The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-06-15
ADAM STARK

II had been an affection of rapid
growth. They met at the home of a
mutual friend, and one glance started
fiammable and dangerous Of maga-
sines, the heart OF youth.
George Crenston knew 1t was pre-
sumptuous folly for him to lift his
eyes to Helen Stark, and yet when
they were lifted he did not veil them.
They met again little later, this
time in the park, where she was walk
ing. She had not forgotten him. In
fact, her glance was so friendly that
George instinctively shortened his
steps and walked a little way by her
side. Oh, the delicious daring of 1t!
Oh, that evertobe-forgotten stroll!
Small matter what they said. George
could not have told half-hour later
He only knew that it was stolen
sweet, and that earth was a paradise
and Helen an angel.
And Adam Stark?
At that name earth became a lost
paradise, and George a hopeless out
cast beyond it's gates.
Nevertheless, the course of true
love ran without serious interruption
for fully six months. George saw
Helen at intervals, some short, some
painfully long, and several times he
called upon her at her home They
were decorous calls, from which he
retired at an early hour, feeling that
the grandeur of the great reception
room i'll accorded with his idea of a
cozy and tender tete-a-tete And then
one evening he suddenly told her Of
his love, and stood amazed at his own
boldness as she paused with down
cast eyes before him in the little cur
tanned vestibule, where, hat in hand,
he waited for her answer. But when
her eyes were raised he read the
answer in their gentle depths, and
the stars sang to him. and the night
wind crooned to him, and he walked
home on billows of air.
And Adam Stark?
'You must ask father very soon,
George" Helen had said. 81 can't
look him in the face with a clear con-
science until he knows"
And Georges heart sank to the
region of his trim patent feathers.
81 will ask him right away" he
murmured.
She saw his troubled look and put
her hand little timidly on his arm.
Father isn't nearly as hard as
some people imagine" she said. "He
is very, very good and kind to me-"
(Which I'm afraid offers no par
ticular encouragement for me-" said
George, little disconsolately. do
you know of some sesame, dear, that
will touch his adamantine hearth"
"Tell him that-that I love you,
dear George" Helen slowly answer.
ed.
George left the bank at 8 o'clock
the next afternoon and walked brisk.
ly to the skyscraping beehive that in
cluded in its teeming midst the Of
fees Of the great capitalist George
had put his teeth together hard and
told himself not to be coward, and
yet he mentally asked several times IL
he meant to funk and show the white
feather But he passed steadily for.
ward and presented his card in the
outer Office. The attendant who took
it looked at him little superciliously,
but came back with the information
that Mr. Stark would see him pres
emily. He seated himself on one Of
the row of chairs against the wall and
waited-which was even harder work
than he anticipated, even though it
brought brief respite. And then, a
little later, he found himself in the
presence Of Helen's father.
The famous manipulation of mil
Dnnc did mot lnnlF urha hn
and he waited hat in hand until his
presence should be noticed. Present
ly the cold gray eyes Of the old man
turned towards him. Then they fell
upon the card between his long white
fingers.
'Well, young man." he said in
sharp, incisive tones, what can do
for your"
George came forward promptly and
stood beside the desk.
IT must beg to trespass upon your
time for several minutes, SIR" he said
in steady voice, "and trust that our
interview may not be interrupted un.
til you have heard me out"
The old man gave him a sharp,
steely glance.
What you have to say concerns
business of Importance then?"
ut does"
"Of Importance to you?"
ITO both of u.s.
Again the old man stared at him.
Then he touched a bell and an at.
tendant entered
Henry" said the capitalist, "see
that nobody interrupts us for ten
v,nfp 81 o..1 4
the pile Of papers before him impa-
tiently.
"Mr. Stark" George began with a
little quiver in his voice; "I crave
your kindest consideration. am
about to ask of you a very great
favor" His throat was dry, and his
voice sounded quite unnatural to his
sensitive ears.
''Is this the business that concerns
US both?" inquired the old man. dryly,
Eyes, SIR" said George, stoutly; "it
concerns us both very, very dearly"
His face flushed and his voice grew
stronger. "Mr. Shark. have come to
ask you to give me your daughter"
The old gentleman's eyes were on the
card that he still held in his long
fingers. He slowly doubled and crush.
ed 1t. When he spoke his voice was
low and harsh.
"How long has this been going
on?" he asked.
'T have knew Helen" replied
George, "for some six months, but |
did not know that she loved me until
last night"
"You are quite sure she-she loves
you?"
Quite sure. sir. She told me to
tell you So"
The old man looked nm There was