The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-21


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he thought with a pang. Il must refuse
her-I must cause her disappointment"
The only way. I tried to reason with
her; Aunt Patty coaxed her-all to no
effect. She is bent on going
Two or three days after this visit OF
Howard's Miss Idlewild went down town
to see Matthew in his office a the bank
ION business" as she said demurely.
Matthew felt like an ogre in the task
before him. and what made it harder to
bear he knew that she never dreamed
he would refuse her, so accustomed was
she to his indulging her every whim
Give the poor cripple a dime" she be-
gan in her absurd way.
Certainly" said Matthew with grave
politeness, and ne took a bright new dime
out of little roll of coins fresh from the
mint and handed it TO her. So she looked
a little disconnected and abandoned this
method of attack.
Matthew, l am bankrupt, insolvent.
forced to make an assignment" she said,
IN a plaintive, spoiled-child tone. Il want
very special purpose. May l have it?"
"A lot?' repeated Matthew.
Yes, that Is, at least, hundred"
Matthew looked grave. What is the
special purpose?' he inquired, fervently
hoping she would tell him all about the
proposed theater party.
That's a secret said Miss Idlewild,
with an air of mystery.
Il cannot let you nave any money Just
now, Eve he said gently, after a pause,
, and as he spoke he carefully avoided her
eye and stared with rapt absorption at
the carpet.
But. Matthew, 1 haven't any money"
she said piteously, half laughing, half en-
barrassed, and Howard is so mean he
wi
on the curbstone and sell needles if no.
body will take pity on he
/ You have overdrawn your account sew
eral months deep" said Matthew, still
studying the carpet. 1T is wrong for me
to allow you to do this"
But now when l want ii so badly. 1t
is cruel to refuse me now. I will econo-
mize after this, Matthew. L will indeed"
Poor Matthew found it terribly hard not
| to WELD to her. but Towards words fast
set" required to him, and he steeled him
self against her pretty beseeching.
! Matthew, please she said after a
pause, with just a little tremble in her
| voice and an expression on her face which
/ should have melted an iceberg
But Matthew was looking at the carpet.
Perhaps that was why he had strength
! to say mo" again and in such way that
Miss Idewild knew that all her pretty
pleading was wasted.
/ Then. of course. she blaZed up into an
! ger her eyes flashing and cheeks hot with
indignant feeling.
COT course you can do as you choose
about it," she said, which was a rather
superhuous remark under the circum-
stances.
II mean il only for the best, Eve" he
sa,d sadly. "This unwise project'-but
here he stopped rather Mortified at him
self for having nearly betrayed Howard.
,eTbat is nv affair" she interrupted
with terrible dignity. Besides, you know
nothing of the project whether it Is I'M
wise or not. 1t is the money you refuse
me-"
Matthew shivered and looked at the car
pet very hard indeed.
"Hereafter" continued Miss Idlewild,
. with a grand air. Il will manage my own
money matters. Then | will know Just
how much | have and spend 1t as l
please without begging for IT, am or age
and l will not endure such treatment any
longer
All this she said in anger never dream
ing that long-sunering Matthew would
take her at her word
VERY we'll" he said, and he was a lit
tie paler as he spoke. II will take steps
to this end at onNe You Will ma nave
not abused my trust
head dropped with something like shame
at these words. Never in her life had
Matthew spoken to her like this, never
before had she felt abashed and frighten-
ed in his presence. A swift sense of his
fidelity and her own ingratitude rushed
/ over her.
Matthew" she faltered, and she took
! a step toward but he turned away.
you will pardon me IL ! leave YOU"
he said formally. Il am very busy this
morning
He held the door open for her and with
burning checks she hurried out, and no
word was spoken by either as they part
ed.
Matthew could not have been so very
/ busy. as he said, for after his visitor was
gone he sat there at his desk long time,
mouonless with his head bowed-still star
/ ing at the carpet.
/ OF course, she afterward made an alb
iect apology for her behavior, calling Mat
thew. the best the kindest friend a girl
I ever had ana herself a wicked migrate.
/ And she put on an air of penitence aud
I humility which was very sweet and I'M
usual Not a word more did she speak
about the theater party. She implored him
to keep her finances in his hands, and
when he steadily refused she broke down
. and cried so grievously that he yielded
/ from sheer fright.
But he was silently determined to yield
? up his stewardship the first opportunity y.
/ must get away from il ALL he thought
with a sickenng sense of what this would
mean to him l have been dreaming a
foolish dream. What she said-she could
not have said-if-
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