The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-07-25
could not bear to think Of poor old Mar

could not bear to think Of poor old Mar !,
tin getting into trouble.
At last, not being able to rid myself
Of this uneasiness by the obvious con-
sideration that it was none Of my bust
ness, sat down and wrote succinct
statement of my conversation with Zig
gems and of my fears to Bentley, con-
Guiding with piece Of gratuitous adj
vice to the effect that he had better find
some way Of adapting his system to the
exigencies of the boss temper or
abandon it for some less noticeable and
generally irritating method Of attack.
The next day he made a short call
upon ME.
His red hair was as aggressively up
right as ever, his clothes as new, his
silk hat as shiny, but still there was a
dropping sadness about the whole figure
Of the man that these characteristic
and contrasting details only empha-
sized.
He brought his hat into my little
drawing room and deposited it with
absentminded automatic caution well
under one corner Of the sofa on which
he sat.
He could hardly force himself from
the contemplation of his own woes long
enough to ask me mechanically:
CLOVIS your game foot Pr Bent
ley had his own ideas Of the pro-
prieties-and he did not even affect to
listen to my reply. '.Bet I'm dished,
he said. with tragic note in his voice.
After pause he went on, "I've got to
cut loose from the system, and without
that amt got no self confidence-I
amt got no self confidence, !" he repeat
ed, with distracted solemnity.
I looked up to catch the conscious
twinkle that involuntarily expected
after this unprecedented statement. but
it was not forthcoming. In the stress
of this hour Bentley felt that lie had
come upon disheartening lack in his
nature. "The system amt feazed her
not nickels worth. She's just where
she was six weeks ago"
"Maybe not, I" ventured.
cav, yes. she is. She amt second
Sarah Ber1ihardtl'' A moment g silence
and then he went gloomily on 'sI've
out with it to old Martin, and now I'm
going to out with it to her, sink or
swim. swore old Martin to secrecy,
and / guess he's been all right there.
He seemed too ashamed to be likely to
talk about L.
Ibid he, did he really ?'' exclaim-
cd. laughing with the pleasure of com
ing on this phase of Martin and forget
full for the moment of my sympathy
with Bentley. "Tell me about it. I"
Bentley gave me look in which
vague reproach and vague sympathy
mingled. He, too, in his way, had an
artistic enjoyment of life, and before he
realized that he was descending from
the pedestal where he and sorrow sat
he found himself telling how Martin
was not up to the ancient honorable
methods, and felt as shy as if some one
were processing marriage to himself
eat last, said Bentley, 'sshe piped his
eye and said he had large family, but
he never could bear to have Linnie-
that s it's little name-think he wanted
to get rid of her. He seemed to think,
| If was doing the ancient honorable SO
far, I'd be sure to go the whole animal
and want my bride whether she wanted
me or not. told him wasn't ancient
and honorable to that extent drew
the line at the girl. I'd court her, if he
pleased, entirely for myself, and she
and lwould settle things between us.
was only showing him my hand. not
asking any help in the game was
<y1o DO r., ~.
thing it showed-well, for several rea-
sons. though she couldn't ever have
been spoiled and made like some, any
how. Much good it all is to me-" he
went on dejectedly, when she dissem-
bles her love and kicks me down stairs. .
He looked far out of the window and
over the chimney tops.
He had passed the light hearted stage
in which he liked to characterize the
girl he loved in the names he gave her,
and in his depression was taking refuge
with all mankind in thesignifcant pro-
noun.
was moved to apologize for having
added to his perplexities. Hewaved me
aside. "Oh, cracky, don t want to lose
old Martin his place, and bet you're
right about it. That old''-Bentley
paused and drew two long dashes in the
air-.he's capable of anything; be-
sides, his voice sinking to graver
note. "I'd bout made up my mind to
take the jump anyhow. It's just as
we'll The systems broken down.
never thought she caved in hair.
breadth but once, and 1 guess was
wrong then. Anyhow. she never did it
again, and one swallow don't make
summer. Goodby. might as we'll go. .
He began to look for his hat in pre-
occupied way. l got it from under the
sofa for him, and he left.
Two days later received this tele-
gram:
The country saved 8 BENTLEY.
This was followed by note asking
me to let him bring his ''girl' up to
see me- l doubted whether Linnie Mar.
tin cared as much to come as he cared
| To have her hut hnr father ond hod