, 1905-11-15

store as it stands-I took p'r'aps mos
a dollar today-turn the key an put 1t
in my pocket an git out there In the
thick of things, an If | didn't stake
out claims an strike pay dirt I'd put
out what was worth tloatin'. An I've
an idee | could make my innings. l
learned Il lot FUN them fellers that was
here lookin' over the lay of the land. I
zee 'em tryin' out the silver buttons
you saw" said Grace calmly.
q saw them. An now I've Il little
suthin' to the good suppose we Just
turn the two keys an try It. The worst
we can do is to come back again"
And they did, Captain Harding with
a fierce but gay determination, and his
wife with a beating heart and Il fluster-
osity.
ITS Jest ~tomfoolery," said her moth
err, with Il weary sigh, as she twisted
her sparse and hay colored hair out of
with things as they are-the store an
the place an all? | don't b'lieve Charlie
Harding IL Eve grow up-Cap'n Hard
ing. What's he cap'n of, %eXceptin' It's
Grace?"
Grace is cap'n, then" said her
grandfather.
81 can't tell where Grace got her am
bilious sperrit,' said her mother.
"Oh, l do know" said her husband.
81 was mos crazy to go TO sea, fust
v'y'ge. But one good wreck cured me-,
an p'r'aps twill them"
YES" said the old grandfather,
laughing half to himself. Il guess he'll
be glad to git back on to the land
ag'in."
Il wouldn't wonder If 1t all turned
out for the best" said Louisa, who had
come down from the hill with her sew
ing.
But Captain Harding had no doubts
on the subject. First thing, some
Clothes" said be. 1--WE heard say
there's nothin' succeeds like success,
an SO you've gotter look successful.
An I'll say one thing-if there's any
body thatll be a credit to fine clothes
it's my wife!'
And yet, as his wife walked through
the corridors of the Fifth Avenue hotel,
after returning from the far west, q
little awed by the velvet carpets, the
satin curtains, the gliding, the mir
rcrs, the splendor of the other women,
she was conscious Of something about
herself not as it should be. Her hus-
band was all well enough, a bluff and
ready man of business in a business
suit. But either she had on too much
or she didn't know how to put it on.
She felt she was unlike these grandes
danes who talked and laughed and
moved at ease. Her hands troubled
her and made her uncomfortable; her
hair lacked the touch. But still she
knew it was only a matter of time
she would catch on. Charlie, anyway
looked at her with admiring eyes when
he had any time to look at her at all
She IA more lonesome than at first
for her husband had become entirely
absorbed in his schemes.
Meantime she was seeing the world.
II NllI ny liz III liz pNSiiillLhS iIht q
panorama; it almost made her dizzy.
Yet, although at last she was a part
of it and as eager in the rush as any,
she was never quite at home in it.
Captain Harding had indeed had
some measure of the luck he had hop
ed for, and he was floating the shares
Of the Nimble Dollar mine in a way
tI,oE ,,nIn III, ,trif, hold hoN IpnatI
when he reported his successes to her.
Re had been ON the ground, he had
seen the mine, he knew what he was
talking about, he was not anxious for
too large a price, and he came out of
the transaction with Il small fortune.
"Now," he said, "if | did what my
folks and your folks would approve
of | should lay this down to grass
that means interest-and go home and
build Il house with bow winders and
a French roof and be the rich man of
the region"
YES" said Grace.
But you believe in me, don't your
asked he anXiously.
YES" said Grace.
GU ike 10 see me one Vi lue HlIl-
lionaires? I've as good a right to big
money as the best of EN-, and I'm goin'
in for 1t. I'm goin' into Wall street in
%earnestl' And Captain Harding had a
sense of assured success which made
him the happiest, best natured and
busiest mar alive. ""Tain't luck" he
said to his wife. "It's a long head. I'd
look pretty hidin' such a knack of bust
ness in the corner store, wouldn't [?
And as for you, I'm proud of you ey-