Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-05-26

met" he was saying to Miss NARROW;
for instance, the tall young lady with
dark hair and brown eyes, over there
by the cabinet"
"Oh, Mildred Arnold-she is pretty,
isn't she?" replied Miss NARROW, with.
a touch OF condescension in her voice.
Then she led him across the room and
presented him.
That night as Denton walked home,
he thought to himself that he had never
met anyone quite like Mildred Arnold.
There was a distinct personality in the
pose of her head, the wave of her hand,
the bend of her arm; and a certain sub
tie suggestion of herself in things about
her person. Her fan, for instance-he
would have known it among a hun
dred, though he had never seen it be-
fore, and the rose that breathed on
her bosom seemed to take life from
hers. Her voice was clear, full-toned
and low, and her dark eyes reminded
him of deep pools rejecting all the
shade of the moving heavens.
Ten days later Denton called.
81 brought you this" said he, unfold
ing.an American Beauty rose, because
have an idea that it is your favorite
flower"
GLOW very queer. 1t is my favorite,
if, indeed, have any, for l am dearly
fond of all flowers" Then she took the
rose and, thanking him, laid it against
her face. "Two of kind" thought
Denton. After that he used to think Of
her as his american Beauty"
They became very good friends after
a time-this man of society and the
gentle-mannered, booli-loving home
body. Perhaps it was her literary taste
that attracted Denton, for he himself
was an author and at that period was
writing his Thirst of Tantalus," which
afterward threw society into futter
of excitement. Perhaps the spiritual
faculties of the man found fellowship
in the all-pevading presence of the
young woman's deep nature.
When spring came Denton called
the first bright day TO take her walk
ing in the country. They boarded an
electric car and alighted at the further
end of pretty little suburban village.
Before them stretched a smooth,
white road shaded by great, sturdy
trees. On either side of the highway
the wild lilacs were blooming and the
air was filled with the subtle breath Of
spring.
After time they came to bubbling
stream winding through rocky gorge.
81 used to come down here to fish and
dream, when was boy" said Den
ton, taking the path by the side of the
stream. They walked on some distance
until they came to ledge of rock at
the base of towering bowlder, trellised
with budding vines.
What a beautiful spoil" said Mil
dred.
This was one of my favorite
haunts," said Denton. "Many an aft
ernoon I've dreamed away while more
practical people were working and
achieving something's" and then, quick
ly-"but you do not like practical peo-
pie, do your" he added.
That depends" Mildred answered,
looking brightly into his questioning
face. There are practical people and
earthly practical people. These latter
cannot endure"
Denton's face lighted up with pc
culiar interest.
Whom do you call earthly prac-
tical?'" he asked.
Money lovers" Mildred replied, cor
those who seem to have but one object
in hfe-money making. And for this
they subvert all their higher faculties,
misuse their talent and die before their
time"
Then the man who paints picture
or writes book, and in doing so caters
to the public taste for the sake OF
monetary gain, is earthly practical" u
asked Denton, gathering up a handful
of pebbles.
Indeed, yes"
He threw pebble into the water and
sat silent for moment and then
"And such a man would have no place
in your esteem?" he yentured in care,
less tone, as if asking an idle question
NO." said Mildred, pensively, 81
think not"
There was a long pause. The ripping
of the water at their feet and the song
Of bluebird from a tree near by filled
ND the interval Of silence.
G,enl0n arUse. ~A1Jer al, L suppose
you are right" he said with troubled
eountenance; "when come to think
of it, must agree with YOU
"Why, of course you do" Mildred an
swered, arising and looking around her
That night Denton revised part of his
manuscript by discarding some ten OF
fifteen pages and filing up the gap with
newly written matter.
1t was several weeks later that he
dined with the noted publisher, Lint
ing.
ern novel writing" said Limiting, as the
wine was circling, "can be summed VI
in one word-'risque.' Denton wen
home, searched through his waste bas
ket, found the discarded pages apt
again embodied them in his manu-
script.
what will be, will be-" he NUT
tered.
AS soon as the weather grew warm
Denton posted off to the mountains, ant
society looked knowing when it wa
learned that Miss NARROW was also
there. At the clubs in town, the GOSSIP
was that Denton and Miss Marlowwer'
constantly together-now scaling some
mountain peak, now taking long walk
over the picturesque roads. or sittins