The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-09-11
"You might have sent for a fellow"


I returned.
"You know very we'll why I would
never have done that. You must have
been awfully out of the world not to
have located me sooner" she laughed.
'I have. I have been busy night and
day during the last month. You know
my weakness for leaving work until the
last minute, and then shaving over it."
81 know several of your weaknesses" "
she said, again laughing. what do
you think Of my success in New York? p
SIT would have been marvellous for
anybody but you"
eff you only meant half that you
utter so smoothly!"
"How do you know how much mean
may have changed; wise men do, you
know-fools never"
"First you compliment me, and then
yourself. You will have to write q bet
ter novel than your last one before I
will believe you are wise"
II finished better one yesterday. Do
you know that New York is talking
about your"
"You know what some one says.
There is only one thing worse than be.
ing talked about, and that is, not being
talked about"
II supposed you were married before
this"
She looked at me in mischievous sur
prise.
"How could you think that?" she said,
naively.
I mentally concluded she was the
most consummate actress I had ever
seen
"You don't mean to say" I began,
when she hastily interrupted.
II suppose you will tell New York all
about me?" she asked.
"Why should I? I don't know any
thing to tell," returned.
1t was my turn to dissimulate:
"You are very kind. have piece of
news for you that will surprise you,
think-that is, if you can be surprised"
"I'll try to be, if it will please you"
"Well, you know the so acres Of sand
and rocks you were good enough to pre-
sent to me-"
"I know"
She began laughing again.
''In the last three years that bit of
estate has yielded $2,o0o,OO0 worth of
gold quartz, and I am told the men are
just getting well into the vein."
There was no concealing my actual
astonishment
"Whatl" I exclaimed. "That beastly
patch of earth yielded $2,oo0,ooo? And
here am drudging over my novelist"
Her face grew serious.
"See what you get for losing your
patience" she said, "and for-for other
things"
"When lost my patience you found
wealth and happiness" I responded,
looking her straight in the eyes.
"Wealth," she corrected.
"T can understand now much that was
not plain to me BEFORE" continued.
"New York is the place for you. You
can have all the luxuries now-even the
luxury of a blue-blooded or titled hus7
band. Your success is already tremen-
dous. If people only wouldn't ask ques-
tions"
eff you wish to misunderstood me,
you may" She walked to the window
which overlooked the avenue, and,
drawing aside the curtains, gazed down
on the passing carriages. Presently
she turned and gave me q meaning look.
"The situation is the same as it was
then," she said, Except that"
Except what?"
"There's an 1S-carat finish to It."
81 can't be bought" exclaimed,
pacing the floor.
"Please don't insult me, Felix" she
answered. I saw that her face was
white, and that her lips quivered. AS
went nearer to her, saw a tear steal
from under her lashes.
/ am like other men, and woman's
tears affect me deeply. There was not
another word said. Moved by an IRE
sistible influence, I caught her in my
arms.