Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1905-12-29
AitheuaA As hal evxs es,vi.esS

himself that 10 cared for Marsaret
rather than John Titles heiress, wiz,
gate found his indignation at her mis-
apprehension Of his motives quite swal.
lowed up in the misery Of realization
that he was being laughed at for tho
very p%retensions which he had aat
tered himself were assuring lbs suo
cess. He turned away from the hand.
some house on Park avenue and walked
briskly toward the outskirts Of the
| city. There was some satisfaction In
crunching the snow under his feet AMI
in feeling the sting Of the splitting
sleet which cut his cheeks, where the
red of angry humiliatio, burned
through the tan so carefully acquired
on the Minnetonka links. For SIX
years he had struggled for Z position
In society. He had dropped old friends
and cultivated men In whom he felt
no real interest: he had been errand
boy for the matrons and cavalier for
the buds; he had Joined more clubs
than he could afford and had pinched
In many ways to make up for the ex.
penditures. He had told countless
stories Of his life at Harvard, but neve
spoke Of his family in Dakota. He had
often referred to incidents Of his trip
abroad. without limiting that he had
been tutor to a rich youth; he had told
dreamy tales Of a winter In Mexico.
carefully concealing the fact that he
had been assistant to an invalid archi.
tect. He had talked wittily Of plays
and operas. gathering his ideas from
the daily papers rather than from OBJ
servation. Indeed. he had done every
thing In his power to seem a man OF
the world and a favorite in society.
And ~now-when he had thought his
position assured-when he had
dreamed Of spending John Little's mil.
lions with perfect taste and passing his
days in an atmosphere Of wealth and
leisure with the grace Of one TO the
manner born" he found that he did
not seem to belong anywhere" and
was to be given a New Years dinner
out Of charity. while little Charlie LET.
lngwell, who never managed to get be-
yond his freshman year at Yale. whose
only accomplishment was driving an
a. oAC oiL IA IllO
was to increase his already large for.
tune. was to share the Little millions.
and "the boys" would no doubt laugh
behind his back because he, Bertram
Wingate. had angled for them in vain.
The whole shallow mockery. which
lay bare to others. for the first time
seemed thoroughly contemplate to
him. Angry tears smarted in his eyes
and his hands were clenched N his
pockets with a fierce determination to
win an enviable position without the
help Of society; to live q life too busy
for the tolerant patronage Of women
or the amused contempt OF men.
He had walked for nearly an hou,
before he became conscious that his
feet were numb with cold and his face
no longer felt the sting OF the sleet
Pausing irresolutely to get his bearing;
before seeking the nearest car line. he
stood for a moment in a shaft OF light
from the window Of a pretty cottage.
A young girl. turning briskly tt
enter the house, exclaimed: 80 you
have really come to see us at last. This
is the place. Come right in. YOU
mother said she would write and tel
you we were here, but VIC thought sh'
bad forgotten. Mabel Is teaching, In
going to the conservatory, Bob's II
business college and fathers got
good job buying wheat for the COnsol
idated. Why haven't you been to SCI
us bcfore?"
Wingate murmured something abou
being very busy, as he meekly followed
the girl into the house.
81 suppose you're always busy" com
mented the girl kindly. "Out this wa.
on some building | guess? l hope 20,
haven't been to dinner.
Mother. here's Bertram Wingate
d He was out this way and has looked II
n up" she said. ushering Wingate int
o the CHEEKY sitting room.
a He was thankful for the easily a.
sumed explanations and glad to follo'
the gil. into the cosy room. Mrs. Wh!'
comb greeted him heartily and tn
k whole family gathered about hin
Q pressing him to stay and asking new
Of his people. There was an air @
p~leasan. affection and a Difference 70
his accomplishments which was SCOTT
Ing to his wounded vanity.
When he took his departure. Mr.
Whitcomb said. kindly. Cant ~
spend New Years with US. Bertram!
ut would be real charity on you
part II I may" said Wingate. hushin
warmly at the thought Of the othe