The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-21
Mhen Misfortune Game.
BY EDGAR WELTON COOLEY.

Copyright, 1901, by Daily Story Pub. Co.
Richard Burr dropped lightly off the
car at the. corner nearest her home
and walked rapidly up the avenue. The
smile upon his face was the visible
index to the happy frame of his mind.
His decisive gait spoke of self-reliance,
determination, energy.
Richard Burr was what the world
called a self-made man. That the world
was mistaken none knew better than
himself To be sure, much of his sue
cess in life was due to his perseverance,
to his indomitable will. But the real Sc
cret of his success was her influence,
her encoura cement. her love.
To him she had been a guardian an
gel urging him to renewed effort APP
plauding his achievements, smiling APP
provingly at his advancement.
Barely thirty-five. he was already at
the head of one of the largest import
ing houses in the metropolis. Wealth
was his; popularity was his; above all.
the love of true woman was his. Surely
his happiness was not without reason.
AS he hurried along the avenue toward
her home, his thoughts ran back over
the years since he had first met the
one now awaiting his coming lie
thought of the days when he, with but
a limited capital, but boundess pluck, had
been stirred to the innermost depths
of his heart by the glances of her eyes
when he had been stimulated to dare,
and, daring, to accomplish. All along
the rough road which he had Travelled to
success her approval, her love, had been
the forces that had impelled him 10
put forth his best efforts.
1t seemed to him that he had always
loved her. But in those days so wide
had been the financial gulf between them
that he had not dared to hope for her
hand. But she had never repealed him.
While adroitly keeping him at his dis
tance, she had inspired him to mount the
ladder of financial success, had watched
him climb higher and higher with undis-
guised pleasure, and at last, when she
had seen of what he was made, had re-
ceived him cordially, almost affectlonate-
ly.
Long and earnestly had he striven to
reach that financial station that would
entitle him to reveal to her the great
ambition of his life. And he had, at
last, succeeded. Tonight he was to have
her answer-the answer which should
have so great an influence upon his
future.
AS he ascended the steps of her home
lie caught glimpse of her face at the
window, and sudden pang of doubt
had she declared her love for him. She
had a fortune in her own right. She
had numerous suitors. She had-no, no.
he thought, she could not undervalue his
love for her. It had been so constant,
SO steadfast for many years
Marjorie Hoyt, standing at her parlor
window gazed dreamily out into the
darkening avenue. She saw the lights
glimmering indistinctly through the
l,o - 81 of ,ioTo
the rumble of cars. But her thoughts
We're Of Richard Burr
For an hour she had been studying the
changing emotions of her heart, trying
to rightly interpret their meaning. = None
of her acquaintance did she admire
more than she did Richard Burr Her
friendship for him was of the strongest.
But did she-did she love him?
She had no doubt of his love for her.
1t was woven in every sentence he utter
ed; it echoed in his laughter; it glistened
in his eyes. He had asked her to be-
/ come his wife. She had not been sur
prised at this, but she had hesitated.
cropping vaguely for an answer. And
! finally she had begged for time before
| replying. She had promised the answer
| tonight. But she was as far from reach-
ing the true verdict CT her heart as she
ever had been.
She saw his alight from the car; she
watched him as he walked rapidly up the
| avenue and ascend the steps; she heard
che bell ring: she heard the maids foot
steps in the hall; she heard his footsteps
approaching: she heard the parlor door
open, and knew that he was standing
thare watching her. What was she to
say?
She turned and smiled him welcome.
He took a seat and she stood a moment,
leaning on the mantei and gazing at him.
He spoke, but she did not answer at
once. She was noting in the proud poise
of his head a certain air of proprietor
ship, and in the steely glimmer of his
eyes the glare of self-satisfaction. The
poise of his head, the CLEAN of his eyes,
even the smile on his lips, spoke one
language to the woman. 1t was as though
he said: You are mine as matter
of course. You cannot deny it,
A sudden spirit of rebellion arose In
her breast, and in that instant she reach
( ed her decision. 1t was NO.