The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-02-29
A FOOLISH MAN.
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define. She reads great deal, adores art
in every shape and form and is very
musical. If you understand people like
Turner and Wagner, you will be in great
sympathy with her. AS for myself, | don't
and don't pretend to. She don't think
anything of my intellect, but she likes me
and treats me as a good natured Philstine
She is very frank. Patricia Holt, and she
likes candor in others. tell her plainly
that for me to care for piece of music
there must be Il tune in it, and before can
appreciate picture | must be able to
understand what it means. She laughs
and accepts my ignorance as part of me.
Ii | affected a knowledge that | didn't
possess and posed to her she would bowl
me out in five minutes and dispise
me-
did like Wagner, and l believed I
knew something about art. The more
| heard of Miss Holt the more | believed
we should get on together. had wanted
to know her, and now | was certain that |
should find her intensely simpatica! |
asked Charlie to lunch and paid for bottle
of champagne in the exuberance of my
gratitude toward him. After that | went
home and wrote a short story-a story
based on the foregoing facts, but which
ended better than this one does In my
reveries-remember how young | was!-I
already exalted Miss Holt into Beatrice,
a Laura, an inspiration. Eastbourne was
now Arcadia or Alexander Selkirk's island
according to whether | was with her or
not.
After three days Charlie went back to
town. did not care. My footing with
the Hollis was now established and | pro-
vided myself with the newest reviews and
magazines to lend them when we met. The
old lady always gave smile of pleasure
when | approached near her. She liked
me.
Good morning, Mrs. Holt. And how
are you to day?'
"Ah, Mr.. Grahame, how'd ye do?
Thank you, l had good night. East
bourne is making me quite we'll"
'Have you seen this weeks illustrated
something? There are some capital
sketches from the war;
ooh, you are very kind. I should like
to look at them And she would peruse
the paper while her daughter and | con-
versed. So for fortnight. As yet had
dropped no hint Of my profession 1t
charmed me to reflect how much closer it
would bring to me Patricia when she knew,
but wished to delay the pleasure, to play
with it. 1t was silly, but the suppression
had fascination for me. l could picture
her big eyes opening when l casually men
toned the fact that was literary man.
that | had written GIVES Dilemma" |
could hear her exclaim. sob, why did you
not tell me before?" and see her start
with interest and surprise. In imagination
told her in fifty ways In one | came
upon her crying was my favorite way
and begged her to tell me what was
the matter. what is it," | murmured
Miss Holt, you have had bad news?"
She smiled and brushed her tears away
Il am very foolish she said Don laugh
at me, but this book has affected me more
powerfully than anything of the kind |
have read for years. You know it, of
course?" and she pointed to the familiar
cover of my fifth edition. | took it up
carelessly. "You make me very poud, :"
| answered.
"Proud?"
81 wrote it, that is why. am so glad
it pleases you"
''You are Eric Evershed?''
clasped it. There was fervor in her face
that had never seen there, now magnet
ism in her gaze. "Oh" she gasped and
then
Yes, that was my favorite way, and
somehow she was in my arms, and l was
imploring her to be my wife.
One morning lit cigar and went out
to commune with the ocean
tramped along the parade and thence
to the seawall, and then as l was on the
point of descending to the beach saw Miss
Holt sitting on one of the benches with
half closed eyes.
Fate was smiling on me indeed. For
the first time she was unaccompanied
and at such time!
Miss Holt"
Mr. Grahamen' She welcomed me with
a delicious little start. "How you fright
ened mel"
Il could scarcely believe it was YOU" |
said. 81 thought you never went out in
the afternoon?'
II do not often, but my mother was
asleep and the weather tempted me-"
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