The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1905-07-05

swer in low voice which was not
altogether firm. 'the lines, Miss
Hope, which proclaim that of all
sad words of tongue OF pen, the sad
dest are these-it might have been"
The girl regarded him with eyes
which held unusual interest.
do YOU know" she observed in a
reproachful tone, "do you know,
Mr.. Lake, that | think you are talk
ing very wrongly"
Indeed" he returned, with a
smile.
eyes, indeed / dol At your age
there is no might have been. Shall
be- ought to be your motto and moth
ing else"
He laughed bitterly.
'Aly 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 flame had leaped into her
filmy 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 flame was extinguished.
Maisie. terrified and well nigh on
the point of fainting, was borne
away to Mrs. Parker Jones room,
and a 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 l am to see youp she
said softly. ''But, oh, how can l
thank you for what you did last
night? One cannot thank a person
for saving ones life as if it was a
Christmas present.
'"Then why not dispense with
thanks altogether" he said as he
took her hand.
''How nicely you tslkP she said.
Nov, suppose YOU bring up a chair
close to this sofa and tell me all
about yourself, for 1 feel sure you
have had an interesting history"
There was something in her face
and in her voice which wooed conf
dence, and a moment later Talbot
found himself in the act of reciting
his story, ending with the episode
which had made him the fourteenth
guest at the dinner party on the
previous evening.
$50, you see" he continued
"you see, it was the merest chance
which brought me to your side"
"A lucky chance for me-" she re-
piled, and then, changing her tone,
she said softly:
"Mr. Lake, you did me a very
great service, and ] should like to do
something for you in return Have
/ your permission to speak to my IA
ther concerning you:"
Talbot's heart beat with wondrous
excitement. John Hope was one Of
the most powerful men in London,
and a word from him could achieve
wonders.
'Dare / ask so much kindness"
he murmured.
Chen ! shall speak to him, and
he shall help you"
She kept her word, and a month
later Talbot found himself appoint
ed secretary to one of Mr.. Hopes
mining companies at a very eonsid-
L