The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-26
Veronica MILL,

GuenuV sets a variance between. Iilt Ndiiie
and the nature-which turns the Lily into
b full-blown Rose; DEGREES that Tiny shall
be five feet ten. and makes Charity vix-
en-little Veronica had always woefully
fallen short Of the august appellation
originally bestowed upon her by her faith
er. the chief solicitor in Barnopolis. In
the fUliness Of his ambitions he had christ
ene5 Eer Minerva: hut. in spite Of his
refusal TO allow it to be abbreviated
into the more honely MINI spite of
her own desire to be fIial and obedient.
Minerva she never became. Nothing she
could do herself, no amount of bad tenn
per on her fathers part, could ever rank
her among the meanest Of pagan god
desses. \ total incapacity for 1ryt ling
more than the easiest arithmetic formed
a bar to her graduating in white muslin
among her schoolmates. For very shame,
whatever capacity she had for IT was
made the most of and encouraged. So 1t
cane to pass that, sent to study in Eu-
rope. she met Edmund in Paris and was
rechristened. The first time he saw her
eyes, which were as blue and swectly shy
as the tiny blue flower in the hedges, he
constituted himself with aIacrity at once
her godfather and her lover: and SO her
new name was written IN the book of her
new life. When Mr.. Siias P. Riggs, OF
Barnopolis, her fathers partner, visited the
gay city on the one jaunt of a lifetime, it
made Edmund almost angry to hear her
marked among the heather dei.ies. But
1t was felt that the worthy old gentleman
made ample amends by the generous price
he paid for a set of river e mes; his
order for an oil painting Of tie E.ffel Tow
er by roonrise, and for a carefully meas
ured drawing of the sarcophagus in Ma
poieon's tomb, a facsimile Of which he de
sired to place in the handsome mausoleum
he had just caused to be built for himself
at home On the day OF his departure they
were delightfully."- rich-thsy had never had
SO much 10 spend since they had been mar
ried.
On the morning after. Veronica bound
her stout serge skirt with braid and al
lowed her thoughts the freedom OF these
delightful possibilities which lay magical
ly hidden in the piece Of crisp white pa
pr Edmund had gone out TO change. AS
she sewed. the garcon knocked at the door
and began to tidy the room in his usual
rapid and masterful fashion-turnirg the
bed with one throw CT his strong arms
as though il were q puny enemy TO be
overthrow, chasing the dust from the
carpet and the remotest corner of the red
painted tiles, and setting straight small
things with huge hands and sort of swift,
contemptuous gentleness. When he went
away leaving Veronica in sole possession
of one of those jolies cham5res. tres ciaires,
tres conior tables, described on the carte
Of this little hotel, he had the
satisfaction Of meetingMsusieur halfway
hfc IN ba
went rather more slowly than his wont;
not. as usual. by two steps at time on the
beeswGxed stairs. But then it was very
hot morning
In changing his check Edmund had con-
temned paper money, and he poured quite
a rain OF gold napoleons into Veronica's
lap. Letting them fall through her fingers
she looked up with happy smiles.
Edmund. do you know what this money
means
Il guess it means cutie a number Of
things we've wanted ard could not afford,
and that we shan't be hard I'D for long
time. even at the end CT the quarter"
''Oh. it means a great deal more than
that. Edmund. It's magic gold. I'm going
to buy a dream with IL
You shall buy a dream Of q hat-some-
thing white. with blue veronica in it"
'Ah. but it's a much bigger dream than a
hat. / don't want the hat-at least not d.
rectly; l want an old MILL"
Edmund put out his hand to clutch the
gold. Il must draw the line at your buy
ing a mill. Veronica. A mill would be TOO
much OF a white elephant"
Veronica held the money tightly in her
hands. Lets be serious. Edmund. You
remember the old mill at Carrieres told
you about:''
"A place you stayed in before you ex-
isted-before knew you. mean?-yes."
Il stayed there with Oscara-it was six
months before / met you. And there
made up my mind that if ever l did m ct
you-you was such a vague, nebuious sort
of thing in those days-oa the first oppor-
tunity / would take YOU to the old mill.
Now you see the sort OF dream I'm going
to buy
Edmund's hand caressed the fingers that
played among the gold in her lap. Wen
buy a castiron money box. Veronica, AID
put some Of it away for that sDscial pdr-
pose"
oh no: there won't be any need Of that;
don't you see. Well buy the dream at once
today"
Now Veronica, that's impractical. You
know | can't afford a holiday from my
work just at present"
Your work. II were not one of the
very wisest OF women. how l should hate
your work. It's June. Edmund. We're
how dusty and hot it is on the Boulevard.
Now shut your eyes and imagine the great
big shady trees and cool silver river"
u can't" said Edmund. Il can oaly
see Colarossis. and the other fellows. and
the model. must work"
And you shall work. Don't you see, sou
shall make lovely river sketches. and I'll
entice another old gentleman from Barn
opolis TO buy them. And then you'll be
able to work so much harder when you
come back"
Edmund sighed for the school and the
half hour poses just begun in the after
noon5.
oh. veronica-you're woman. very
woman"
And you-poor old St. Anthony-you're
nearly tempted. aren't your
You're so set on it. l suppose l shall
have no peace"
"All your peace In smashed In pieces,
unless you will do what / want you TO
de-
Very well. then; tomorrow-"
NO; it must be today-today-
But l thought you were going to buy
yourself a hat and things"
"Oh, you can wait. Even your old shoes
will last out till We come back"
But | bought new ones this morning"
you bought them without me-"
Complete visual evidence of an IN
worted temerity on Edmu nd's part WIS
lupplied by the spectacle OF the perfectly
shod foot which he placed upon chair.
i had to go and see Duverney-so
thought il wise to be respectable
YIN glad OF it Veronica beamed on
him with benignant satisfaction. Every
thing was TO ner mind completely settled
They would lunch at the Crsmerie opposite
and start as soon as they had finished.
Edmund resigned himself with a sigh,
nrd hcr.nn 70 senrch ft,r the skafchinR MA