The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-21
A GUM-CHEWING HERO.

They were sitting about the FIREPLACE
one cool Sunday evening. That Is what
the five girls called tia fireplace. It
was one OF those tiny affairs in which you
may burn two or three sticks of very fine
wood. 1t was very ornamental and like
wise very useless. and gave out about
as much warmth as the gasoline stove
out in the little box of a room which the
girls called the Kitchen
They were bachelor girls and they ''kept
house together, or played at keeping
house.
They did have pleasant times, too. for
they were all young enough not to have
gotten rid of their illusions. and they had
day-dreams of a time in the misty fu-
ture when they should do great things.
Yet, for the present. despite all their
hard work. they were happy--aRd it Is
happy people that the world needs
Every evening they usually gathered
about the fire If it was chilly, or on the
piazza If the weather was warm, and had
good talk concerning their dreams,
their visions, their great ambitions. or
their Impressions by the way
Somehow the talk got around to shat
tered ideals this evening, and one Of the
girls said: when / see or meet people
for the first time 1 always set about
weaving little romances around them and
endowing them with all the angelic quail
tiles to suit myself. Afterwards, when
come to know them better l often lose my
ideals thus formed. or else. as sometimes
happens forget all about my imaginations
in my admiration Of the real"
Yes" chimed in another girl. "and It's
usually such little thing that makes you
see the clay feet Of your idol, too-at least
l find 1t that way
well. I should say sor' said the girl
who was sitting on the rug, and who had
been wishing that they could afford fire
large enough for them to see pictures In
it. And that reminds me of one Of my
own experiences"
She paused for encouragement. for It
was an unwritten law among the girls
that one of them should infiict a per
sonal experience upon the others without
full consent Of the afflicted.
well. go on" they commanded.
Down town. where I work." she said.
there is man who holds quite an i'm
portant position in the world mean. of
course. that part of the world with which
I come in contact. He is not old. and per
haps not handsome but he is. what Is
better. very distinguished looking only
girl knows just exactly what is meant
by that. Even in a business way 1
am scarcely acquainted with him, but
that fact did not deter me from setting
him up on a high pedestal in my mind. I
made up an interesting story to fit him.
demi-god and hero. When he spoke to
me, il he said anything beyond an ordi-
nary greeting, l was seized with dire con-
fusion at the honor which was heaped
upon me, and then I would hope that he
would not talk to me at all-if you can
understand that upside-down sort OF
statement. But one day this very mod
ern god of mine came down to earth, and
you could never guess the means that
brought him htther. 1 passed through
his office on this eventful day and he
sat at his desk. He gave me a careless
nod, which I returned, and then dropped
my eyes. and then-oh. girls. what think
you 1 beheld? A package Of gum. Yes.
three or four sticks of ordinary chewing
gum. And since that time my her is but
human, and he fails to fit the story 1
have made for him"
There! l just thought of it," said the
stenographer, springing to her feet. Il
bought some gum for US girls last night.
and forgot it. It's in my jacket pocket and
there's piece for each of US"
They had been friends for some tirne.
and she enjoyed his calls as much as ne
did. which is saying much fog their mu-
tual enjoyment.
| The day after she got her pretty new
| suit she invented an excuse for wanting
| to see him. and wrote him a dainty little
| Then she spent three hours in the after
noon getting ready, and came down to
| dinner a vision of loveliness fully con-
sciOuS of the exquisite waves in her hair
| and the excellent fit of her gown. Her
| younger brothers and sisters would per
| sist In their efforts to monopolize her
| but at last she CoaXed them. with the
promise of candy, to leave her to herself
Yes; it was almost time for him to
come. She sat and watched the clock and
then listened; there were Sc many foot
| steps on the pavement, but she was sure
she knew his walk. Now, he was coming
! She sat in an assumed attitude of easy
! expectancy: but the footsteps went b..
She went to the mirror and changed tho
position of her lace-pin. She picked up a
book and tried to read. He was never SO
| late before. Every moment she became
more impatient and indignant. How
strange it was After all. perhaps he
didn't care 10 come! Fer face flushed
hotly, and soon two big tears rolled
down upon the lovely gown. She went
to her room. and cried half hour and
Their got up and stared at herself de
family in the glass. How silly she had
become. What did she care whether he
came OF not. So. it was all over now.
they could never be friends again. for
she would not forgive him. The tears
started afresh. She opened drawer 10
get out another handkerchief and there
was the little note which she had forgot
ten to post; and the tragedy in her life