The Colfax chronicle., 1904-08-06
THE WAY TO A
MANS HEART
By JOSEPH BURNETT
IERaERr MILFORD was .,,oro

e
HERBERT MULFORD was thorough
lily dissatisfied with himself and
with his lot in life, He had awakened
to the fact that riches do not neces-
sarily bring happiness.
He had challenged fortune In the
arena of life and had won the jeust.
He was very rich and very power
ful man. Tf m
He had gone at it early and worked
unremittingly. He had been fortunate,
as well as faithful, and found himself
the possessor of great riches before he
had reached 40., 49, fsf go
When he found his fortune secure he
had turned to the enjoyment of it.
the dreams I have dreamed during ell
these years OF grind" But the flowers
of fancy had turned to ashes at his
touch. The desiIes 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 I'm q
madhouse The moment he left the
fascinating game of business he be-
came lonesome, .homesick and sdiscon-
tented. Once back at his desk his en-
fhusiasm 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
ey on his 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 suitor, and
knew that he was tied TO his idols
The home yearning was the stronG-
est of all, and he bent to Il to the ex-
tent of securing an establishment With
retinue Of servants. Here he gen
orally slept. and sometimes ate--in
lonely grandeur and from menu pre-
pared by Assoc chef whose autocracy
was approached only by his stupidity.
But more often he dined at the clubs
or the exclusive restaurants, where. It
least, he didsnot feel apologetic to those
who served him. His living cost him
a 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
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 on the red tabiecloth, and
II sometimes seemed that he could
reach the great platters Of fried chick
en- and the fragrant dishes of vegeta-
bles and the great plates of home
made bread.
OF al these things had Mulford been
thinking one afternoon, after futile
attempt at lunch at the club, as he
wandered perfunctorily through
Efoef apartment building of the cheap
er class on which he was about to
make a considerable loan For once the
business In hand seemed of secondary
importance and he lounged idly
through the labyrinth of halls and cor
ridvfs unseeing and unaware, his soul
full of bitterness and his body full of
WEAKNESS. OF what avail his successes.
his money. his power, when 1t could
moi Sgy for him that which he craved
Ibis lost youth and freshness and Joy?
He leaned against the wall heavily.
oppressed by the gloom of HIS thoughts.
Presently be was aroused by a pungent
odor which permeated through his
thoughts and his bitterness and as
sailed his ub-consciousness--an odor
which galvanized into very life the
memories with which he was strue-
Cling Yes. surely it was--no, it could
not be; but. yes-no-yes, most GER
tainly II was the odor of fresh baking
bread-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 charging around the corner |
and, without as much as looking at |
Mulford, slammed open the door be-
meath the fragrant transom.
What followed Mulford heard ihvolr !
unfairly.
Hang It. Mabel: no luck!" said a |
masculine voice. Not red cent un-
til they hear from old Jasper. Con-
found the luck! There goes the straw
berry shortcake, after all our plan
ming"
Never mind" replied a feminine /
voice. soothingly. 'rve got the crust !
corn rrrm