The true northerner., 1901-01-18

b. thoughtlessly builds on the sand
when the tide Is out. Yes; foreign COR
responding would be all well enough,
mused. with Phyllis at my side. With
her as my wife | should have the envy
OF all my fellow craftsmen. We should
dine at the embassies, and the attaches
would fiutter about us, and all London
would talk of the beautiful Mrs. Win
throp." Then the fire in my pipe bowl
went out The copy boy was at my ell
bow again.
"Hang your said l.
'"rhe foreman says he's coming down
with an AK" replied the boy.
1t was like churning, but l did man.
age TO grind the copy. | was satisfied
that the United States and Great Brit
ain would not go to war over it.
The late afternoon mail brought two
letters. | opened the one from Phyllis
first. II said:
Dear Jack-Uncle Bob has a box for the opera
tonight. but he has been suddenly called TO Wash
ington-poltics. possibly, but he would not say.
Aunty and want you TO go with us in his stead.
Ethel and her hance, Mr.. Holland will be to-
gether which means that aunty and ! will have
no one TO talk TO unless you come. Carmen is
TO be sung. Please do not fail me. PHYLLIS.
Fail her! | thought not.
Then | read the second letter.
read it three or four times, and even
then | was not sure that / was not
dreaming. | caught up my pipe again,
flied it and lit it. | read the letter
once more. was solemnly informed
that my uncle was dead and that
was mentioned in the will and that IL
l would kindly call at the Hoffman
House the following morning certain
sum of money would be given TO me-.
/ regretted that | had reached that age
when n mans actions must be digni-
fed although alone; otherwise | dare
say ! should have danced the pas seul.
Whatever my uncle's bequest might
be, believed that it would make me
independently rich. Phyllis was scarce
ly an arms length away now. | whis.
tied as ! locked up my desk and pro.
ceeded down stairs and sang siren
song into the waXen ears of the cashier.
You have only twenty coming this
Ntth, MI. w lIlllOp, Stlu HS.
"Never mind" | replied. "I'll man.
age TO get along next week." 1t was
only on very rare occasions that drew
my full pay at the end of the week. l
dined at n fashionable restaurant. AS
l slipped my wine l built one of my
castles, and Phyllis reigned therein.
There would be trip TO Europe every
Il. Il :,
to writing novels. My picture would
be the frontispiece in the book reviews,
and wayside paragraphs would tell OF
the enormous royalties my publishers
were paying me. took some old en-
velopes from my pocket and began fig
uring on the backs of them as to what
purposes the money should be put 1t
could not be less than $4,000. perhaps
more. OF course my uncle had given
a harbor TO grudge against me and
mine. but such things are always for
gotten on the deathbed. Fortune, hav-
ing buffeted me, was now going TO
make me one of her favorite children.
/ had reached the end of the long lane.
AS | left the restaurant | decided to
acquaint Phyllis with my good luck
and also my desire that she should
share Of il. | turned into a florists and
had a dozen roses sent up 10 her. They
were American Beauties. | could af-
ford it now.
l found Phyllis drumming on the
piano. She was singing in low voice
the aria from Lucia" stood on the
threshold OF the drawing room and
waited till she had done. believed
her TO be unaware of my presence.
She was what we poets call dream
of loveliness," q tangible dream. Her
neck and shoulders were like satin, and
the head above them reminded me of
Sappho's which we see in marble.
From where | stood could catch a
glimpse of the profile, the nose and
firm chin. the exquisite mouth. to kiss
which | would gladly have given up
any number of fortunes. The cheek
had that delicate curve of rose leaf,
and when the warm blood surged into
ii there was a color as matchless as
that of a jack rose. All. but | loved
her! Suddenly the music ceased.
"There is a mirror over the piano,
Jack" she said without turning her
head.
So | crossed the room and sat down
in the chair nearest her. | vaguely
wondered if at the distance she had
seen the love in my eyes when
thought myself unobserved.
II thank you for those lovely roses -
she said. smiling and permitting me to
press her hand.
Don't mention it." ! replied. 1t is
so difficult for a man to say original
things in the presence of the woman
he loves. II have great news for you.
1t reads like a fairy tale. you know;
happy ever afterward. and all that"
"Ahv'
"Yes. Do you remember my telling
you of rich uncle who lived in the
southY
as 1t possible that he has left you a
fortunef" she cried. her eyes shining.
"You have guessed it."
81 am very glad for your sake, Jack.
was beginning to worry about you"
"Worrv abOut me?'