Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-09-07
APPLE
BIOS @ NJ S
BY MARGARET RICHARDS
Copyright, 1905, by r. B. Mcclure


outstretched hands and shining eyes.
81 am so glad for you" she said i'm
pulsiyely, giving him her hands. Don't
try to pretend you are not proud of
yourself, for Of course you are. We
bought every one of the evening papers
and pored over them until I, for one,
am positively overcome with awe
when consider that rising young
architect, Richard G. Doane.' And
she swept him a low courtesy. And
fame sat lightly on his brow" she
quoted teasingly.
But she isn't sitting there yet" he
laughed, retaining the slender fingers
and holding them tightly in his own.
"This is only the beginning. There's
plenty of hard work ahead"
..You are sure to succeed" she inter
rupted softly.
Il can only hope So" he returned.
II have worked hard for it and feel
that it is in line with my other work.
Yes" be went on thoughtfully, II think
we shall succeed.
.tAnd then?' she asked.
His face was very bright and eager.
and she found, to her CONSERVATION,
that the color flooded her cheeks as her
eyes met his Embarrassed, she picked
up a spray of apple blossoms lying on
the table. She walked over to the
fireplace, drawing the pink and white
petals nervously through her fingers.
He followed her and stood with one
arm resting on the manteI.
II wonder" be said in a voice he
tried in vain to steady, "if dare to UNI
fold the rest of my aspirations"
why not?y she replied, trying to
speak easily. ''You know / care very
much for whatever concerns you" I'm
der the circumstances this was about
as unfortunate a remark as she could
well have made.
Reassured, be came closer. Like all
well regulated aspirations" he said,
with embarrassed hesitancy. they are
inspired by one governing idea" He
broke off abruptly and, with quick
step toward her, took her hands in
his. His embarrassment had gone and
his eyes were very tender. Surely
you know, Catherine, sweetheart he
whispered unsteadily; surely you
know"
For q moment her heart seemed TO
stop, then with all her strength Of will
she pushed him from her. NO, no.
Richard, cannot" she whispered bro
kenly. 81 have promised. l cannot"
promised what, sweetheart he
asked, puzzled by this sudden change.
you know, we have seen great
deal of Mr. Claiming lately" she went
on unsteadily HE is often here and
is always sending US things books,
game, flowers. Every day something
comes either for mother or me. Usual
~ for mother, though-so / never
dreamed-he is so much older
To-day" she went on, a mournful
little catch in her voice, This man
brought those" She nodded toward a
curiously wrought bowl on the table,
where massed in sweet profusion, a
wealth of apple blossoms overfowed,
pink and white and fragrant with faint
perfume. s'And this" She walked to
the desk, and, picking up note, held
1t out to him.
Mechanically he took 1t. Dearest of
all women" it began and he read it
to the end
His face went suddenly white.
catherine, surely you will not mar.
ry this man p he demanded hoarsely.
She covered her face with her hands.
"I have promised" she moaned
Promised! He doesn't even ask for
your answer until tomorrow night"
Il have promised mother" she ex-
planned, with gentle dignity. There
are business reasons l cannot explain.
He was very kind three years ago
when father died We owe 1t to him
to do anything we cam
1T is absurd! Quixotic! The man
is three times your age" he returned
holly. Then his voice changed and he
took the slender hands in his. Sure
~ you will not do this thing-let me
talk to your mother" he pleaded
gently.
Mother must not know she said.
Had you seen the distress in moth
er's face you would know must do
it." she continued Don't you under
stand?" she ended plaintively.
mo, don't" he answered grimly,
''but do understand that John Chan
ming Is worth a couple of millions.
Women are all alike" he went on, with
sudden bitterness. ITS never what a
man Is, but what he has that tips the
scale. Love cannot compete with
Bradstreet I've been the usual kind
Of fool, suppose be ended, with a
bitter little laugh.
If he had taken her in his arms,
then and there, 1t would have ended
differently, but he was very young and
very proud and very unhappy and
thought. it was a manly thing not to
show how much he cared. Or If she
had let him see that he was dearer
than any other man, millions or no
millions, he would not have gone, but
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