The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1903-08-28

deed, enthusiastically lnclinru 10
applaud their newer and more
homely view of him. and they let
the girl with the hcaven.scarch.
ing eyes absorb him. while they
looked on in an attitude distinct
ly suggestive of hund.clapping.
"Aftcr allw they would chorus.
and some one would inevitably
add: "Wcll. he'll know how to
spend the money!" Yet IL was
common knowledge that he was
not oyerburdened with money
having been apparently too over
burdened with brains to acquire
IL In any quantity.
And all the time he was with
her he thought only of her eyes
and his own power 10 waylay
them from Heaven. But when he
VAS not with her. many of his
thoughts circled round the cheap
row of pearls she invariably wore.
aud his mind attuncd 10 great
subjects took Ia itself a holiday
and spent II in wondering why she
tied u knot in them.
Was IL of set design. or did she
really think they looked better
knottcd? There had come into
his mind. the first time he saw
her. an old saving. long forgotten,
that u girl knots her pearls when
she wants u love letter. Now.
did this girl ofthcinnoccnt eyes in
this manner deliberately advcr
tisc n want? And u IL simply
u love letter she wanted. as one
might covct II rare cnrio, or. say,
u first edition? IIc said Il first
cdition.l Or was II not. perhaps,
n letter from u particular person
she had sci her heart On? Some
one who might see the touching
little Indication of readiness 10
receive u tcndrrlN wor,lrd epistlc;
some one who;it was hoped, would
b. eager Ia comply. Although
tSis last possibility undoubtedly
put the girl in the better light. IL
is noteworthy that it was not the
idea he honestly favored.
lie followed the little story
further. For II the knot was
the result Of anything more
than the mrrcsi Incident. or
other than n clumsy device
for keeping the row tightly
around her tight throat. then.
since. as far as h. knew. the
knot Mas never united. also. ~
far rs h. knew. she did not get
her letters. The blue eyes wcr"
sometimes pathetic; IN time II
grew Ia hurting him that she
should even possibly want what
h. could easily have supplied.
The whole question. Ms childish
us she was aud ~ strangely en-.
crossing. haunted aud disturbed
his leisure. aud one night. having
Just left her. h. sat down and
Arot" her II letter.
The bulk of the talents for
which people praised him were
in the habit Of emerging from the
point Of his pen. and the letter
was worthy of his reputation
without being NJ all above her
power of npprcciation-"vrn sup.
posing she was in all things rs
Young us she looked. II was sim.
Pile. in fact. ~ her speech, and rs
beautiful, after its fashion, ~ her
eyes: and. reading il over, he
knew he had never done anything
better hut he wasn't ms mad us
lic might have lookrd--if anyon,
could have seen him-and he onl,
posted II IN his pocket. Having
been written 10 her. IL was 81
crcdly hers. and Ia have II abont
him gave hin n feeling of pleas
IRE he acknowledged with d
laugh, and for once did moi try Il
account for in words.
After that he wrote her letter
every time he saw her, and. bui
that something happened about
the sixth time. il il u matter 4,
wonder ut how far he would hav,