Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-06-21

ing very wrongly"
"Indeed~ he returned, with I
smile.
eyes, indeed do AT your agC
there is no might have been. 'Shal
be- ought to be your motto and moth.
ing else"
He laughed bitterly.
"My whole life has been a fail.
ure," he muttered.
"Then make it a success hence
forth"
Once again the low, bitter laugh
left his lips, and he said in an un-
dertone:
"What is a man to do when he is
deserted, beaten back, crushed and
miserably poor?"
Maisie smiled proudly.
"The young" she declared, "the
young are never poor"
The words echoed through the
avenues Of the young mans brain as
he sat at the gorgeous dinner table,
and he was about to tell the girl
how much her counsel had encour-
aged him when an episode occurred
which sent him sick with horror.
In stretching forth her hand to
take some fruit from the dessert
dish Maisie Hope had brought down
the shaded candle that stood beside
her. The fame had leaped into her
flmy sleeve, and, 10, already she
was enveloped in frel
Without an instant's hesitation
Talbot Lake wrenched off his coat
and flung it around the girl, and
soon the fame was extinguished.
Maisie, terrified and well nigh on
the point of fainting, was borne
away to Mrs. Parker Jones' room,
and doctor was Immediately sum-
moned. He pronounced the girls
injuries trifing enough, but added
that the shock might prove serious.
But fortunately the doctors fears
were not realized, for when on the
following day Talbot called at her
house to inquire concerning the
girls condition he was told that she
was already on the point of recov-
cry.
"Miss Hope is anxious to see you,
sir" said the servant. "Will you
step into the library"
The young man followed the foot
man through the passage, and a mo-
ment later he stood in the hand
somely furnished room. Maisie was
lying on an ottoman, and she rose
slightly as he entered.
"How glad | am to see your she
said softly ''But, oh, how can |
hank you for what you did last
night? One cannot thank a person
Tor saving ones life as if it was a
Christmas present."
"Then why not dispense with
hanks altogether" he said as he
ook her hand.
GLOW nicely you talk~ she said.
Now, suppose You bring up chair
lose to this sofa and tell me all
bout yourself, for l feel sure you
lave had an interesting history"
There was something in her face
nd in her voice which wooed conf
tence, and a moment later Talbot
ound himself in the act of reciting
is story, ending with the episode
'hich had made ham the fourteenth
uest at the dinner party on the
revious evening.
$50, you see," he continued
you see, it was the merest chance
hitch brought me to your side"
"a lucky chance for me-" she re-
lied, and then, changing her tone,
he said softly;
"Mr. Lake, you did me a very
reat service, and l should like to do
for you in return. Have
your permission to speak to my ia
Ter concerning you?"
Talbot's heart beat with wondrous
John Hope was one of
lie most powerful men in London, {
I'D word from him could achieve
onders. ,
"Dare | ask so much kindness?" !
2 murmured. {
"Then | shall speak to him, and a
, shall help YOU" a
She kept her word, and a month t
ter Talbot found himself appoint h
secretary to one of Mr.. Hopes z
lining companies at very consid-
able salary.
FROM That day onward fortune
vored him. He embarked in a I
cky speculation, which was follow n
by several more. The hour ar s.
ged when he was among the rich
t men in the financial world, and e
sought out Maisie and asked her "
be his wife. g
at was you who helped me to o
L my foot on the ladder of sue p
ss," he murmured-"help me to !,
main there"
And Maisie, with a wonderful Joy
lining from her eyes, said eyes"
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