Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-04-23
The Fortune
Hunt ter
BY Clinton Dangerfield
Copyright. iar;. h, TIC. Mcclure

Ih YOU uiilht tflliiS INV. ! Sdil.
lookin. in open wonder ut Alicia's
calico gown and rural hat. what you
are wearing that ="tup for
"Docsn't il seem suitable To Il farm
house in the country: she inquired.
with Obvious satisfaction in her COS
tune.
Il can't S". why white lawny stuff.
with embroidery AMI things. the kind
you usually Wear. wouldn't Ice quite
as transformations" ! said discontent
edly.
Alicia leaned near 10 me. Really
She ought not Ia put that kiSsahle
mouth of hers ~ close Ia even a mar
ried man Then she whispered dra-
maiirally:
I'm poor. I've lost every cent
what" I cried. aGhast. Alicia is
not fitted for poverty.
''Sh. MOI truly. You know I'm
maxim. believe. | want In meet a few
men and know they are not fortune
hunters
Humanity is more decent than you
usually suppose it, 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,"
Well hut here said Alicia. with
such satisfaction that I knew ut once
some one was OH the tapis-'here one
can be absolutely sure"
Whom have you metz" I asked
sternly.
NO one said Alicia obstinately.
But the next moment she blushed rosi-
~ as tall. sun Drowned young man
came slowly up the wide steps Of the
piazza. A red handkerchief knotted
around his cOlumnar throat and a wide
hat set slightly a-tilt gave a pictur
esque finish Ia him. ] am bound to
admit he looked attractive.
Mr. Roberts, said Alicia. 81 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 ut the
lay of our country" suggested Rob-
erts. holding ont n strong tanned hand
and nearly smashir mine In IL.
As he spoke Alicia vanished. She re-
turned Immediately with huge pan OF
green peas and. seating herself on the
step. began Smelling them as industri-
ously MS though her future depended
ON II. Roberts promptly Joined her.
while ! discontentedly dropped into
Alicia's hammock. Alicia was too ut
terly unlike her bored AMI ennuied
self She laughed now in low ripples
and then lifted the shining. eyes of a
child to Roberts earnest and altogeth-
er too handsome face II would never
do. told myself. to permit Alicia to
rustic.
For the next two days I criticised
Roberts fiercely 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. lie openly and
frankly adored Alicia. who proudly
aired her poverty and exulted in her
captivation of n man who must indeed
love her for herself alone.
But I could not bear the thought of
II all. At last. for I saw matters were
approaching a climax. I determined to
appeal To Roberts generosity.
! got him off on a days 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 liv-
ing. he said. Yes: the old folks did
miss him. hut he got an extra good
chance Ia get Il job with Farmer Ket-
terer. and he guessed they could stand
IL awhile longer
81 suppose I said bravely. that
some day you will be thinking of mar
riage. just us they did once
He shot n peculiar glance at me.
And when you do marry" pur-
sued. ''of course you want everything
fair and abOveboard. You want no
chance for III feeling or mischief max
ers TO creep between you and your
wife because there was any misappre
hension nj the beginning"
lie turned red under his tan.
"Misapprehension: How could there
he! What do you mean anyway
The guilty look on his face gave me
sudden insight into the matter. Alas.
poor Alicia. This innocent rustic low
er belonged To the very class Of men
she most abhorrc,i. He knew who she
was. and he had deliberately let her
play her poor little play before him.
You know who Miss Alicia Gordon
isY
"Yes. I do he answered doggedly.
''She is Alicia Van Anderson. the heir
ess and society woman
And knowing this as you do"
said. bursting with natural indigna-
ton. won dare to let yourself make
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 a wo-
man under false prctenses You are
letting Miss Van Anderson think that
you love her for herself alone"