The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-10-31

Lne ucSh ulllu ) ou iSI"'"'
So it came about that Tom Burrows
met Jean Jameson.
Months later Tom Burrows re-
viewed his past with no small amount
of displeasure as he sat in his room
smoking his pipe of reflection. In
some inexplicable manner the whole
course of his life had gone wrong. He
had already passed the age of 25, when,
according to his opinion, every man
should have the channel, into which
his talents might be directed, we'll
sroovcd to the accomplishment. His
early days had been spentsin thought
iessness and case; these included three
years at college where he had intended
to graduate full hedged NJ. D. How
ever. circumstances often ruin plans
for the future. When he suddenly
discovered that it was cramping his
fathers waning income and also seri-
ously hindering the chances of his
Younger brothers and sisters, OF which
he had goody number, b" deter
mined to utilize his abilities in more
practical and less expensive sphere.
His decision had come as sever blow
to his mother, who held him, her oldest
boy, as cherished ideal, who should
be trifle better than the ordinary, no
matter what the sacrifice. But so it
was that he accepted the position under
the worthy magnate of Black Rock.
Then to think that this sprig of
girl had well-nigh upset his whole
career. Full we'll his memory pictured
that morning four months before when
be had driven the homely family cart
to the depot to meet this daughter Of
bis employer, and how she had treated
him with striking hauteur. She had
even mis-. aiken him for her fathers
coachman, and yet her very prudish-
ness seemed but to lend a glamour of
romance to her. whicl, had caus bit him
in a vcri,allr wei! How often she
had entered her f,th,rs store. accom-
panied by some of the Youthful pro-
fes,iona!s of the p lace, and seemed TO
del ght in airing her superiority to
this common "tlice man! True, her
pcttishnrss and ntfrctations sat well
upon her dainty tigur,., and certain
ind.tinailc odur of perfume seemed 10
pervade the dinginess of the office
when she entered At times he seemed
to see beyond her outward nature, and
at these rare intervals he caught a
momentary glance of character
which, il allowed to assert itself, might
have endearcd her to the coarscst NOR
tai. He often noted how old JOSIAH
watched her every move, and how the
sons ln.ame the center of the fashion
able hous, parties and afternoon teas.
Then as GROWING tribute to the
witcheries, young DR.. Ames, voted by
all the mothers of marriageable daugh-
ters as the swellest match in the dis
trict, had quite lost his heart to this
coauettish little heiress.
Since the day Of their first meeting
Tom had fought down his feelings by
applying himself to his desk with re-
doubled vigor, cnheavoring to convince
himself that bis opinion OF her was
much the reverse of favorable. On
this night in ques ion he had ceased
to wreslle, and upon the eve Of resig
nation to the hand of fate he had sum-
med the whole matter up and voted
him self one of the greatest fools that
ever lived A square pink envelope
lay unopened upon his dresser, and
after arriving at this fairly satisfactory
conclusun he tore off the head and
scanned the contents, although he
could have Guessed what it contained.
1t was an invitation which the youth
ful mistress Of .he Jameson household
had sent him. To- spend the evening, no
doubt prompted hy the advice of her
father. The weather had developed
in'n one of thos' January b!izzarls
which periodically sweep across the
Norr Invest prairie, almost overwhelm
ing the town which lay within its cir
Gle. and Tom WAS inath To brave its
fury for such n cause. and Yet nnc"n-
sci usIy he began 10 dress. and in time
he had reached the home of his en-.
ployer. To his surprise he found that
but one guest beside himself had been
bidd,n, none other than Dr. Ames.
who Of late ha,i been almost a constant
visitor.
Supper had been served. While
Jean and the doctor conversed in low
tones at one end OF the long drawing
room, Tom sat at the other with Mr..
Jameson and exchanged mutual con-