The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-21
Love VS.. Ambition.

Attorney James Lownsdale was a
self-centered man. That is apt to he
the case with self-made men. 1t is, to
be more frank, their besetting sin.
He had begun life poor. He was win
ming in the race because his handle
caps We're offset by grim and somewhat
unlovely determination. When he was
sixteen years old he had heard boys OF
seventeen discourse on love, and he had
said in a shrill, boyish treble: "Tll
never let sentiment stand in the way
of my success"
Even after his voice had undergone
the transformation from that shiill
treble to a profund bass, he held to
his determination. Now he was 3S and
he twas talked Of for Judge of the
Supreme court in his state.
For five years he had been giving
his legal advice free to Mrs. Mary Mar
ston and her daughter, Mildred. They
had needed such advice sorely, for when
the vice president of the Commercial
bank died it was found that the affairs
of the bank were in a precarious con-
dition. Ten days after his death the
bank failed. James Lownsdale called
to condole with the widow and her
daughter, and had offered to do what
he could to make intact again the shat
tered fabric of their fortune. He had
no idea of how great the task was, and
he found himself knitting together a
few shreds instead of mass. He dis
liked his task of telling her so, but he
found courage to tell her one night that
one might live upon the income of the
slight remnant of their fortune: it
,,,t,rl l,t iot1
But two? That was impossible.
Mildred Marston slipped comforting
arm on her mothers neck.
"That will provide for you, mamma,
dear" she said. And I've gotten a
position at a living salary with a pub
fishing house."
James Lownsdale looked at her at
tentively for the first time. One of the
characteristics of self-centered persons
is that they are short-sighted. He had
known the bankers family ever since
he left college. but he had never no
ticed that Mildred had grown up. She
was a tall beauty, of the Irish type.
with black hair and violet eyes that
might have laughed at one time, but
looked as though they never would
again.
James Lownsdale called often that
winter. Perhaps his purpose was to
tighten the loneliness of the two wo-
men, but if he permitted himself such
unselfishness he was compensated. He
found it very pleasant to sit opposite
Mildred at the fire and watch her deft
hands at her embroidery or sewing.
you make me very comfortable" he
said, smiling lazy thanks as she pushed
a hassock toward him.
She applied herself diligently to hem
ming a tablecloth.
II like this" he reflected aloud. Its
so domestic
Mildred blushed. She never talked
much. LOwnsdale had fancy for
quiet women.
~ love you," he said, pushing the
tablecloth from her lap and taking
both the busy hands. Again she said
nothing. She blushed furiously, and
there We're tears in her eyes, but there
was happiness in them, nevertheless.
II love you, but I have my way TO
make STILL I have no right to talk of
marriage yet"
Mildred was satisfied There was
soporifc influence in those familiar
but delightful words, Il love you"
Lownsdale did not think ii necessary
to repeat those words. when man
tells n woman once that he loves her
that Is enough he said. so life went
on as before.
So it befell that Mildred Marston
was often lonely. Her mind became
the stalking ground of doubt and re-
sentiment. Her business life was
narrow one, into which few strangers
entered. Her old friends had drifted
out of her life, She met almost no
one. That may be the reason that no
one else found place in this sore heart,
which was almost as easy of access as
an empty one.
When midsummer came ana with it
AIildreds vacation she bade Lowns-
dale rather formal good bye" and
said she was taking her mother to the
home of an old friend, one of her few
friends of their prosperity who re-
manned.
Accordingly, when Lownsdale was
srolllng along the beach at am almost
unknown seaside resort, he was sur
prised to see Il graceful, rather weary
figure leaning against Il rock. sud-
denly it dropped its head into the
and began 10 weep temptestuously.
He made hurried excuses to his COM
panion, Judge Somers, and hastened
back
Mildred" he exclaimed.
The figure Strengthened instantly and
tried to look formal and digniled, but
it's lips quivered as n child's.
you, too, Maggie?" he said to Mil
dred's nurse, the only servant left of
what had been called Marston's re-
tinue.
Yes" said Maggie, looking at him
with marked disfayor.
Suddenly he remembered that Mag
gle had looked at him in the same way
for two years, only he had not mo-
ticed,"
1T is getting chilly; will you go up
to the house and get Miss Marston's
wrap?" he said.
Maggie went away frowning. When
she had gone Lownsdale took the trem-
bling figure into his arms.