The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-02
ACCEPTED.

/ ACCEFIEU.
read one of your stories last evening,
Miss Deland," said Jameson.
Gates looked up quickly "Do you
writer he asked. "What is the story in,
please?''
1T don't know. Where did you see it,
Mr.. Jameson?"
SIN the last Pacific Monthly"
"Oh, that onel'' said Miss Deland. "I
didn't know it was out yet
"'Tis a good enough story Of its kind, -
said Jameson bluntly, sbut I haven't
much opinion of the kind What want
to see you write is love story
81 dare say it would amuse you i'm
mensely."
sBut why have you never tried itp" per-
sisted Jameson.
~ will tell you. It is because have
never been able to imagine a mans max
ing love or proposing in way that would
not disgust or antagoniZe or forfeit the
respect Of any woman with a grain of
sense"
Gates laughed.
s.That's pretty severe" said Jameson.
sit hits me and my wife both.
"I'm very sorry, but can't take it
back. haven't doubt that you inspired
one or all of the sentiments have indi-
Gated. Mrs. Jameson must have overcome
them by O tremendous effort Of the will.
Many sensible women do"
"And If the right man came along you
would overcome them also, Miss Deland.
"Neverl AS soon as he began to show
signs of softening of the brain he would
cease to be the right man-for me-"
tsPerhaps and perhaps not. We shall
see."
At intervals during the afternoon and
on the way home at night Gates unused
over what Miss Deland had said about
loyemaking and imagined different ways
Of doing it.
81 believe she is more than half right"
he concluded as he went up stairs to his
room after supper.
He had bought copy Of The Pacific
Monthly that he might see her story, and
when he had read it be laid aside the mag
azine and fell to thinking Of the writer. !
"Perhaps have not been quite just to
her, he soliloquized. "This little story
shows that there is more to her than
thought There's tender human interest
in it and hint of deep religious feeling.
wish she would try to be little more
feminine
It was two OF three weeks after this, in
the latter part of February, that Gates for
got one night to speak to Miss Deland
about some small but important detail
that had to do with her work the next
day He was not to be at the Office in the
morning, SO could not repair the omission
then At first he thought Of sending her
a note, then decided to call around and
tell her. He had never before been inside
the large apartment house in which she
lived on one Of the upper flats.
'.Come up" she called through the
speaking tube when he had given his
name
So Gates went up He gave a percepti-
BILE start when he had been shown into the
pleasantest OF sitting rooms and confront
ed Miss Deland She seemed different
person, in dress Of soft gray ornament
ed by ribbon bows, film of white lace
about the neck, with pink flower or two
at the throat and her hair done in a way
that did not do violence to natural wavi
ness.
She saw his look of surprise and laughed.
Perhaps ought to be introduced"
she said. sat The Weekly Recorder office
am Miss Deland, reader Of manuscripts
"a mere business woman. Here Lam
myself. I like to keep the two personali-
ties distinctly separate"
i am most happy to meet Miss Deland
herself, y said Gates with smile and a
low bow
Then he was presented to Mrs. De1and,
who looked very like her daughter, only
that she was smaller, more delicate and,
of course, older. Gates felt drawn to her
at once, and they fell into an easy CONVEX
sation, somewhat to his amazement, for
he usually found talking difficult.
Altogether 1t was SO pleasant that near
~ an hour had passed before Gates recol-
lected that he had come on q mere bust
ness errand and took his leave.
1t was summer now. Gates had taken
more work upon himself and always out
staid Miss Deland at the office One day,
however, he planned his work SO they
should leave together.
SIT seems quite like old times, doesn't
itf" she said.
eyes" he answered absently. Then,
abruptly, 3sDo you remember, Miss De-
land, something you said once to Jameson
about proposals and lovemakingf"
He looked straight before him as he
spoke, angry with himself that he could
not keep the restraint out Of his tone nor
the color from coming into his face.
She gave him quick glance and then
looked away 81 remember" she said.
"You were the business woman when
YOU made those remarks. have often
wondered if you yourself held the same
opinion"
"Oh, yes. The business woman and
disagree on some things, but that is not
one Of them"
II don't think you ought to feel that
way" he exclaimed irritably.
t'Why, Of course oughtn't. 1t is a per-
fectly abominable way to feel. But how
can I help it?''
"You do not believe in marriage, thenP"
''Why, certainly do. I think a happy
marriage Is the most beautiful thing IN
this world, and it improves people SO
much. know several who were simply
uncomfortable while single, but after year