The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-12-15
Copyright lsG, by
T. Fitzgerald riS,,oy
CHAPTER XII.

may Ia 81 i'c'tSNN 49, -
his study, a comfortable and almost
luxurious room, with its cases of old
rosewood holding many a rare II
precious volume, quaint engrarings on
the wall between the deeply recessed
windows with their velvet curtains of
olive green hue, brackets of wrought
and c~uriously twisted iron, UNFOLDING
bronze busts of the literary heroes he
revered, rich colored, dcep-piled Turkey
carpets IN the floor, the light OF care
fully shaded lamps casting a soft glow
upon his desk and leaving the painted
ceiling and distant corners almost in
shadow.
Something in his attitude, something
In his face, spoke of the depression
which, overwhelmed him a depression
he never permitted to master him in
the presence Of others, but which con-
quered him completely in his moments
of solitude. Looking back upon his life
1t seemed to him he had gathered and
stored for himself but little of the hap
piness hat falls to the general lot of
mankind. Left an orphan before he
could well remember his parents, he,
g. sensitive, imp~ressionable boy, had
been reared by his maternal grand
mother and only surviving relative. a
stern, unbending old lady. who had
never understood her charge or sue
ceeded in winning his affection.
"A nature which might nave expanded
under tenderness was repressed by
harshness; Il Will that might have
yielded TO gentleness became un-
bending under punishment. So that
early in his years he was driven, by
lack Of comprehension and want of
sympathy to that inner life of loneli-
ness which chills the hearts warmth
and makes the world around a des-
ert. And the mind being most sensi-
tive in youth, the Impressions then re-
ceiVed are never wholly e~radicated, for
nothing the after years may know Of
pleasure compensate for early days
darkened by pain.
AS a shy, reserved schoolboy he had
sought few friends, but to those he
made he showed a stanchneSS II de-
votion seldom returned, and frequently
disappointed, so that here he found lit
tie escape from the isolation he hen
scarcely understood. On coming to
mans estate he had invested his patri-
uony IN a publishing firm Of which he
became a partner; he being attracted
to the business chiefly by his love of
books, which from youth had been his
chief companions. His knowledge of
literature, his rapid perception, and his
addition to the firm gave it a career
Of prosperity it had previously lacked.
Before he had reached his thirtieth
y Soi lac iI1d bouSil oQl lis PAL it'll,
and was now sole proprietor of the
business. Success continued to attend
him, and he was usually regarded by
his large circle of acquaintances as a
man. No expression of his
by word or look gave them to under
stand he did not agree with their Opin-
ion; that which he really felt was hid
den from the world. But in the silence
of his inner life he cried out against
his fate, for he was conscious there
was something missing from his life
which other men possessed: some
anchorage, which he had not, held them
fast in happy contentment. With a
nature capable Of deep n constant
affection, the love OF woman had never
frightened his days, and he regarded
with despair the chilling isolation which
he seemed powerless to change.
On reaching his office rather later
thar n morning, he vas told a
lady waited to see him. CHANGING at
her card he saw her name-Mrs. Dunn
barton-was unfamiliar and he looked
forward to the boredom of an interview.
possibly with a wealthy woman who
came with a check in one hand and a
manuscript in the other, which she de-
sired him to publish that her genius
might be made known to the world;
probably with q novice possessing a
sense Of her merit derived from the
opinions OF her friends, who wished to
offer her production at a price which
q veteran novelist might envy.
The visitor who entered his Office be-
longed to neither of these classes. In
a tinid. nervous n she asked to
have a story she had brought with her
read with a view to publication. If 1t
met with his approval. There wa
something in the grace of her move
ments that attracted him; something
In the clear and p1r,oCt nathafff, tn,,sc
Of her voice that stirred him; some
thing in the earnest expression Of her
large gray eyes that interested him. He
strove to prolong the interview because
Of the strange pleasure it gave him, and
In the hope Of hearing details concern
Ing the life n of learning traits re-
gardlng the individuality of the woman
before him.
But unlike most OF her sex who Wis
tied him, she was reticent. Beyond
knowing her name and that she had
written some magazine stories previous
to undertaking the novel entrusted to
him he gained no further information
about her. Having briefly and plainly
stated her business, she rose and bowed
as he opened the door for her to de-
part.
Left aloneh he fell into a reverie. The
prefix to her name showed him she wa
either a wife or a widow, and her gem
teei appearance led him to conclude
the latter state was hers. He then
ondere what were the circumstances
In her life which had led her to write.
and from that his curiosity was aroused
regarding what she had written. The
general business of the day distracted
his thoughts from her, but that being
ended she filed his mind once more.
1t was now his general clsgtom to for
ward manuscripts to a professional
reader for his opinion; but this story
he resolved to read himself, and he
looked forward to its perusal with a
curiosity and interest he had not felt
concerning other novels submitted to
him. 1t was his opinion that the inner
life of a writer is reflected in his pages:
that on the paper may be seer such
subtle feelings, innate tastes, or strong
characteristics as lie in his heart. AS
George Bostock was DESTROYS Of learn
ing In this the nature of he
woman who's marked individuality too
strongly impressed him.
Immediately after dinner he began
his task, which he did not discontinue
until he had arrived at the last page.
about 8 o'clock in the morning. While
he read, time did not exist for him. for
the story, somewhat crudely told, alb
sorbed his interest, and revealed to him
a power which he had not, during their
orief interview, credited to the writer.
This power chiefly consisted Of present
Ing men and women of flesh blood.
q q n ay ~ We'd - 80 liza -s.-l II