Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-08-16

may De rlcn-all OIL you mere DelOng
to a life of which | know but little.
1t seems empty and wearisome and
vapid to me. l came because of the
picture. 1t caught and overwhelmed
me. l was horribly afraid after l got
here-almost ready to turn and run
for fear you would be disappointing.
Women (his lips twitched boyishly)
have never touched my life intimate
ly-I didn't know they could hurt one
So"
"Oh," the girl said, how perfectly
horried l am! It's just that crazy
people always think everybody else
crazy. | never went to house party
before in my life. I'm as poor as a
church mouse. | work in my uncle's
office from morning until night for
bare pittance. Mumsie and l have to
live on it, and we just hold our heads
high and do it. But we are hungry
sometimes-not really for bread" see
ing the look on his face, but for life's
goodies.
when / got the invitation here ]
bent every energy to come, and Mum
sic helped me-we did almost go hun
cry then, but what O. the way to
the end'-the end was a rich mar
riage. That's why | refused you last
night. | will not starve and be shah
by and go without all that makes life
worth living" she broke out. with
flashing eyes. But" in sudden
change from agressiveness to appeal.
81 don't want you to hate me. l
slipped away from them all to beg
you not to-"
Oh, the strength in his face, in his
voice, in the quiet hand that laid on
hers.
HE asked me, too, last night-just.
after you did-he is so old-so old
l couldn't say yes just then-your
time"
Williamson's hand closed suddenly
on the fingers that lay quiet under his.
why" he said, in tone that for
him settled the whole matter, you
love me-"
I'm going to marry him." the girl
said defantly. I'm going to leave
the stuffy Office forever, and the type
writer-I hate the typewriter. 1t
makes my head ache-and my back
and l go home SO tired, so tired, and
the splendid faces in the big brass
frames look down at me-there's
nothing much in the big, empty room
but the pictures-we've sold every
thing else to collectors of htique fur
niture-and they seem to say, Poor
little girl. poor little girl, we are ser-
ry for you"
'"Oh, now" Williamson said; there
was a sudden mist in his eyes; well
change all that. I'm glad you didn't
sag yes to the old fellow. | feel sor-
ry for him. fellow feeling; but it
won't be as hard for him as if yoI
had said yes"
They had reached the station, and
he gave the horses to the groom, and
as he guided her steps across the plat
form he put up her parasol to shield
them from inquisitive eyes.
But I'm going to say yes" she
spoke stubbornly.
You love me-" he said.
''I do not" But her face was down
cast. 81 love myself. l love the
things that he can give"
There's but one thing. and you
would want it So"
The train came in.
A sudden sternness had come into
Williamson's young face. If love was
not more to her than all else beside;
if she could give him up for an old
mans money-it would wrench his
heart-but he would leave her. She
wasn't the girl whose warm dark eyes
looked from the picture in his watch.
Awake from a beautiful dream he
would go back and take up his siren
uous life.
The train began to move out. It
was long train and they stood at
the edge of the platform.
Goodbye. l am going now" said