Richmond daily palladium., 1900-10-04
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q OF ACTION .
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Landor was at his desk. which was
near the open window. The window
looked down on the ponderous, over
whelmlng traffic of South Water street
The grinding of huge wheels the crash
ing of machinery, the clatter of hoof
beats, the rattle of harness, the jarring
of merchandise. the hoarse voices of
porters and drivers all rose in one
mighty, mingled roar Il veritable bel
low Of commercial prosperity.
Landor did not notice the turmoil.
He had become accustomed to it many
months ago. He was absorbed. but
not in his work The minute hand had
crawled quite around the dial of the
big clock in the corner since he had
formed a figure on the ledger lying
open before him. But he had been
writing His gaze dropped to the page
upon his desk. As he scanned the
verse he had written his eyes took on
the mingled dreaminess and sparkle
one sees only in the orbs of poet.
He drew from his desk n little glove
pearl colored and perfumed. There
vas inspiration in the sight the scent.
hc touch. Of il. He laid ii gently back.
e.@ed Ei:' pen and began on another
st&rTa
y hro"n l.und reached over his shoul
.pr. y "uup!e of letters fell on tht
pen led'-Cr One-the one in the firm
.!:u"3tvtp.iSfic feminine hand he had
come To &noW-he tore open with fin
gers tl.at were clumsy through haste
Two. four. closely written pages! Her
notes to him heretofore had been of nj
most telegraphic brevity. He plunged
into the first page-had all but read il
through. indeed. before he paused
then jerked back his head as though he
had received n shock.
The letter had not been intended for
him.
But 1t was for him. There was his
name-his name in the writing of the
woman he loved-to whom he had not
dared to speak unless in sweet, wild
verses which she never beheId- He
had read 50 far unwittingly. He must
now read the rest After what he had
ignorantly learned he must now learn
more. 1t meant life and all that lif-{
held for him-the words which We're
traced on the next page-Iffe and love
or bitter and enduring disappointment:
Nv Dear Friend-when you asked me lately if
Landor Aldrich should do me the honor to ask me
TO be his wife-would marry him-I gave you No
reply ! viii te" you fear your opinion
should it be lightly formed l dread lest you
think guilty OF a vulgar caprice. ] viii be
quite frank. think he does care for me, and L
There the page ended.
The dreaminess was gone from his
eyes now. There was red light in
Ia int m
until the fierce pressure panied.
He turned the page. He read on:
well. I've never worn my heart on my sleeve.
Eloise. | can't do il But YOU may draw
from my silence what inference you will.
Mr. Aldrich," He looked up. He
was trembling like a leaf About that
special shipment to the Philippines,
sir
'Yes-no, | don't know. Ask the
elevator boy he muttered. not com
pretending. and again bent over the
fateful page The man shrugged his
shoulders and walked away. Landor
read on:
You spoke Of his charming personality. his
rare gifts Of mind and spirit. Who should appre
ciate these more than l. who have known him 80
well? That one OF such social standing. appear
ance and hereditary wealth should have singled
me from among many girls who admire him
has fattered indeed; but, should he say the
words every woman wants to hear once from one
man, i must answer. No.
There was muffled cry. The letter
was crumpled in fierce fingers. Then
he lifted his bowed head. smoothed
out the page and read on:
This my friend, is why. He is not proving
himself He is idler, dreamer. With every
avenue OF stretching broad and fair before
he is TO rls1rf
" nominal position in his fathers Office He
leads the cotilon we'll: better In all mat
tiers of dilettanteism his taste is cultured and
fine, and he writes the musical one
may imagine. One must admire well as sloye
the u1arries- How admire the
individual who saunters through life through
charity fair? His degrees entitle him to uni
yersity professoTship. His fathers various inter
ests in many places call for his personal super
vision. There Is much 10 do before he may
confidently ask woman 70 give to him herself
life. body and souI-but / wish. oh, how wish
There the letter ended
Aldrich put the letter in his pocket.
He CROPPED for his hat and gloves and
coat and went out into the fresh spring
afternoon. Then he remembered the IN
finished poem. He returned, making
it. with the glove and other little treas
ures, into q packet, which he put in his
breast pocket HAN an uUuE Idttf nc
stood in the luxuriously appointed
loom of a great city bank. \ meeting
OF the directors had just ended His
father was leaving.
What's up. Landor? You look
queer"
I'm all right sir. / want word
with you. though, Now will do as well
as any time. Whom were you thinking
of sending down TO establish that
branch of our house at Manila:'
Il did think OF Peterson, but I'm
afraid he has signed with the other
people
''Will you trust me TO 90, father:
You The elder mans hagsard
face lighted up. then fell You're not
capable OF the task. my boy. Its j
tremendous one"
Landor smiled with pale lips, but the
smile was winning ~You should have
more confidence in nay fathers son,
be protested gently.
The words waraDed the old mans
heart like wine. His EYES hlinked up
ut his boy by Gearss. he cried Il
believe you've got il Ia yoa, I've had
doubts of YOU Let that pass You
shau 60 with fuu and absolute author