The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-03

parently. f1ard WOrh anu hdiu 81" -
no terrors for him. When he held in
cheek half thousand starving men, as ne
once did, it was remarked that no cooler
eve ever took the CLINT of sunshine on a
rifle-sight He had but one weakness,
and even that, rising from his strength,
was a negative sort. His parts were
strong, but they lacked coordination.
Now it happened that while his centre
of amativeness was pronounced, 1t had
lain mute and passive during the years
he lived on moose and salmon and chased
glowing Eldorados over chill divides. But
when he finally blaZed the corner-posJs
and centre-stake on one OF the richest
Klondyke claims, it began to quicken;
and when he took his place In society, a
tull-fledged Bonanza King, it aWoke and
took charge of him. He suddenly recol-
lected a girl in the States, and it came
to him quite forcibly, not only that she
might be waiting for him, but that Il
wife was a very pleasant acquisition for
man who lived several degrees north OF
h2. So he wrote an appropriate note, IN
closed a letter of credit generous enough
TO cover all expenses, including trousseau
and chaperon, and addressed it to one
Flossie
Flossie? One could imagine the rest
However, after that he built comfort
able cabin on his claim, bought another IN
Dawson, and broke the news to his
friends.
And lust here is where the lack OF CO.
ordination came into play. The waiting
was tedious. and having been long denied
the amative element could not brook
further delay Flossie was coming; but
Lorraine Lisznayi was here. And not only
was Lorraine Lisznayi here, but her cos
mopolitan reputation was somewhat the
worse for wear, and she was not exactiy
SO young as when she posed In the studios
of artist queens and received at Ter door
the cards of cardinals and princes. Also.
her finances were unhealthy. Having run
the gamut in her time, she was not averse
TO trying conclusions with Bonanza
King, whose wealth was such that he
could not guess it within six figures. Like
n wise soldier casting about after years
of service for a comfortable billet, she
had come into the Northland to be mar
ried. So, one day. her eyes flashed up
into Floyd Vanderlips as he was buying
table linen for Flossie in the P. c. Com
pany's store, and the thing was settled
out of hand.
When a man is free much may go I'M
questioned. which, should he be rash
enough to cumber himself with domestic
ties. society will instantly challenge. Thus
It was with Floyd Vanderlip. Flossie was
coming, and low buzz went up when Lo-
rainc Lisznayi rode down the main street
behind his wolf-dogs. At that time they
dned royallv in Flossie's cabin, on Flos-
sie's table linen. which caused the men
TO say sharp things and the women to
he spiteful. Only Mrs. Eppingwell, the
..captain,s wife, did not hear
Not so with Freda, the Greek dancing
girl She had no cause to love men, but,
by some strange alchemy of her nature,
her heart went out to women-to women
whom she had less cause to love. And
her heart went out to Flossie. even then
travelling the Long Trail and facing the
bitter North to meet a man who might
not wait for her. A shrinking, clinging
sort Of girl. Freda pictured her, with
weak mouth and pretty pouting lips, sun
kissed hair, and eyes full of the merry
shadows and the lesser joys of life.
Wherefore, she smiled, dancing one night,
upon Floyd Vanderlip.
Few men are so constituted that they
may receive the smile of Freda unmoved;
nor among them can Floyd Vanderlip be
accounted. The grace he had found with
the model woman had caused him to re-
measure himself, and by the favor in
which he now stood with the Greek dancer
he felt himself doubly a man. And Il
thin little thought began to lift itself, and
he fell to wondering whatever under the
sun he had seen in Flossie, and to regret
exceedingly that he had sent for her.
OF course, Freda was out of the running.
But Lorraine LisZnayl-she was just the
woman. Her life had been large; she
could do the honors of his establishment
and give tone to his dollars.
But Freda smiled and continued to
smile till he came to spend much time
with her. When she, too, rode down
the street behind his wolf-dogs the model
woman found food for thought, and the
next time they were together dazzled him
with her princes and cardinals and per-
sonal little anecdotes of courts and kings.
She also showed him dainty mssives. SUI
prescribed, My dear Lorraine" and end
cd Most affcctionately yours, and signed
by the given name of real live queen
on throne. And he marveled in his
heart that the great woman should degn
10 waste so much as moment upon MIN.
She played him cleverly till he went
away dizzy with self-delight and sorrow
ing for the world which had been denied
him SO long. Freda was a more master
full woman. If she flattered no ono knew
IL. Should she stoop, the stoop were
unobserved If man felt she thought
we'll of him, so subtly was the feeling con-
veycd that he could net fer the life of
him say why or how. So she frightened
her grip upon Floyd Vanderlip and rode
daily behind his dogs.
And Just here is where the mistake oc-
Cured. The buzz rose loudly and more
definitely. coupled now with the name
of the dancer, and Mrs. Eppingwell heard.
She, too. thought of Flossie lifting her
moccasined feet through the endless
hours. and Floyd Vanderlip was invited
TN the hillside to tea, and invited often
This quite took his breath away, and he
became drunken with appreciation of him
self Never was man so maltreated. HIS
soul had become thing for which three
women struggled, while p fourth was or
4ho x,,,., ~ claim, n And three such WO