Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-12-15
CHAPTER XIl.

.uXuiious room. With its cases of Old
osewood holding many rare and
re, ious volume quaint engravinSs on
he wall between the deeply recessed
windows With their velvet curtains of
live green hue. brx kets of wrought
md curiously twis,sd lion. uphoding
bronze busts CT the literary heroes he
everea, rich coored. deep-piled Turkey
arpets on the floor, the light of care
oily shaded lamps casting a soft glow
.pon his desk and leaving the painted
eiling and distant corners almost in
shadow
Something in his attitude, something
n his face, spoke of the depression
which overwhelmed him a depression
he never permitted TO master him in
he presence of Others. but which con-
lueral him completely in his moments
# solitude. Looking back upon his life
1t seemed 10 him he had gathered and
tored for himself but little of the hap
mess that falls TO the general lot OF
nanlina. Left an orphan before he
ould Well remember his parents, he.
i sensitive. iinpressionahlc boy. had
oeen reared by his maternal grand
mother aud Only surviving .clative. q
stern. unbendng old lady. who had
aeve; understood her charge or sue
eeded in Winning his affection.
nature which might have expanded
lnder tenderness Was depressed by
larshness: u wl!l that might have
bending under punishment. So that
.ariy in his wears he was driven, by
ack OF comprehension and want OF
sympathy 10 that inre: life OF loneli-
less which chills the hearts warmth
Ind makes the world around des-
ut. And the mind being most sensi-
dive in youth. The Impressions then re-
1f.t yri ~
nothing the after years may KNOW OF
pleasure compensate for ealiy days
darkened By pain.
AS say. reserved rchoolboy he had
sought few friends. but to these he
made he showed Il stanchness and de-
vntion seldom returned, and frequently
disappointed. so that here he found lit
tie escape from the isolation he then
scare ely understood. ON coming to
mans estate he had invested his pa,ri-
Elony in u publishing firm of which he
bee anne 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 II career
OF prosperity 1t had previously lacked.
Before he had reached his thirtieth
year he had bought out his partner.
and was now sole proprietor of the
business. Success continued to attend
him. and he was usually regarded by
ais large circle of acquaintance as Il
fortunate 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 ne cried out against
his fate for he was const ious there
was something missing from his life
which other men possessed some
enc horace. which he had tot held them
,ast IL happy conten;men. With &
nature capable If Gesp apd constant
affee ion. The love of woman had never
Enlightened his days. ard he regarded
NTH d. apair tne chilling Isolation which
M seemed poA. erlps:s 10 change,
On ,earhsns iia oiriee rather later
,t!an uauel ene morning he Was ;ni1 Z
lady waited IN rec ii.iil. CHANGING ~
har card he SAW bar i1ail1s- N ~. i'unl-
t,.. ti,a~. 4as unfamiliar ,;na he looked
forward Ia ias he,ti.o,ii cf 81 intef,;eW
pufsibl2 VIII, waai..iy HpnHa Mo
tEarlasrript Ii, ITO nliisr. which $40 &c
sisea i'm 70 publish that her genias
hight be made kno~r To the world;
probably with a novice possessing q
sense OF her merit derived from the
opinions Of her friends, who wished to
offer her production at u prize which
Il veteran novelist might envy.
TIE visitor who entered BIS office be
ionged 10 neither of these classes. III
a tlmid. nervous manner she asked TO
have a story she had brought with her
read with Il view TO pubNeallon. Ii II
met with his approval. There WAS
something IN the grace of har n'oye-
-nents that attracted him; something
~ the clear and almost lathetie tones
ai her Voice that stirred hin; some
thing in the earnest expression OF bel!
arge gray eycs mat interested him. lie
stroNe to lr9ions the interview because
OF Tie strange lfieaslre II gave iiiiia. and
IN the ilcIe OF llearins fieiails concern
ing tne HE anu 81 iedlliinb traits re-
Gaiiding 'fie iiiiN iduali,y OF the woman
before him
Eat un''!fr most "i h9r seh who Wis
tied hidl. she was ietircnt. icycAi
written ss!iie iha2aziiie stones previous
10 unaertakhlg the n9N@i entl listed 10
MIN nc gained no further Information
about her Having briefly ANA plainly
stated !ler business, si!ie rose and bowed
as ~ opened the door Tor her 10 de-
part.
Lift alone he fen into = reNe:e. The
prefix 10 her llaine showed him she wtls
eitael = wlte on a willow, a'ld he's gem
teel appeiHiti'ee ind tlnl to cpiaelule
the latter stlte Was hess He then
Mcndert 9 ~:ia' were ille CIRCUMSTANCES
lin NJ ne Wpleh hafi !tl heI 10 write.
aha from 'h;tt ms cuiie5iiy VS. tioased
fssaiaihS Mhai she nai Mihisn Ihe
sen.ial n!'fiilsss ~ me qa% ahthactei
ms 'llofsh.s7 itoif hei' pet That being
ehaeA she lhisl ms NINA once more.
IL was roy i'is se'ltSai custom 10 for
wafi nidiiis:lii1'5 10 q professional
reaaef lot i'i5 oilih3h. ply i!l.s story
ne .esolNea 70 lVai himself, and lie
looked .ofA'aia 10 Us pefusal With a
euilesily ana lil.eres. ne haa not felt
cohcefIihs othef iicHt!s SUBMITTED to