Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1904-05-05
The Fortune
Hunter
BY Clinton Danterfield


looking in open wonder at Alcia's
calico gown and rural nat. what you
are wearing that getup for?"
Doesn't 1t seem suitable to a farm
house in the country?' she inquired,
with obvious satisfaction in her cos
tune.
81 can't see why white lawny stuff
with embroidery and things, the kind
you usually wear, wouldn't be quite
as unostentatious," l said discomfort
edly.
Alicia leaned near to me- Really
she ought not to put that kissable
mouth Of hers so close to even mar
ried man. Then she whispered dra-
matically:
I'm poor I've lost every cent
"Whatw | cried, aghast. AI'cla Is
not fitted for poverty.
Ssh. Not truly. you know. I'm
making believe. | want to meet few
hunters"
Humanity is more decent than you
usually suppose it," l said dryly
There are few ripping good poor
fellows in our own set, untainted by
self seeking, though that guardian aunt
Of yours won't let you believe IT.
We'll, but here" said Alicia, with
such satisfaction that knew at once
some one was on the tapis--"here one
can be absolutely sure
Whom have you metT asked
sternly.
mo one" said Alicia obstinately
But the next moment she bushed rosi-
ly as a TALL sun Drowned young man
came slowly up the wide steps of the
piazza A red handkerchief knotted
around his columnar throat and wide
hat set slightly a-tllt gave pictur-
esque finish to him. l am bound to
admit he looked attractive.
MIR. Roberts, said Alicia, II want
to have you meet my friend, Mr. Ham
lin johnson. His wife comes out to
board here next week"
"You are down to have look at the
lay of our country" suggested Rob
erts. holding out II strong tanned hand
and nearly smashing mine In it.
AS he spoke Alicia vanished. She re-
turned Immediately with a huge pan of
green peas and, seating herself on the
step, began Smelling them as industri-
ously rs though her future depended
on 1t. Roberts promptly Joined her,
while / discontentedly dropped into
Alicia's hammock. Alicia was too ut
terly unlike her bored and ennuied
self She laughed now in low rlpplcs
and then lifted the shining eyes of a
child to Roberts earnest and altogeth-
er too handsome face. 1t would never
do, l told myself, to permit Alicia to
throw herself away on an uncongenial
rustic.
For the next two days | criticised
Roberts tiercely to myself. could not
but admit that he was manly, that he
seemed capable of taking on polish
and that his grammar, while not of the
best (he made breaks occasionally,
was reasonably good. He openly and
frankly adored Alicia, who proudly
aired her poverty and exulted in her
captivation of II man who must indeed
love her for herself alone.
But | could not bear the thought of
it all At last, for | saw matters were
approaching a climax. | determined To
appeal to Roberts generosity.
| got him off on ly's fishing, and
as we came homeward | prepared my
appeal. led the conversation up to
marriage by beginning to talk of home,
Yes; his father and mother We're llv-
ing, he said. Yes; the old folks did
miss him. but he got an extra good
chance to get job with Farmer Ket
| terer. and he guessed they could stand
1t awhile longer.
81 suppose" l said bravely. that
| some day you will be thinking Of mar
| riage just rs they did once"
He shot Il peculiar glance at me.
And when you do marry ! pur
sued. 'of course you want everything
| fair aud aboveboard. You want nc
ers to creep between you and your
| wife because there was any mlsappre
hension ut the beginning"
He turned red under his tan.
"Misapprehension? How could there
| be, What do you mean anyway"
The guilty look on his face gave IN,
| sudden insight into the matter Alas
poor Alicia. This innocent rustic Low
er belonged TO the very class of mer
she most ahhorred. He knew who she
was. and he had deliberately let hel
| play her poor little play before him.
"You know who Miss Alicia Gordon
tsp
Yes. | do" he answered doggedly
"She Is Alicia Van Anderson, the heir
css and society woman"
And knowing this as you do"
said, bursting with natural indigna
| ton. you dare to let yourself maxi
love to her, to LET her believe you hon
est
Il hold myself honest" he returned
| quietly.
"A man cannot be considered hon
| est" said sternly. who courts wo
man under false pretenses. You ar
| letting Miss Van Anderson think tina
| you love her for herself alone"
And you would argue that | low
her for her money" he said In tons
| of bitter sarcasm.