The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1902-03-22
ON THE
REBOUND
By GARFIELD k:hCNEAL
Copyright, 1901, by
Garfield MacNeaI.
MISUNDERSTANDING


covered with red roses. suggestive OF
summer sunshine. and turned her eyes
toward the window. Rain beating
against the paneS and dull gray sky
proclaimed a cheerleSs November day
She sighed. Then, stretching out a
Shapely arm, she took Il silver hand
mirror from the nearby dressing table
and carefully studied her features.
In the language of Shakespeare she
saw no deeper wrinkles yet" face
long and oval. patrician in outline and
expression, skin rather olive, eyes
brown, deep and luminous. mouth gen,
erously nodded, and a wealth of Brown
hair. On tie whole it was notable
face and one of character.
Dropping the mirror on the bed, she
called. "LoiS,'' A French maid. neat
trim and smiling, appeared with the
breakfast tray.
".\h. mann selle. y thousand con.
gratulations on your birthday"
MY thrtieth. Lois. But thank you
just the same
Ma 'selle is still young, and al
ready fame has come to you. And
when your novel is published the world
will lie at your feet" said Lois with 8
comprehensive sweep Indicating the
world.
on. yes. the novel" murmured hel
mistress, sitting up and starting in OF
her coffee and rolls, while the maid
laid a bundle of letters and manu-
scripts on the bed.
Miss Treadwell opened the one bulky
package and looked at the accompany,
ing letter 1t was from a great pub
fishing house, formally expressing re,
greet that they were unable to accept
her novel.
She gulped down something in hey
thrat. Her novel declined, Her frs
Tc...y .g.Hal WORK, to winch she hau
given the leisure hours of six years,
Truly, this was a most delightful birth,
day gift.
Lois" she said-and her voice trem,
bled-"LOis, my novel has been de.
clined."
"Ah, ma'm'seIle, l am too sorry
with quick sympathy-"buts some other
publisher will accept it."
Her mistress shook her head. 81
shall not send it out again. shall
stick to hack work. | can at least
make a living at that" Then she add
ed reflectively, my life has been a
failure"
Lois protested. She worshiped her
mistress. Ma 'selle has been sue
cessful. You have a pretty apartment
and everything you want"
"Other women, too. have pretty
apartments and everything they
want
"Ah, yes, but they did not work fol
them" said Lois with a worldly shruG
as she went in response to the electric
bell, which at this moment buzzed
loudly in the hall.
She reappeared with huge white
box. "Flowers. ma 'selle. and a
note" she said gayly
Miss Treadwell cut the ribbon that
held the box and disclosed a mass of
violets. They seemed to look up at
her tenderly yet shrinkingly as she
bent over them. With Il sigh of pleas
ure she took the note and studied the
bold handwriting of the superscrip-
ton. Her heart jumped. Surely it
membered her,
She slit across the end of the en-
velope while her fingers trembled and
eagerly unfolded the paper
Dear Lillian" she read. may
hope that this remembrance of your
birthday will prove that have not
forgotten you? | have been In town
vo days. secured your address
from C.'s Magazine and send these
flowers to warn you that am coming
to invade your sanctum sanctorum and
talk over old times. Always your
friend. Jack Ainsworth"
She started up, scattering letters and
manuscripts on the floor Lois" she
said decidedly, Il want you to lay out
my new morning gown. the sea green
one with the train
Sitting down at her dressing table.
she began careful toilet Her
thoughts were busy with the past
Jack had been her girlhood friend in
the little inland town where they were
both born and bred. Again she was
twenty-four and be was twenty six.
Why had he never spoken? She knew
he loved her. and. perhaps she had
loved him, too, then. But when her
mothers death left her alone in the
world, she was seized with the desire
to come to New York to try her for
tune. Jack had advised against it.
but strange perversity made her deaf
to his warnings.
At first they had kept up a CORE
spondence. Soon even that link was bro
ken as she was drawn more and more
into the absorbing whirl of newspaper
and magazine work. For five years no
letters had passed between them. To
be sure she had heard of him Indirect
iy, how he gradually forged ahead
from clerk in the railroad office to
manager of the whole system, and she
had been glad for his sake.
And now, after all this time. they
were to meet. She wondered what he
would be like. Doubtless he had lost
the fresh. boyish beauty she so well
remembered. He was past thirty now,
she reflected with a sigh. Doubtless,
too, his career as man Of affairs had
made him brusque and cold. She had
visions Of bearded cheek and chin, and