Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-01-04


would kindly "a e Hoffman
HouS,. the followin- ga rsriain
sum ~ money wouid De given ~ mr.
| Regretted that had reached that age
when mans actions aust L.. d.sni-
Ned although alun-: Otherwise dare
say I should have dane, q The pas seuL
Whatever my uncie's h,l hest might
bc. I believed that Il wuuid make nic
independently rich. Phyllis Ms S'arrc-
Ia an arms lcneth away now. Wills
tied a. locked up nay desk and pro-
cee,led down stairs and sang a sirrn
song into the waNen ears 81 the cashier.
"You have only twenty coming this
week. Mr.. Winthrop" said hc.
''Never mind" I replied. IN man
age 10 get along next week" II was
only on very rare occasions that drew
my full pay at the end of the week.
dined nj a fashionable restaurant As
| slipped my wine | built one OF lay
castles. aud Phyllis reigned therein.
There would be trip TO Europe every
summer and | should devote my time
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 rs TO what
purposes the money should he put. X
could not he less than $4,000. perhaps
more. OF course ny uncle had given
a harbor TO a grudge against me and
mine. but such things are always for
gotten on the deathbed. Fortune, hav-
ing buffeted me, was now going 10
make me one of ner 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 n dozen roses sent up to her. They
were American Beauties. | could af-
ford Ii now.
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 pre- 'encc.
She was what we poets call Il dream
OF loneliness" tangible dream. Her
neck and shoulders We're like satin, and
the head above them reminded me of
SapphoS which we see in marble.
From where | stood | could catch Il
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 Il rose leaf,
and when the warm blood surgcd into
II there was color as matchlcSs as
that of a jack rose All, but | loved
her! Suddenly the music ceased.
There is 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 l
thought myself unobserved.
II thank you for those lovely roses, y
she said, smiling and permitting me TO
press her hand.
Don't mention it." replied. 1t Is
40 difficult for a man to say original
things in the presence of the woman
| he loves. Il have great news for YOU.
1t reads like fairy tale. you know;
happy ever afterward, and all that"
"Ahw
"Yes. Do you remember my telling
you of rich uncle who lived in the
SOUTH"
as 1t possible that he has left you a
fortuneT she cried, her eyes shining.
"You have guessed it,"
81 am very glad for your sake, Jack
| was beginning TO worry about you
IVORY about meF'
Eyes. | do not understand how &
newspaper man can afford TO buy roses
four or five times a week and exist
She had the habit of being blunt and
frank to her intimate friends. Nc
cretly considered it an honor wher
she talked to me like this. II have
told you repeatedly to send me flower,
only once a week. I'd rather not have
them at all. Last week you spent a,
much as $50 on roses alone. Mr. Hol
land does not do that for Ethel. and Ia,
has Million
I'm not Holland" | said. "IIt
doesn't-that isl do not think he
Then foundered. / had almost said
He doesn't care as much for Ethel N
do for you
Phyllis pretended not to note my en-
barrassment. The others came in then
and conversation streamed into safe
channels.
When we entered the box at the OPP
era. the curtain had risen. Phyllis ant
took the rear chairs. They were JUS
out of the glare of the lights.
"You are looking very beautiful to
night" | whispered lowly. | was be
ginning business early. There was II,
barrier at my lips.
"Thank you" she replied. Their
with smile. "Supposing | We're to sa.
that you Were looking very hand
some?"
oh" said |. somewhat disconnected
t that would be rather embarriS ing."
II do not doubt it."
| "And then it would not be true. Tn
duty we men owe to a beautiful WON
an is constantly to keep telling her o
it."
And the duty we women owe to
| fine looking mani" q rogue of Il limnl