Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-09-03
THE WAY TO A
MANS HEART
By JOSEPH BURNETT
toopyright. 1904. by Daily story Pub. Co.,

HERBERT MILFORD was thorough
ly dissatisfied with himself and
with his lot in life. He had awakened
| to the fact that riches do not neces-
sariiy bring happiness.
| He had challenged fortune in the
arena of life and had won the joust.
He was very rich and very power
full man.
| He had gone at 1t early and worked
unremittingly He had been fortunate.
as we'll as faithful and found himself
| the possessor of great riches before he
had reached 40.
! When he found his fortune secure he
had turned to the enjoyment of 1t.
Now" he said, Il will indulge
| the dreams have dreamed during all
/ these years of grind" But the flowers
of fancy had turned to ashes at his
touch. The desires Of his youth proved
to be a mirage when put to the lips
| Society bored him. the pleasure resorts
| drove him distracted; travel tired him,
and Europe nearly landed him in q
madhouse The moment he left the
fascinating game Of business he be-
came lonesome, homesick and discon-
tented Once back at his desk his en-
thusiasm returned. he felt at home,
satisfied, confident and ardent to pur-
sue the game,
OF course he enjoyed the freedom
and the creature comforts his grea.
wealth gave him. and he lavished mon
ely on bis personal expenses without
stint. But he was compelled to admit
that his life was circumscribed by the
limits of the business world, and that
no pleasures, no society, no higher or
other ambitions or activities could be
his. He yearned for a home, yet
shrank from the thought Of matri
mony. He yearned for leisure and re-
pose, but was unhappy away from the
ticker. He dreamed of reveling In art
and literature, but realized that they
were for no half-hearted sutton, and
knew that he was tied to his idols.
The home yearning was the strong
est of all, and he bent to it to the ex-
tent OF securing an establishment with
a retinue of servants. Here he gem
orally slept, and sometimes ate-in
lonely grandeur and from penu pre-
pared by a $500 chef whose antocfacy
was approached only by his stupidity
But more often he dined at the clubs
or the exclusive restaurants. where, at
least, he did not feel abologetic to those
who served him. His living cost him
great sum. but ever and anon, as he
awaited some particularly expensive
course, or left the table, drowning his
disappointed appetite In the aroma OF
q Havana cigar, there would flash be-
fore his mental vision the old dinner
| table at home-on the rock-strewn
farm. He could fairly smell the steam
Ing dishes en- the red tablecloth, and
it sometimes ssenAeo that he could
reach the great platters or tried chick
en- and the fragrant dishes or ~.egeta-
bles and the great plates OF hoM,e-
! made bread
or all these things had Milford been
thinking one afternoon, after a futile
attempt at lunch at the club, as he
wandered perfunctorily through a
great apartment building of the cheap
er class on which he was about to
make considerable loan. For once the
business in hand seemed of secondary
Importance and he lounged idly
through the labyrinth of halls and cor
ridors unseeing and unaware. his soul
full OF bitterness and his body full OF
WEAKNESS. OF what avail his successes.
his money. his power when it could
not buy for him that which he crayed
his lost youth and freshness and ioy?
He leaned against the wall heavily.
oppressed by the gloom of his thoughts.
Presently he was aroused by pungent
odor which permeated through his
thoughts ana his bitterness and as
sailed his ub-consciousness-an odor
which galvanized into very life the
memories with which ire was strug-
Cling. Yes, surely 1t was-no. II could
not be: but. yes-no-yes most GER
ta!nly 1t was the odor OF fresh-baking
brea6-none of your bakery smells.
but the real aroma of homemade
bread He glanced at the transom
through which The tempting odor came.
At this instant stalwart young fell
low came chargi lg around the corner
and, without as much as looking At
milford, slammed open the door be-
meath the fragraTt transom.
What followed Milford heard inyol-
unfairly.
Hang It. Mabel; no iuck!" said a
;uline voice, mot q red cent un-