The Princeton union., 1900-01-25
CHAPTER XIX -COntinued.

When ! think Of this incessant, sullen
contest, with no quarter given or taken,
shudder and pray that may die be-
fore | am at the mercy of the piti1ess
world. When came to London I saw
for the first time in my life that hope
less melancholy promenade of the
sandwich men, human wreckage drift
ing along the edge of the street, as
il they had been cast up there by the
rushing tide sweeping past them.
They-they seemed to me like tot.
tering procession of the dead-and on
their backs was the announcement of
play that was making all London
roar with laughter-the awful comedy
and tragedy of it! Well, l simply
couldn't stand it! had to run up IL
side street and cry like the little fool
was. right in broad daylight"
Jennie paused and tried to laugh, but
the effort ended in sound suspiciously
like sob, and she dashed her hand,
with quick impatience, across her
eyes, from which Wentworth had never
taken his own, watching them dim as
the light from the window proved too
strong for them, and finally fill as she
ceased to speak. Searching Intellectual
ly about her dress for handkerchief,
which lay on the table beside her para
sol, unnoticed by either, Jennie went
on, with some difficulty:
We'll, these poor, forlorn creatures
were once men-men who had gone
down, and if the world is so hard on
a man, with all his strength and re-
sourcefulness, think-think what it is
for a woman to be thrown into this
inhuman human tur1noil-a woman
without friends - without money
flung among these relentless wolves--
to live if she can-or-to die-if she
cam
The girls voice broke and she buried
her face in her arms, which rested on
the table.
Wentworth sprang to his feet and
came round to where she sat.
Jennie he said, putting his hand
on her shoulder.
The girl, without looking up, shook
off the hand that touched her.
"Go back to your place!" she cried,
in a smothered voice. "Ieave me
alone!"
Jennie" persisted Wentworth.
The young woman rose from her
chair and faced him, stepping back
pace. >:.,% = 41I>@E
Don't you hear what say? Go
talk business; not to make a fool of
myself. It's all your fault, and I hate
you for it-you and your silly ques-
tions."
But the young man stood where he
was, in spite of the dangerous sparkle
that lit up his visitors wet eyes. A
frown gathered on his brow.
"Jennie," he said, slowly, "are YOU
playing with me again?"
The swift anger that blazed up in her
face, reddening her cheeks, dried the
tears.
''How dare you say such a. thing to
me?' she cried, hotly. do you fatter
yourself that because l came here to
talk business, have also some personal
interest in you: Surely even your self
conceit doesn' t run so far as that!"
u
Brewster picked up her parasol, scat
tering, in her haste, the other articles
on the floor. If she expected Went
worth to put them on the table again
she was disappointed, for, although
his eyes were upon her, his thoughts
were far away upon the Atlantic ocean.
Il shall not stay here to be insulted,''
she cried, rcsentfully, bringing Went
worth's thoughts back with a rush to
London again. 1T is intolerable that
you should use such an expression to
me. Playing with you, indeed!"
u had no intention of insulting YOU.
Miss Brewster"
What is it but an insult to use such
phrase? It implies that l either
care for you Or
And do you?"
do ! what?"
do you care for me?"
Jennie shook out the lace fringes of
her parasol and smoothed them with
some precision. Her eyes were bent
on what she was doing, and consequent
ly they did not meet those of her ques-
toner.
Il care for you as a friend, of course, -
she said, at last, still giving much at
tention to the parasol. IF l had not
looked on you as a friend I would not
have come here to consult with YOU.
would l?' T..
mo. 1 suppose not. Well. l am sorry
used the words that displeased you,
and now, if you will permit it, we will
60 on with the consult ation."
1T wasn't a pretty thing to say"
I'm afraid I'm not good at saying
pretty things"
"You used to be-" The parasol be-
ing arranged to her liking she glanced
up at him. "Still you said you were
sorry, and that's all man can say-or q
woman either, for that's what I said
myself when i came in. Now, if you
will pick up those things from the
hoor-thanks-we will talk about the
mine." s
Wentworth seated himself in his
chair again and said:
well, what is it you wish to know
about the mine?"