Middletown transcript., 1903-02-14

4
cessful person; dissatisfied with
Fred Northup, the young man
who was demanding her atten-
tion at that moment. How could
anything interesting" arise
with the president of a bank and
an active young real estate agent
and operator?
She sighed as she sat that
evening with Amos Burnham in
the library while he slipped his
after-dinner coffee.
What is it, Juliag he asked.
Can't make up your mind whether
you're in love or not?
There was a directness about
her fathers utterances that Julia
could not help feel at times was
very trying.
Nonsense, she answered with
some asperity. It's just because
everything is so tiresome.
know, said Burnham, you'd
like to have US all in top boots
and plumed hats-a pretty figure
I'd cut that way--slashing at one
another when we weren't stab
bing one another in the back.
Now, you know, papa, I'm not
so foolish as that.
Aren't you satisfied with hav-
ing a pirate for father? he
growled pleasantly.
A pirate! she exclaimed with
interest.
That's what I'm called-even
here in this newspaper, he re-
piled. A pirate, a shark and a
good many more things.
Really, cried Julia. brighten
ing up, don't see what they can
mean, but it doesn't sound COM
monplace.
Oh, I'm not com monplace,
Burnham assured her. And as
for names, I've had to take a good |
many hard knocks in my time
and given some buck, so that
there's naturally hard feeling.
And have you given hard |
knocks? Julia asked.
I've given as good as I've got
every time, answered Burnham |
grimly.
But just in business, she COM
planned. There's nothing inter-
esting about that.
I don't know what you call in
teresting, he went on.
Nothing to- give the imagina-
tion chance, she pursued.
Imagination! he exclaimed.
There's as much of it in business
as there is in poetry. I've had
to imagine things or I couldn't
accomplish them, only what I
imagined turned out in dollars,
not words.
Then, she said hopelessly,
there's nothing dramatic about
it. Why, there's as little chance
for being involved in q plot in
my life as in going down town
in trolley car.
Well, said Bnrnham, I'd be
bothered about these ideas of .
yours if I didn't know that you'd
got somo sense really. But
there's interest and picturesque
ness and all that, I can tell you,
IN business. Now take this new
steel plant. Isn't that some
thing to set you thinking? Half
dozen of US get together and in
40 time at all there springs up a
own with streets and houses.
ind people in them. What's
here to equal that in your ro- J
to say your fairy :
,ales? g
Julia looked pensively in the
ire and admitted that it really /
sounded attractive.
Where are your conspirators
'r even your magicians after
hat? said Burnham warmly.
There's something real and prac-
,ical.
I know that the whole place is :
'alking of it, she said. Fred !
Sorthup said something about it
o me the other day.
Oh, Fred Northup did, did he? :
Isked Burnham abruptly. You
lnow him pretty well-see him !
pretty often-talk a good deal to
lin, don't your !
take a great interest in him,
aid Julia with stately dignity.
And he tells me about himself 7
md / advise him. :
You dos said Burnham thought. !
ully. r
But, oh! cried Julia suddenly, i,
low can a girl be interested in q 4
nan leading such a life? A real
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