The sun., 1901-03-07

I was with vague sense Of unreali
ty that Dolores found herself an
swering the questions of the clerk. She
wondered if he noticed anything
strange about her-if he was in the
Smallest degree suspicious. A glance
at her reflection in the mirror over the
| soda water fountain reassured her 1t
was a calm face that looked back at hei
'.-an attractive face. The wide-apart
black brows arched on the serene
white brow, and the lips of firmness
and sweetness gave to the face its all
of dignity--of nobility. No--there wa.
no obvious reason why he should sur,
mise that she needed the liquid fol
other than disinfecting purposes. Sh.
took the bottle wrapped in glazed pa
per, and left the store. 1t was early il
the afternoon, and the day was divine
The air was not sharp, although No
yember was at hand. 1t was soothing
mellow, as old wine. State street
looked less commercial and more poetit
to the wide, clear, penetrating gaze o,
Dolores Burnett than she had fancied
possible.
1T must be because | am seeing il
for the Last time" she said to herself
She stood on the doorstep and looked
north and south. The sidewalks Of
both the fashionable east side and the
workday west side OF the street wer,
crowded. The last fine Saturday OF til,
season had tempted many out. 4
hustling, hurrying, colliding crowd
what q n1p 40 he, VI IA
able, fascinating, suggestive spectacle
( they all made.
D A man passing recognized Miss Bur
nett and raised his hat.
: She bowed-a queer, whimsical, lii
lie smile curving the corners of he
mouth when he had passed
He has taken three OF my stories,
she murmured. "And he will pay fo
them on publication" She glance
e Gown at the vial in the glazed pape.
"a Il wonder if he would pay for one G
y them now If he knew!"
y Then she decided it did not matter
y did not matter in the least. A few NOR
= written-a few more accepted-or
l. few less. She couldn't make enough I
q, live on if all were paid on acceptance
W every one of them.
e Five years." she said. "Five veal
Is Of poverty, of ambition, of sacrifice
ie and at the end, failure!" She ha
"a reached the pavement, was walkin
- southward, mechanically avoiding col
u tact with people while not really seein
II them. She walked with the firm, a
'H sured, undertaking step of those +
W lGiliar with city streets. Suddenly 81
- paused, arrested by fame of color.
= saffron, and crimson and purple.
- "Asters, lady?" cried the ma
rs ~, standing beside his wicker basket
w the curb. "Asters, dahlias-ma
@ !. golds?"
y She shook her head and went on. 81
- had no money for flowers. No mon,
~ for anything if il came to that-n
80 even for carfare. But the sight of Il
- old-fashioned blooms had brought
W wave of homesickness which seemed
q. wrench all physical strength from h
- ~ and leave her weak and tremblin
- How plainly she saw 1.-THE old HON
-; 10 The square green farmhouse, with
. clematis-covered porch, its sweep
:" sward, its flower beds outlined wi
~ mathematical precision. And twas
y. the summer-house there-the warn
-. old summer-house-tha she had ia
~. Everett Harper she could never be i
q wife.
nv my work is mapped out for me
III she had said. 81 have been scribblil
"a, o. all my life. I want to be a writ,
'o'' l shall not be content with lit1
:. success. must become famous. A,
s"' l shall. I've been reading gre
~ deal about the women who have ST
'ch ceeded. They almost all went
------~- - --- -.
"Miss Helen is not at home," bl
he heard her voice in the hall AZ
can caught sight of blue skirt which ]
he knew well. By this time he, too, w
angry, and he left, telling himse
is that the next step must come fro
jel- Helen; he would make no more owe
lures.
This time he thought deeply on t
~, matter, coming to the conclusion thu
, u being tired of her engagement, lIel
had seized upon this preteNt to bre
-, it.
,ord Dick Turner, junior partner in L
law firm of Carter & Turner, was la
the next morning. and evidently