The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-25
48Hfoc-e
By HARRY LEON WILSON.
Copyright 1862 BY Lathrop Publishing Co., Boston.

,c4444
a distance since their talk at Newport.
Yet the thought of her had persisted as
a plaintive undertone thru all the days
after. Only the sharp hurt to his SEN
sitive pride-from the conviction that she
had found him toerable solely because OF
the money-had saved him from the Will
Ing admission to himself that he had car
ried off too much of her ever to forget.
In his quiet moments, the tones OF her
clear, low voice came knowingly to his
ears, and his eyes conjured Involuntary
her girlish animation her rounded young
form, her color and fre-the choked.
smouldering fire of opals. He saw the
curve Of her wrist. the confident swing OF
her walk, the easy poise of her head, her
bearing at once girlish and womanly, the
little air, half of wistful appeal, and half |
Of self-reliant assertion. Yet he failed
not to regard these indulgences as utter |
folly. It had been folly, enough while he
believed that she stood ready to accept |
him and his wealth. It was more fragrant,
now that her quest for a husband with
millions had been so handsomely reward |
ed.
But again, the fact that she was now
clearly impossible for him, so that even
degrading submission on his part could
no longer secure her. served only to bring
her attractiveness into greater relief. With
the fear gone that a sudden impulse to
possess her might lead him to stultify
himself. he could see more clearly than
| ever why she was and promised always to
| be to him the very dearest woman in the
| world-dearest in spite Of all he could
reason about so lucidly. He felt, then, a
little shock Of unreasoning JOY to find one
night that they were dining together at
the Oldakers'.
At four o'clock he had received hasty
note signed 'Fidelia Oldaker," penned in
| the fine, precise script of some young la
dies finishing school-perhaps extinct now
| for fifty years-imploring him, if aught Of
chivalry survived within his breast to
fetch his young grandfather and dine with
her that evening. Two men had incon-
siderately succumed, at this seventh hour,
to the prevailing grip epidemic, and the
lady threw herself confidently on the WELL
/ known generosity Of the Bines male-'like
one Of the big, stout nets those acrobatic
people fall into from their high bars she
concluded.
Uncle Peter was more than willing. He
liked the Oldakers.
They're the only sane folks I've met
among your friends he. had told his
grandson. He had dined there frequently
during the winter, and protested to be
$ enamoured Of the histess. That fragile
but sprightly bit of antiquity protested in
turn to find Uncle Peter very danger
Gus man among the ladies. They flirted
} outrageously at every opportunity, and
Uncle Peter sent her more violets thar
i many popular debutante received that
winter
Percival, with his new air Of Wall street
operator, was inclined to hesitate
You know I'm up early now Uncle
ia 3aI WIN, <,f<
before go downtown, and a man can't
do much In tho way Of dinners when his
mind is working all day. Perhaps Maui
: burn will co. ~. S
But Mauburn was taking Psyche and
Mrs. Drelmer to the first night of plan
. and Percival was finally persuaded by
the old man to relax, for one evening. the
q austerity Of his regime.
But how your pa would love to see yor
SO conscientious, he said, land you witt
:, Wall street, or good partsof It, right
q under your heel, just like that and thu
4 fold man ground his heel viciusly into tht
e carpet.
When Percival found Shepler with Mrs
g Van Geist and Miss Milbrey among tn,
!, Oldakers guests, he rejoiced. Now h
70 would talk to her without any Of that oil,
n awkward self-consciousness. He wa
d even audacious enough to insist that Mrs
1T Oldaker direct him to take Miss Milbre,
it out to dinner.
J. II claim it as the price Of coming. yo,
ID know, when was only an afterthought
1t you shall be paid, sir" his hostess de
J. clared, IF you consider it pay to sit besid
II an engaged girl whose mind is full of he
"a trousseau. And here's this captivatin
= young scapegrace relative Of yours. Wha
" price does he demand for coming?" an
- she glanced up at Uncle Peter with arc
r. liberality In her bright eyes.
st That gentleman bowed low bow tha
to had been the admiration Of the snartes
society in Marietta county, Ohio fit
c. years and more ago.
m I'm paid fur coming by coming"
On replied, urbanely.
ed There, now' cried his hostess, that
pretty, and means something. You sha
On take me in for that
r. I'll have to give you credit-sli,
or ma'am. You've overpaid me-" And Mr.
Oldaker, with a. coy flip Of her fan, Gale
at him naughty boy.
IN Here. Rulon,' she called to Sheple
in ARE two young daredevils who've bee
chairs Now you shall take out Cornell
ay and this juvenile sprlg shall relieve yc
g. of Avice Milbrey. It's a providence. W
engaged couples are always SO dull whe
lr- you re banished from your own ciel
RS. deux =
lg' Shepler bowed and greeted the two me
Percival sought Miss Milbrey, who W,
ter with her aunt at the other side Of the oil
VS. fashioned room, a room whose brocaa
gu hangings had been imported from Eng,al
in In the days Of the Georges, and who
ice furniture was fabricated in the time VIII
pa France was suffering its last kings.
see He no longer felt the presence Of an
thing overt between them. The girl he
, self seemed to have regained the charm
! ! ing rankness Of her first manner wi
ne him. Their relationship was defined irr
INK vocably. No uncertainty Of doubt or fall
seeming lurked now under the surface
perplex and embarrass. The relief W
nat felt at once by each.
I'm to have the pleasure Of TAXI
-. you In Miss undergraduates issu
~, special commands to that effect
! - isn't that jolly! We've not met for
-, age
az ~ And i've such an appetite for talk WI
MS you. I fear won't eat a thing. II
,,st known you were to be here I'd have tax
r,sr the forethought to eat a. gored OK,
On. something-what is the proverb, bet
.,na a dinner Of stalled OK where
! -, . Where talk is suggested Miss M
md brey, quickly.
An ooh, yes-'than to have your own
The gored without a word of talk I RENE
: - Der it perfectly now. And-there-
r;o,. moving on to this feast Of reason
r,sa 'tAnd the flow Of something superior
the reason finished Shepler, who had co
10y ,tyor RI Mrs Van dsO1daIar S