The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-12-29


and cultivated men In whom he felt
no real interest; he had been errand
boy for the Matrons and cavalier for
the buds; no had Joined more clubs
than he could afford and had pincbed
in many ways to make up for the ex.
penditures. He had told countless
stories of his life at Harvard, but never
spoke of his family in Dakota. He had
often referred to incidents of his trip
abroad, without limiting that he had
been tutor to rich youth; he had told
dreamy tales of 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 man of
the world and 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 Ito 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 Lef-
fngwell, who never managed to get be-
yond his freshman year at Yale, whose
only accomplishment was driving an
automobile and whose one aim in life
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 in his
pockets with fierce determination to
win an enviable position without the
help of society; to live life too busy
for the tolerant patronage of women
or the amused contempt of men.
! He had walked for nearly an hour
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 bearings
before seeking the nearest car line, he
| stood for moment in a shaft of light
from the window of a pretty cottage.
| A young girl, turning briskly to
enter the house, exclaimed: $50 you
have really come to see us at last. This
| is the place. Come right in. Your
mother said she would write an& tell
you we were here, but we thought she
going to the conservatory, Bob's in
business college and fathers got a
good job buying wheat for the Consol-
idated. Why haven't you been to see
us before?"
Wingate murmured something about
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 way
on some building guess? hope you
haven't been to dinner.
Mother, here's Bertram Wingate.
He was out this way and has looked us
up" she said, ushering Wingate into
the cneery SlCClnS room.
He was thankful for the easily as
sumed explanations and glad to follow
the girl into the cosy room. Mrs. Whit
comb greeted him heartily and the
whole family gathered about him,
pressing him to stay and asking news
of his people. There was an air Of
pleasant affection and a Difference for
his accomplishments which was sooth-
ing to his wounded vanity.
When he took his departure, Mrs.
Whitcomb said, kindly, Cant you
spend New Years with us, Bertram"
"It would be real charity on your
part if may" said Wingate, flushing
warmly at the thought of the other
charity dinner he had expected to eat.
"It's nice of you to speak that way
Bertram," said Mrs. Whitcomb, strok.
ing his sleeve, but you know the pleas.
ure will be ours in having friend
from the old Dakota home to share the
day with u.s."
The New Years dinner was by no
means the last which Bertram Win
gate ate in the little cottage.
In the spring Molly, the irrepressi-
| BILE, wrote to her Dakota confidante,
| mabel and Bertram Wingate are
going together good deal He isn't
bit stuck up as some of the Dakota
people used to say he was. Father says
he has drawn the plans for nearly all
the big buildings to be put up this
summer. If he's going to be my bro
ther-in-law, hope he'll plan a cute
| little house for Mabel. think mother
knows all about it, but she won't tell"
Washington Home Magazine.