The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-18

~ ECAUsE the night cold and sleet fall
ing in thin, sharp lines, Dick Eaton put on his
IN heavy overcoat in which everything was fur
u fur-lned, even to the pockets, before starting
for Mrs. Leghton's dinner.
He was not feeling particularly happy, altho he
was in general happy-hearted fellow enough. When
is 49, and just received snub ones lady
love- does not contemplate long drear dinner with
much satisfaction Dick certainly did not He would
much rather have stayed at home nursed his
this not to he did grumbe but only
gave sigh two at the fate which allotted that his
heart should have flown before he of it,
and without any prospect acceptance
It cannot be denied that it Dicks fault. He
had chosen to fall in love with superior person
with girl of wit well beauty; with
who had and Travelled much, barely tolerated
the average young and who, she counted among
her friends prominent people, could pick
and choose It not be expected that Lillian Grton
an honored guest in Upper Bohemia privileged act
hostess to scores of wel-known people, should have
time to waste Dick Eaton. nothing her,
that he had done so from the first week of their meeting
two years ago. and less nothing e pos
sessed of considerable income The Girton money
this latter fact of consequence and Dick himself
WELL Dick not clever did write, sing,
act; he not esthetic musical socialistc
only big strong, tender hearted fellow pure
soul and sunny temper, proof the
temptations of modern life rolled like a
ducks back He had never done mean action told
sanderous story. He was generous of heart, lavish
OF hand and had weakness for animals His habits
were temperate but not rigid He drank little played
poker-a little and was not above making bet He was
so straightforward and pureminded and inatey chv-
alrous that of his friends had called him "Sir
esalahad-behind his back of course Dick would not
have known what they meant. Indeed it is be doubted
= be confessed. He read shakspere Macauay and
Thackery and Dumas and he Wilke Collins.
He had taste for Buddhism, thought theosophy
was tommy rot He did not know thing about Ibsen
and had heard of George Meredith; from which
it may be inferred that in Miss Girtons he
highly commonplace and Objectionable young
Nevertheless in spite of snub and ill concealed
Indifference Dick adored Miss Girton-loved with
single soued passion which colored all his life
mated all his thoughts; which made him her knight
whether she would
1t is not quite certain Girton was aware
of this fact certainly all of Dicks friends were they
praises all day long, establishment
81 cannot understand she said is that
makes that young Eaton fellow popular He hasn't
ounce of brain; but, to hear talk one
would think he had the mental powers Of Bismarck"
This state of affairs did not tend to her any
kind!ier him. always out when he called or
else celebrity in enshrouded
in outer darkness during the brancy CONVEX
sation. happened that on this particular evening
he feeling downcast and for discouraged
1t was cold and wet and slippery. The sleet fne
with penetrating quality and it chung to door
iroze window until there seemed no warmth
nor dryness anywhere The wind gusty it blew the
seet into Dicks face the uncofortably
CLASSY on the pavements and mushy at crossings He
stumped along with the collar of his up
his feeling that wind had conspred
for the chilly formality of dinner every step Half
the distance perhaps, traversed and the last
thing brush against his foot stick points into his
trousers. At the time there came piteous new
windy lamp at the Dick stopped down
his trousers leg until his gloved in contanct
sistance when he raised it.
It was Kitten very weak very mis-
cradle kttenfrom the drenched its gray head
to the tip of its shvering TAIL of help
less misery It lay passively sprawed over his hands
and looking at him with blinking eyes, far too
cold and uncomfortable frightened
Hello, old man." said Dick, staring at & a. +ha
draggled, helpless rough coat Where
do you belong?"
The kitten naturally made answer. but confirmed
to blink at Dick and to shiver helpesy was so very
small that it staggered slid when it tried to
stand so finally gave trying and subsidized
determinate heap.
"Well, I'm awfully sorry, but can't help it, you
know Dick said, half alphabetically home to your
mamma. You're too far too little to be alone"
He set it down on the pavement again, but it only
crouched there, newing, and when e moved aWay
sprung feeby his leg and chung there till could
bear 1t no longer. He fond of cats, one
very tiny and abject and wretched could not
abandon it. He lifted again rubbed rough
to and then under chin