Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-11-16
At the
AmbasS ador'c
Reception
By A. M. DAVIES OGDEN
Copyright, 1905. by Eugene PARCELS
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IN extremely hot July day even for
Paris, and Leighton felt tired and dis
pirited. But ali good Americans must
30 to their ambassadors reception. Be
aides, there was a girl. Yet Leighton's
step did not quicken at the thought.
His pace, If anything. slackened. She
was a nice girl-oh, yes-and pretty
and rich. Nevertheless
The rooms were crowded with the
usual mob Of Americans, travelling and
resident, mingled among a few French
people. Leighton, watching idly for a
moment, caught sight of Miss Harris
wedged across the drawing room and
worked his way to her. At his sug-
gestion Of the conservatory she looked
keenly at him and seemed to hesitate.
Then she smiled.
) why, it might be cooler" she assent
ed. "You know the way?"
But n away from the crowd, amid
the luxuriapt green of the palms where
q little ripping fountain lent a note of
freshness to the heated atmosphere,
young Leighton fell silent. AS the girl
chatted gayly on, apparently unheedful
Of his quietude, Leighton studied her
carefully. She was slight and trim,
perfect In detail from the tiny patent
leather ties to the huge, rose crowned
hat tilted so becomingly on the wavy
hair. Yes, she was undeniably attrac-
tive. Yet once more Leighton sighed.
Perhaps it was the sight Of so many
OF his country people together, but un-
doubtedly Leighton was conscious of
q vague nostalgia. Would he ever see
America again?
He was a tall, clean cut young fell
low, with pleasant hazel eyes, but
round his mouth had deepened lines
which betrayed that existence was
proving none too kind. Five years ago
he had arrived at the Beaux Arts
eager, hopeful, ambitious. He had
worked hard, he had struggled pa
tiently, yet somehow success did not
seem to come, and now a terrible
doubt was beginning TO torment the
young fellow. Had be mistaken his
vocation?
From the beginning his father had
been averse to these artistic projects.
There is a place for you In the bank
whenever you choose to come home
and take it." he had said, but no
money of mine shall go for foollshness
and ~Frenchmen." Young Leighton, at
first too confident to dream of failure
and later too proud to admit the fact,
had fought along striving to the best
Of his ability. How could he give up
and go home? And, then, inst a month
ago he had met Miss Harris.
She was stopping awhile in Paris,
living with a rich old aunt and pos
sessed of the reputation of being her
self extremely wealthy. Apparently she
had at once taken a fancy to Leighton.
She asked him to call. The day after
he had left a card at the Ritz came an
invitation for dinner, and henceforth
nearly every day saw the young peo-
pie together on some pretext or other.
Leighton let himself drift. He liked
her, liked her immensely. To her very
finger tips the girl was sensitively alive
to the beautiful, her perceptions were
delicate and fine, her tastes cultivated.
Leighton realized fully her charm, and
yet he still hesitated to put the de-
cisive question. Her voice broke sud
denly across his reverie.
"You are not listening at ALL" she re-
monstrated gayly, yet with a certain
strained note below her mirth, which
Leighton In his abstraction missed.
why this wool gathering tendency to
dayT' Leighton laughed.
II was thinking how like a rose you
looked against all this green in that
pretty pink frock," he answered. Miss
Harris frowned a little.
II do not care for compliments" she
uttered dryly. "Pray let me tell you
again that l am leaving Paris tomor-
row."
Leaving Parish echoed Leighton.
"why"-
"We go to Lucerne for awhile" stat
cd Miss Harris. at is far too warm
In Paris now"
"Lucernew repeated Leighton again
rather b~lankly. He could never afford
to follow her there. II he were going
" dsh ueT IL muSL De uOuc now. Ills
mouth frightened. The girl, whose eyes
had scrutinized his face with a certain
eager Intensity, interposed before he
could speak.
II am going to Lucerne to join a
friend" she began rapidly, as though
there were something which must be
met and faced now. IL want to get
there before she leaves, as 1 have just
heard that she is sailing next week.
We have always been great chums,
this girl and 1; had no secrets from
each other and that sort of thing"
"Yes," said Leighton absently. He
was wondering how 1t would seem to
work In the bank. Was It fair to a
girl to marry her for her money! Aft
er all, dad was a good sort. II he could
only make up his mind to renounce art.
to confess his failure to dadi But at
the thought his throat contracted. Give
IN: admit that he was no goodl He
bent forward. inf
'Listen." he began unsteadily. "F'--
But the girl was still chattering o.
You zee, she cannot come to Paris"