Only, you know, Minnie,
it's slow work; there are SO many at
the game, and I never was clever.
"You have grown pessimistic. Poor
Brandon !" and she caught his hands.
"How cold you are! Why don't you
have fre?"
The author did not tanswer.
"Oh, l understand" she said, in a
low, sympathetic voice. ''No wood,
no Goals, no money, eh?" and she
caressed his hand fondly. "You have
not made much progress on the royal
road?"
"Don't you understand, Minnie, !
have endeavored to earn my own liv-
ing honestly, endeavored to be inde-
pendent of any man, and I want to
continue so. There are enough
parasites in the world. 1t has been a
bit of O struggle, I'll admit, but have
grown accustomed to it.
Brandon" was Minnie's solemn
response, 81 want to show you the
folly of your independence. Did you
think / could not read between the
lines of your letter to me2 A man
who is making his fortune, or who is
earning living and has hopes for the
future, does not inplore the woman
he loves to forget him and marry
some o.her man. Brandon, you do
love me?" She placed her hands upon
his shoulders and locked up into his
face.
He shut his eyes for q moment, his
lips quiverod and h,s did not speak.
but he smoothed her fair hair softly.
''Then you will come away with
me?" she pleaded. "You will sink
your foolish spirit of pride and inde-
pendence and make me q happy wo-
?" and she nestled her head on
his arm. s'Not long ago, when you
were rich, you loved me and we were
to be married; but when you lost your
all in those wretched companies you
would not be my husband, though my
fortune is ample for both. !"
Iwish I could swallow my wretched
pride, but I cannot. could not live
on your money in your house. My
inmost feelings would cry shame at
me; my position would be unbeara-
ble."
Minnie shivered.
''You are cold?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Well, you had better be going, +"
and he handed her her furs. 'It is
so kind and good of you, Minnie, but
but I'll try little longer for that
fortune," and the ghost of a smile
fingered on his face for On instant.
81 suppose I could not help you in
any way, Brandon? May I leave my
check book?"
The question was put very hesitat-
ingly, and while the inner man cried
eyes, in piteous accents, the outer
gentleman declined the kind offer with
a courteous frmness.
"I have read several of your short
stories." Minnie said, as she pulled on