The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-10-29
ALL THE WEALTH
OF THE WORLD.
BY oPIE READ.

mcE' she asked.
Another one of your hard questions,
| guess. II strikes me that father
said something about it first. The
fdct is, we didn't know You were here
till-just the other day."
But how did you find ont at last
mat was here? And what difference
should it make?"
oh, really. now. YOU mustn't be
cross with us. We don't know every
thing. / guess we are pretty dumb on
some things. But we mean all right.
And If you'll come over next Thursday
night-Ill call for you. VIII you
Gomez"
But. Mr.. Chiffon. can't under
stand why | have been invited. Ii is
not possible that you people could
nave heard of me. j am not a celeb
rity of any sort-I don't sing-I don't
do anything, and l am still at a loss
as TO why l was invited"
Il think, Miss Weatherly. that you're
invited because we want you: any
way, l hope you'll be ready when
call for YOU next Thursday evening""
She told him that she would. but
in fact up to the very time when she
sat expecting him, she was deter
mined to write to him, begging leave
to withdraw her promise. But all the
same. when the evening came. she sat
in the parlor waiting. Mrs. Atcherson
| came in.
| And so you can't for the life OF YOU
tell why YOU were invited. OF course.
don't want to say anything. but it
may be- say it may possibly be-that
they have heard who the Atchersons
are. And some one must have told
them what thought. Did he speak OF
me at all?"
Il think not, madam"
oh, If he did. don't hesitate to tell
me. Ny standing and my opinions
are well known here Well l don't
see how they could have heard OF YOU
since you've been in my house There's
his buggy"
At the very last moment. with her
foot on the buggy-Step, she had almost
turned back with an excuse. but a
gentle pressure strongly urged her ON.
At the very threshold OF the mansion
with the sweets of flowers and the
thrills of music in the air. she faltered
turned about to beg of her escort to
take her home, but she didn't. and she
| found fault with herself Was the
treacherouS glamour OF wealth steal
ing her dignity? Had she become n
! climber Beneath the soft lights
she felt herself swaying, as IL her
nerves were part OF the music. Low
toned words fell upon her ear: she
stood amid blooming shrubbery. and
there was laughter everywhere, and
in her heart was a new sensation and
a strange JOY.
But n bitterness came with the
dawn. when she sat in her room look.
ing at fading star, the glory of a
night. Had fate given her glimpse
of that enchanted life to mock and de-
ride her? Why had she yielded?
What had robbed her of the strength
to say no?
few evenings later she was still
! musing, beneath the honeysuckle
when young Chiffon came round the
| corner Of the house. With a freedom
almost impudent he sat down. talking
| pleasantly; she felt that it was her
duty to resent something, she didn't
know what, but she continued TO look
FOR something, leading him on as if
into a trap. But the trap was not
sprung. and when he took his leave She
walked as far as the gate with him
determined to resent something; but
still she didn't, and he looked back
from the top Of the hill and saw her
white and graceful in the starlight.
one day she went riding with him
She remarked TO the farmers wife
that she expected a quarrel but II d 4
not come. once she made a prctense
of resentment; but he laughed at her.
and how full Of honest, wholesome
music was his laugh.
You must think 1 am pecuIior
creature she said.
Are youF' he innocenuy asked: and
this almost offended her He had not
observed that she was peculiar. And
she was determined TO be more re-
served, more serious but soon she for
got herself and was foolish and full
OF fun. When she returned The farm.
cr's wife asked abou; the quarrel.
ION, il vii come" she said. "Hc
keeps ON presuming and the first
thing he knows 1 won't stand il.
that's all"
The weeks drftcd away like per
iume. one evening young Chiffon and
MISS Ncathcrly werc walking beside
tine sea. 'lt is murmuring its poetry"
size said.
II don't know much about poetry. q,
hc replied "I'm so busy. YOU know