Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-11-26
CHAPTER II.
"The Luckiest Fellow Alive.

You live in lodgings, don't you?'
''Yes-in rooms" he corrected hest
tatingly. He had half mind to speak
of them as chambers, for he wanted
Miss Laugherne to think of him as
being on a slightly different social
platform to the ordinary government
clerk
"And where are your rooms, Mr..
Graham"
The interest she was taking in him
was gratifying, but he could have
wished that it would not lead her to
question him about his local habita-
tion.
I'm in Westbourne terrace, at pres
emit"
"oh, the Paddington nd of the park
end?" she asked.
The Paddington end. ! am going
to leave them in a week or two. It's
too far out of town altogether for a
fellow VINO does press work.
DO you write for any of the big
dailies? For the Times or Telegraph
Or do you only write for the week
lies?"
" Only for the weekhes! That's a
very disparaging way OF putting it
The first journalists of the day are
proud to be on the staff of the World
other high-c class weekly papers"
Yes, yes, but are you on the staff OF
the World or Truth, or any of the
or Truth or other high-class weeklies.
Not at present" he answered curt
~
DO forgive me for being curious
about it, but you're the only literary
man I've ever met, and | should like tc
know what you write in so that | might
read what you say and have the de-
lightful feeling of knowing the writer
of the article"
II throw off little things by the dozen
and hardly know where they co. he
said carelessly. They get absorbed
in dozen directions; they are not
read Mere ephemeral things, you
really worth your taking the trouble to
read Merely ephemeral things, not
know, that die with the day with whose
doings they deal.
You must work very hard? All
day at your war Office and half the
night writing for the press, l suppose ??
she said, admiringly.
"Oh, it's nothing when you're used
to it," he said, airily disclaiming any
special merit for his industry. 1.-The
official work is poisonously dull; turn
ing out the other stuff is refreshing
change from 1t"
MY father has been reading some
thing of yours; he is quite enthusiastic
about your writing. He says you hold
a pen that could strengthen dynasty
or shatter ministry"
II can only wish, as he holds these
fiattering views, that he was either an
editor or publisher" he laughed out,
but though he laughed and seemed to
lightly regard Capt. Kelly's fiattering
tribute he liked the aid gentleman bet
ter than he had ever liked him before.
Il suppose, as papa says that of your
writings, that you deal mostly with
politics."
/ don't care hang about them" he
confessed, eandidly. II take much
more interest in new play or show of
of any kind than do in the fate Of
nations. Do you often go to the thea
ter?"
She shook her head dolefully. So
seldom that | feel terribly out of it
when were dining out sometimes and
new plays and popular actors and ac-
tresses are being talked about. Papa
doesn't care to turn out after dinner,
and as he always goes to sleep before
the first act is over it is cruel to drag
him to theater
That's hard luck on YOU" he said
compassionately Have you no one
else to take you--no aunts or cousins?'
Il have very few relatives, and none
or them live in London. My own
people-my own fathers family
are all in Ireland; they knwo little of
and care less for me"
"If they luew anything Of YOU they
could not help caring great deal for
YOU" he said, warmly, and from his
position of repose against the mantle
piece he looked down with eager adj
into her upturned, sensitive
face. II occurred to them simultan-
eously how exceedingly good looking
the other was. He was tall, well-built,
strong and 1.-THE as a greyhound: she
fair and feminine. lissome and grace
ful. with such look Of earnest In the
depths OF her deep gray eyes as he had
never seen in any woman's eyes be-
fore.
when move into my new quarters
/ am going to get my sister to stay
with me. and then You must let me
her to you. and we'll do some
theaters together. VIII yon?'