Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-11-21
an Unconscious Hero.
BY MRS. M. l. RAYNE.

"No," Eleanor Landsberg said Is she
crushed the cluster of fresh American
beauty roses she held in her clasped hands
with painful intensity, as if they were
somehow to blame, II cannot marry you,
Morris-you are not my hero"
"Heroes do not exist out of novels"
answered Morris Holmes, with that per-
feet infection that good breeding gives TO
its possessor II cannot fight for my lady
love as the medieval knights did, nor fly
to the wars, in these degenerate days"
"Then be soldier of peace; there are
daily wars to be waged that need disci-
plined soldiers. Be anything but daw-
dler on the silken skirts of society. You
believe that because you have inherited a
fortune that other men earned for you by
the sweat of their brows, that you are to
be idle in the lap of luxury. Shame,
Morris Holmes, When l marry | will
choose my husband from among the ranks
of the people; my hero must do great
deeds, not dream them, all day long"
"My dear Socialist" said Morris, with
the familiarity of long acquaintance, ''if
you will listen to reason moment you
will see that with money you can remedy
practically helpless"
allow many evils have you remedied,
Morris? Answer me that"
'Few as yet, / admit. But, Eleanor
is it my fault that my father left me for
tune? Listen, dearest. | may call you so
this once. Why not help me to become
his almoner? At least am not profit
gate"
Pardon me-" returned the young
woman, tearing the heart from rosa
performance which made the sensitive
Morris wince-"I think you are prohigate
with time and influence, and all other
good things which you waste by lavishing
on yourself How will you account for
wasted opportunities, and talents folded
in a napkin, when the day of reckoning
comes :"
She was very handsome, very attractive
in her strong young womanhood, and as a
reformer, the fad of the hour. She be-
longed TO clubs and societies for the adj
vancement of women, and was not Often
sively progressive in her views and the
expression of them, but she had been
brought into contact with strong natures,
full of the sap and wine of life. and had
learned to dsdain the wearer of purple and
fine linen. The society weakling had lost
place in her world, just as social functions
had become inane and intolerably stupid,
after the seamy side Of life had shown her
its rugged attractions.
"What would you have me do to prove
myself hero?" asked Morris Holmes,
with gentle patronizing air, as If he had
been speaking TO a child, and which in
furiated Eleanor.
"Do?" she repeated with whitening
scorn, "do anything to show the world
that you are man, and at least capable of
managing your own affairs Life is full
of instruction, but you have never learned
one Of its lessons. You have not even
been a profitable dreamer"
She was intense and angry, and at last
he was aroused. He rose without his
usual dawdling elegance of manner, and
said:
''You have taught me one lesson, Flea
nor, that shall not forget. hope when
you find your hero he will love you as
truly as have done--as will continue to
do, If you do not forbid me. And now
goodbye. We part friends, do we not ?'
Before she answ cred him Eleanor rose,
and in so doing dropped the flowers she
had been holding. Morris sprang to pick
them up, when instantly she placed her
small imperative foot upon them, crush
ing them to the floor. He looked at her
shocked and wounded.
''You see how hopeless it is that you
should ever understand me-" she said bit
terly. "You have more consideration for
these dollhouse weeds than for the souls OF
those around you. You hurt and wound
me by your indifference to vital questions,
but you are sorry for the roses! Good.
bye, Morris!"