The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-07-30

the adventures who pretended to be
riCh / nave told about the man vino
expressed the utmost detestatiOu OF
the new woman and ended by falling
madly In love with one. | have related
the history Of the girl who determined
to have career and finally gave up
all for love. These things, are worn
feeble that | am ashamed to press the
poor things into further sorvice."
John smiled.
"They are far from dying, Mary
They are full OF vitality yet."
them," said Mary, returning the smile.
AT least, for awhile, | may be glad
to fall back on them some day, but
Just now | should like something
fre sh. All sorts Of queer things are
constantly happening in real life, If l
could only get to hear Of them. John,
haven't you an idea OF any kind ? Or
some little thing that has come within
your own experience? Anything that
holds u tiny spice OF romance, you
know"
and seemed inclined to speak. Then
his mind apparently altered, and he
shook his head.
oh !" cried Mary disappointedly,
"that Is too bad. Y on looked exactly
Us if you had al idea"
"Well," said John slowly, "a faint
glimmering did seem to come to mo,
but I'm afraid you would think it
silly"
"Do tell me I" exclaimed Mary. 81
shall be SO grateful"
"And don't know that it is parti
cularly new," went on John in the
same doubtful way.
"Wcll, mover mind," said Mary, in
depends on the treatment Of the sub
ject. Sometimes Il very hackneyed
theme cah be made to sound quite
fresh. have noticed it in several in
stances. Go on, John"
She fixed her eyes on him expect
antly, and q smile dawned in the young
mans oyes Us he looked at her.
els it humorous :" asked Mary in
nocently as she saw the smile.
81 don't know" uswercd John, re.
lapsing into gravity. "That entirely
depends upon how you regard 1t.
Things appeal so differently to diff
ferent minds, don't they ~
"They do" rejoined Mary prompt
Fly. Sometimes have written things
which thought we're funny, but othor
people entirely tailed to see the joke;
and on the other hand, | have been
laughed at for sentences which were
penncd in perfect seriousness. But
klct us proceed with the subject in
hand. wish you would begin, John,
for the time is getting on, and | shall
be miserable unless succeed in max
ing Il good start this morning"
"There's lot in making II good
start, isn't there :" asked John, with
| evident anxiety.
Oh :. u great deal, said Mary. ut
Is often the most dilicult thing pos
sible to start. Once fairly begun the
work is comparatively easy, because
one thing seems to lead to another"
| 81 see F" replied John rctiecti, ely
Then long silence fell between them.
| DO go on :" said Mary ilnpatiently,
at last
"WelI, The fact Is, Mary, r'-with
considerable emphasis on the pronoun
-" find difficulty in starting.
think could COON, if the subject were
| only begun"
t" Let me help you out" said Mary,
with an air OF resignation. "There is
a girl in it, | suppose? 2"
"Oh, yes" :" returned John, very
decidedly. There is girl in it and
an uncommonly nice girl, too"
Good !" said Mary. "It is all easy
enough. Describe to me her APP
pearance, character, and surround
lngs. Tell me what she did, and how
she did it. Then explain where tn,
man comes in-for there is a man in it,
| suppose ?"
Oh, yes" said John, as decidedly
as before. "There is a man in it,"
well, what about him ?" asked
Mary. Dear me, John. l might as
we'll invent q thing myself and have
done with it, If you can't tell me
straight Off"
"I'll tell you {" said John, with the
| air Of man determined to make the
plunge. Only-Mary-pro me
one thing. Don't laugh at my story"
| Can | laugh If it is funny ?" rejoin-
ed Mary.
"It isn't" said John. "Wen, not
exactly. Erin fact, ! don't know
| how it will strike you. | mean, don't
laugh at my clumsy way of telling it,"
| "Of course not" replied Mary
kindly. And Pm sure Pm very much
this trouble"
"Well," began John, "this girl--the
girl am thinking Of, you know-lived
| The father had died some years before,
leaving just enough money to supply
their bare wants, but no more"
| quite unde and, l." said Mary, in
q tone which had good deal OF "fellow
feeling" in it.
So, Of COURSE" went on John, "lifc
was more or less Of a struggle with
them. But, happily, one of the girls
this special girl | began to talk
ahout--deveIoped quite talent for
| fOr..---"
For what :" asked Mary rather
sharply.
!" For painting" returned John
quickly. She used to paint quite
lovely little things, and sell them to
the shops"
Yes" said Mary. "But when
does the romance begin, John ?"
81 am coming to that" replied John
"Givc mo time, Mary"
"Oh, Of COURSE" said Mary amiably.
So after u brief pause, John went on
again
Years before when these girls
were quite little, their father had
shown Il great kindness to an almost
frieudlesa boy"
Mary started, and II faint color crept
| into her cheeks: but john took no