Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-09-25
A QUICK TRANSITION.


undenlably bored. IL was really tho only
way open Tor his being uncomfortable, and
he realized that he had Travelled far along
It's monotonous paths.
His gaze wandered around tho walls Of
his splendid library, and he sighed AS Le
recalled the interest he had once taken in
collecting those familiar Volumes and the
fine pictures, bric-a-bric and statunry-
souvenirs Of his foreign plgrimAgcs.
Five years before his elderly sister had
come to preside over his household and
him. She brought with her young girl,
whose dcnd mother had teen her intimate
friend, md for whose sako she had under
taken the care and guardianship Of the
child, who had been the sunshine and
comfort Of her lifo--along with Providence
and Jason. Indeed, 1t seemed that Of these
three It was Margaret Bright who usually
ordered the affairs, domestic and social, In
the establishment
The master Of the home was pcrsistently
endeavoring to discover why his life had
become so uninteresting that no amount
of variety seemed to irnpart spice thereto
He drove and derived physical benefit
from the air and tho management Of his
horses But ho could not say he found
pleasure In the pastimo. He played pool
every evening because his physician ad-
yised 1t, but he played with the dcmean-
or of martyr who does his special sort
Of martyrdom particularly well. Occa-
sionally he lectured before some literary
society. He talked anything, from law TO
athletics, with the college youths who paid
frequent visits to his bruwnstone mansion,
when Margaret was ut home. In winter
no won't south. In summer the Adiron-
dncks 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 those sports, and ho did not consider it
worth while to visit India and try tiger
shooting as last resource. So he bitterly
reflected that no must have reached that
time whom some mon discover that they
are mo longer SO young us they were"
This line of thought was interrupted by
the entrance Of his sister Della and her
ward.
"Your sister has been telling mo that
you did not live hero when you were n boy
and that you were not always wealthy. l
wish you to tell me about it," concluded
this impctuous young woman.
~ 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 flickering smile, and the very serious
expression Of the eyes seemed to contra
dict each other and puzzled the girl, who
was watching his fsco).
"But after was graduated In law l
found that possessed just $40. After a
tedious time possessed 30 cents. l went
to prominent business man and told him
i must have something to do. He might
have given me place ms porter, but he
gave me n less certain thing-a Uad bill to
collect. l called on the debtor. He was
polite but unrespOnsivo. / called again.
He was sunve, but, so far ms yielding to my
demands, as immovnblc as Gibraltar. l
met him when he came from breakfast,
and l always visited him when he returned
from lunch. He became indignant, but
was unremittingly persistent, and at last
he gave me n bad debt, promising to settle
my claim II / could collect his money.
81 was discouraged, but by plan SINH
lar to the one l 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 md since then have never wanted any
necessity. Tint. my Meg, WINS not the
! kind of story you were expecting, was itf''
Margaret did not answer, for the maid
announced visitor and sho passed into
the drawing room, whcro young Mr.. Philip
! Warren WINS waiting. Jason Johnson rose
| and went to a bookcase and examined sew
eral old volumes. He busted them care
fully and replaced them tenderly-they
wero the FIRST he had ever been able to pur-
chase, and to him they represented much.
'Jnson, said his sister, ~ suspect that
there Is something serious between our lit
tie girl and this Mr.. Warren. Don't you
think him flno young man and worthy
our approvalf | won't say that any one is
worthy of Margaret, " she added jealousy.
Mr., johnson busted another Of his treas
ures, and there was some moisture in his
eyes, as was only natural, maybe Yes,
Della, think you nro correct in your shs-
pcions. l have watched them OCCASION
ally, and l feel certain that Philip is in
terested, aud am afraid, oh, mean, be-
lieye no is q PERSON to whom we could offer
no objections except that ho Is very
young"
Miss Della did not observe her brother
suddenly color like u schoolgirl, ms he caro-.
fully returned tho book--upside down,
howoycr-to its place. He was very pale
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 sit, Megglef Are you--thnt is
1t seems to me, he left rather carly
Eyes, l sent him away. He asked me
to marry him, and l am sorry he did
Somehow l never realized before how g
man like him Is dependent upon others
but tonight thought II he were thrown
ON his own resources, rs you were once
no would never surmount all obsta
cles. am sure he is not strong enough.
And while he was speaking, he appeared
80 like u hoy, so very young
"Oh, Meg" cried Jason johnson. "Dc
you think mo so very oldy"
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 hor to him
and held her close to his hungry heart
Ana-tp thu. new lnd srect shnniness he
1nunu cuTnp-Cse CO.. Tur-nJlon ------.T- mar
dreary, empty days that were past.-Cin'
cinnati Post.