The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-03-21

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rather looked down on him with con
tempt. Suppose now he should beat
Howard In the thing Howard most de-
sired, who would have ground for ex-
ultance then? Who could afford to be
contemptuous? Can wo despise those
who win what we most desire? Had
he not better marry her after all, II
he could. Literary fame il sweet but
distant and love ID sweet and near.
He did not know what to do. He
puRed at his cigarette, but in 1t was
neither solace nor inspiration. He
flung 1t in the IRE and strobe over to
the book case. He picked out . vol
ume Of Browning. and opened It at
the poem. Youth and Art" where the
post tells Of the two who had achieved
the fame - sculptor and singer they
desired. but 1t the price OF their love
and happiness. He read and reread
the stanxa.
Each LIES un~fulilled. o see:
It hangs still, patchy and scrappy
They have not sighed deep. laughed
free.
Starved. fsasted, despaired been
happy"
He threw down the book, chose an
other. It was Daudet's "Femmes des
ArtttA." He read . while, drew Z sigh
OF relief. Daudet was . sensible man.
no love sick rhymsr. He had lived in
Paris, whore II any whore the artist
can b known and studied. Each Of
thee artists Of whom the book told
had married Each Of them had been
unhappy. hindered In their artistic de-
velopmsnt BY their marriage. They
had sold their birthright for q mess OF
pottags. nay. for the apples Of sodom
which had turned to ashes ON their
lips.
No. he would be true to himself and
to his art. Even Howard might marry
her.
And yet he must see her again. Just
a sight Of the bright hair, the dewy
red mouth. the rounded cheek to light
the loveless years Of his literary striv-
Ing. He removed his smoking Jacket.
slammed the door and hurried towards
the Murchison residence. He was met
and stopped by Charlie Rawlins. who
said, Hello. old boy. which way are
you going?"
ITO the Murchisons," he replied.
That's right" drawled Charlie:
make the most Of your study OF the
eternal feminine while you can. How
ard Griggsby Is going up there pretty
regularly"
What do you mean?" asked Percy.
II mean" said Charlie, Howard Is
likely to put an end 70 these studies.
ror = fellow isn't likely to want his
wife to figure - literary material for
another man."
Percy did not wait for the closing OF
the sentence, but hurried on. 1t seem
ed to him Miss Kate would never come
down. When she did arrive, she ex-
cused her delay on the ground that she
had just returned from . ride with
Mr.. Griggsby and had to change her
costume. To her amazement, this u
ally languid and rroper Percy strobe
across the room, took her hand. and
said almost hercely. Il don't want you
TO ride with Howard any more"
what right have you, Mr.. Haddock.
to make such . demand?' the girl
asked. but not a. Indignantly as she
felt she ought.
mo right. no right, yet" said he.
kissing her hand before she could
withdraw it. 1T Is only . request.
Don't you know, can't you see, / don't
want you to drive with, to be with
anybody but me forever"
"But." said the girl. "Mr. Griggsby
has asked me to be his wife"
Percy turned pale. Was Howard to
again thwart him? He caught her
hand again. and said br~eathlessly.
and what vas your answer"
Il told him ! would give It next
time"