The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-09


then provincial state he supposed to be the most
beautiful young creature In the world. 1t was upo,
one OF the tall hills that tower around his native vii
age that he had asked this lovely vision to bless his
future. and it was here standing beneath tall old
oak that she sped the words that were to blight his
life Then he went away into the wide world to
make his fortune and forget her. But there was
picture of his that exhibited at both the ROYAL
Academy and the Grosvenor gallery and attracted
great attention 1t the portrait of very beau
tlful girl in white. standing under great oak with
the blue hills back Of her. And it always remained
his masterpiece
He returned to find that the little town had grown
to be great city. with tall buildings and nayed
streets and electric street cars His friends were
greatly rejoiced to have him back for ne was sucn
Jolly good fellow and rich and famous For
days now he had been breathlessly busy paving calls
ana attending pink teas and theaters and dancing
parues' ana 1t was commencing to pail upon MIN
1t was quite much trouble to attend one of these
TO him, rather insignificant affairs as it was Lord
FFonsts DALI But Mr.. Archer told himself that IL
was very kind in his friends. who really did not
know what nonentities they We're to pay him so
much attention However, it was becoming very
annoying. In regard to this he could not deceive
himself
lie thought, as he lolled in big leather chair In
h's fathers library which he had appropriated since
his return that he would like to see again the girl
VIM Ieluseu MIN twenty years ago. Not that
there was anything romantic about Walton
Archer but it in degree through this girl ,bar
ne was the Walton Archer that the papers and maya.
zines talked about, instead Of poor LAWYER or
merchant In town of 10000 inhabitants He re-
membered her name, Mabel Gravetye and just how
6ne used to look, and he wondered if she was still
pretty or had changed her name
The view from his window was very fine He
had always said that If he ever returned home Il
who
utuL de used to look out of the window of his New
1orW or London rooms every year when the lea veg
were railing and tell himself that some day he would
return home and see them dance In the wind under
MS Iathers library window where he used to sit and
"alch them when he was boy, and planned great
tnlngs Tor his future when he should have married
Mabel Since that time he had gone out into tina
world and faced the stern realities Of life and staraa
them down. And he had learned that greatness Is
only shallow mockery and that broken heart ia
easily mended. and that the sweetest thing in life
70 slt ana watch the leaves in their coats of red
and brown and gold dance their frantic dance 10
death to the wild pace set by the fall winds
Yes he soliloquzed, 81 should like very much to
see her again. should like to look into the ewes Of
this girl whom once loved and who is responsible
1Or me as l am today, and who do not love now the
least little bit in the world She put me tbroueb
enough agony once, bless her! But 1 think 1 could
meet her. and shake hands with her and talk with
her now without even heart throb"
MI Archer and his friend Mr.. Henry were seated
III one OF DobsonYilles new electric street cars
A great invention" shouted Mr. Henry IN Mo
friends ear
Mr. Archer nodded assent
And excellent service" observed Mr. Henry
But Archer was momentarily studying q won1an
seated opposite him. There was nothing attractive
ABOUT TINS woman but there was something about
hef that he somehow seemed to find familiar size
was the KIND OF woman that goes to pieces quickly
as the phrase Is and who when thew once start
never seem to stop. She may have been very
pretty girl twenty years ago: she was daoid3,
unpleasant woman to look upon now in her mid1,o
"se' Inc going to pieces process is nearly aIU,avu
solnethlng Ike this: First she commences to lose
nei teeth winch mad cost a great deal of work and
trouble ana expense, and which had been very I'm.
and even and pearl-like once; then her hair ,b,o,
had probably been Of very beautiful texture but
never abundant grows thinner and thinner; then her
inquire which might once have been called "good~ had
pecome very coarse. Naturally her disposition sur
Iefeo and with it her whole appearance Such wa.
the woman Mr.. Archer looked upon this cheerful
afternoon
"hen MI Archer and his friend had left the chr
and lighted their cigars and were strollng down ta
beautiful avenue of tall naples he remembered tbat
MI. Henry had spoken to the woman opposite INN
as they were leaving the car
L say Henry, who that woman you smoke
TO as we were getting out?" he asked
why Walter" said Mr.. Henry, don't you know
who that is? That is Mabel Gravetye that was Mrs
King now"
The devil she is" exclaimed Archer, Standing
still in the road.
of course" returned Mr.. Henry. "By the way
want to show you a lot 1 bought last spring 7
only paid $500 for it and yesterday man offered
me $1,000; but 1 wouldn't SELL"
And Mr.. Henry ratified on
walton Archer suddenly felt as though some
thlng very unpleasant had happened. He did not
hear his friend talking. He didn't like the asnect
Of things.
i have been in this blamed little hole long
enough he sohloquized, and I'm going to get out
OF It, "Lifes young dream is DER. and I'd ike TO
Know what I'm staying here for anyway"
They came to the lot at last
You don't seem much interested" said Mr.
Henry.
And as they turned to go away Mr. Archer NUT
tered under his breath: