The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-01
A QUICK TRANSITION

Mr.. Jason JOHNSON was intensely and
undeniably bored " was really the only
way open for his being uncomfortable, and
he realized that he had travelled far along
Its monotonous paths.
His gaze wandered around the walls Of
his splendid library, and he sighed as he
recalled the interest he had once taken In
collecting those familiar volumes, and the
fine pictures bric-a-brAo and statuary-
souvenirs of his foreign pilgrimages.
Five years before his elderly sister had
come to preside over his household and
him. She brought with her young girl,
whose dead mother had been her intimate
friend, and for whose sake she had under
taken the care and guardianship of the
child, who had been the sunshine and
comfort of her life-along with Providence
and Jason. Indeed, 1t seemed that of these
three 1t was Margaret Bright who usually
ordered the affairs, domestic and social, IN
the establishment
The master Of the home was persistently
endeavoring to discover why his life had
become SO embarrassing that no amount
of variety seemed to impart spice thereto.
He drove and derived physical benefit
from the air and the management Of his
horses, But he could not say he found
pleasure in the pastime. He played pool
every evening because his physician ad.
vised it, but he played with the demean-
or of a martyr who does his special sort
Of martyrdom particularly well. Occa-
sionally he lectured efore some literary
society. He talked anything, from law to
athletics, with the college youths who paid
frequent visits to his brownstone mansion,
when Margaret was at home. In winter
he went south. In summer the Adiron-
dacks or the Canadian forests yielded fish
or game to his rod or gun. But of late he
was obliged to confess that he was weary
of these sports, and he did not consider it
worth while to visit India and try tiger
shooting as last resource. So he bitterly
reflected that he must have reached that
time when some men discover that they
! are "no longer SO young as they WERE"
This line of thought was interrupted by
the entrance of his sister Della and her
ward.
"Your sister has been telling me that
you did not live here when you were boy
and that you were not always wealthy.
wish you to tell ME about it," concluded
this impetuous young woman.
81 was very poor and ambitious and
happy" he said, with an odd little smile
as though he were joking instead of utter
ing the solemn and amazing truth. "Per-
haps you would not care to hear Of the
struggle and the results" again that
queer Pickering smile, and the very serious
expression Of tho eyes seemed to contra
dict each other and puzzled the girl, who
was watching his face).
n,,t Of T atoI in Inv 7
found that possessed just $40. After
tedious time possessed 80 cents. went
to prominent business man and told him
l must havo something to do. He might
have given me place as porter, but he
gave me a less certain thing-a bad bill to
collect called OH the debtor He was
polite but unresponsiye. l called again.
He was suave, but, SO far as yielding to my
demands, as immoyablo US Gibraltar
met him when he came from breakfast,
and always visited him when he returned
from lunch. He became indignant, but l
was unremittingly persistent, and OF lust
he gave me q bad debt, promising to settle
my claim If could collect his money.
II was discouraged, but by plan SINH
lar to the one had long rehearsed, Imade
myself so annoying that to be rid of me
the man somehow got the money and paid
me. enjoyed good dinner myself that
day and since then have never wanted any
necessity. That, my Meg, was not tho
kind of story you were expecting, was its"
Margaret did not answer, for the maid
announced visitor and she passed into
the drawing room, where young Mr. Philip
Warren was waiting Jason johnson rose
and went to bookcase and examined sew
eral old volumes. He busted them care
fully and replaced them tenderly-they
were the first he had ever been able to prrr-
chase, and to him they represented much.
"Jason, said his sister, ~ suspect that
there Is something serious between cur lit
Ito girl and this Mr.. Warren. Don't you
think him q fine young man and worthy
our APPROVAL l won't say that any one is
worthy of Margaret, she added jealously.
Mr. johnson busted another Of his treas
ures and there was some moisture in his
eyes, rs was only natural, maybe. eyes,
Della, think you are correct in your sus-
pioiOns have watched them OCCASION
ally, and I feel certain that Philip is in
terestsd, and am afraid, oh, mean, l be-
lieve he is person to whom we could offer
no objections except that he is very
young"
Miss Della did not observe her brother
suddenly color like schoolgirl as he care
fully returned the book-upside down,
however-to its place. He was very palo
when he returned to his chair, but she left
the library without observing that either.
Presently Margaret returned and stood
facing him and looking greatly disturbed.
"What isit, Msggfe? Are you-that is
it seems to NE, he left rather early
Eyes, sent him away. He asked mo
to marry him, and l am sorry he did.
Somehow I never realized before how q
man like him Is dependent upon others,
but tonight thought if he were thrown
on his own resources, as you were once,
he would never surmount all obsta-
Giles. am sure he is not strong enough.
And while he was speaking, he appeared
go like a boy, so very young
ooh, Meg" cried Jason Johnson. EDO
you think me so very oNf''
Margaret Bright was looking directly
into his eyes and have often heard that
there is magnetism in a glance. However
that may be, know he drew her to him
and held her close to his hungry heart
And in that new and great happiness he
found complete compensation for the many
drcary, empty days that were past.-Cin-
cinnati Post.