Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-11-23

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are hcmmed in by the small things, the
old surroundings here in Windhury. l
want you TO make Il career, and You pre-
fer to let everything 80 on rs il is.
Not l." he rcjoined. What l want
is-our marriage Don't let us wait,
Leila"
well at least few minutes" she
laughed. Then she became serious
again.
Dick, how are YOU going to make the
new career in Windbury?"
rs there anything in my old. career"
he demanded hluntly, growing irritatcd,
ito he ashamed off,
"Ot course not" she answered quick
ly, but she spoke with Il certain re
luctancc, which was caused by her fear
that he would not accept her ideas. This
! tone of reluctance he misunderstood, and
it Increased his annoyance.
He fired up into Il mood of unreasona-
bic cNaggeration in replying, vaguely
| aware that he was cXaggcratng, yet de-
tcrmined to crafty his tempcr's whim
| and blind, therefore, to the actual harsh
ness of his words "Oh, them" he said,
Il am to understand, am |, that YOU may
be Jealous of another girl sometimes, yet
| are not jealous, and that you are not
ashamed of my career so far, vet want
me to feel that somehow | ought to be
ashamed Of itg'
He left his chair and began stridng
about the room uncaSily.
"Dick Malvern, don't be absurd Leila
cried, with more of challenge than OF
| counsel. She did not resent his rude
speech so decidedly as she would have
- I. :, l.N
sides. the main thing now was to gain
her point rs to his career. To this point
she advanced with an unfortunate be-
ginning, Remember, you are going to
change you: position greatly when we
marry
Her father was rich, and Malvern,
though full Of energy, ability and prom
| Use, still held only the post of assistant
superintendent in Grcy's mills. What
she had just said. therefore, seemed to
him an allusion to this fact and hint
| that his marriage with her was to be
sort of social promotion, though she had
not the least idea of implying anything
of the sort.
And so his piQue went on increasing.
ooh" he exclaimed, I'm absurd, y~l
| think! Well, hasn't man as well rs n
woman the right to be absurd now and
| then? And | am going to charge my
position greatly" l suppose | have a
| right to do that. too-whcn it's by your
| consent! You needn't taunt me, though,
with exercising that right.
/ "A rght?" rctortcd Leila with flash,
! and the gold circlct glttercd, trembling,
as though it shared her anger. "A right
and over me and with my consent|' She
| laughed dchautiY, her checks glowing,
although tears were yelling to her eyes.
Every we'll, sir. Oh YOU are terrible.
! | say very we'll. II YOU are going to
| fling my consent back ut me that way, II
is quito easy to relieve myself and you by
withdrawing ii altogcthrr.'
"LciIa.' Dick Malvern looked fright
cncd now and his breath seemed TO
come short rs he started toward her.
"You won't do that! You won't, What
are you talking about, Leila What are
! You thinking
"Iust this" she said, becoming matter
of fact and nj the same time pleading:
you should i'll some way change your
old relations with other people II YOU are
to marry and to build n great life of your
own. | don't know quite how to eN-
plain it, and you mustn't think I'm cold
or heartlcss about them. Not at all.
But in n town like ours, you know, the
old associations with people who are all
right in themselves, whom we all have
to know and want to be kind towel.
they don't understand you. They do not
realize your capabilities and how you
need n sphere different from theirs and
must make one. don't want you to
drop them exactly or be cold. Oh how
.
with them now, keeping up the old boy
and girl affections and the rest of it, why,
by and by, when they see you expand
ing, growing and unable to be just the
same with them, they will think your
friendiness was all prctense. Don't you
see? And you'll never be able to make
your own place"
As to this Malvern had his own con
ception, and it was a point Of pride with
him to make his greater career in the
very spot where he had made his small
beginnings. to do this also tremendously
and keep all the old relations intact. But
instead of explaining his view calmly
curious fatality OF human nature-he
grew nngrier and expressed only his an
ger and his vanity. although just then he
though that he was defending not his
vanity, but his dignity.
Not able to make my place. he said,
with sarcasm. Il fancy | have made it
already and that wherever | am or what
ever do ! nm able TO keep IT,"
mo, no." persisted Leila. You should
go to another city-to New York. best Of
all-and carve out career great enough
for us and your abilities; go into large
business, be u public man, statesman
everything"
80 that's what you WANT he said
moodily. But your father-woud he
agree
The storm seemed TO be blowing over.
but at Lcila's next words 1t closed In
and settled down darkly upon them. lit
tie though she meant il to do SO. MY
father she answered 1T isn't he who
is going to live our lives. This Is a
question for u.s.
"You mean" he interrupted, "for you,
since | am allowed no voice. You wish
me TO 20, TO shake Of Windbury and the
past. all the past. to start for myself
be ended with emphasis on the last
word. We'll, then, ! viii do as you