The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1905-12-30

In goriefy. Es had dropped old friend,
and cultivated men In whom he felt
no real interest; he had been erraud
boy for the matrons and cavalier fol
the buds; he had Joined more clubs
than he could afford and had pinched
In many ways to make up for the ex'
p%enditures. He had told countless
stories OF his life at Harvard, but lever
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
a been assistant to an invalid archi.
tect. He had talked wittily of plays
II 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 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 LET.
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 a fierce determination to
win an enviable position without the
help of society; to live a 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 a moment in a shaft of light
from the window Of a pretty cottage.
A young girl, turning briskly to
enter the house, exclaimed: so you
really come to see us at last. This
is the place. Come right In. Your
said she would write and tell
you we were here, but we thought she
had forgotten. Mabel is teaching, I'm
going TO the conservatory, Bob's In
business college and fathers got q
good job buying wheat for the Consol.
Why haven't you been to see
Us before?"
Wingate murmured something about
being very busy, as he meekly followed
he girl into the house.
Il suppose you're always busy" com.
the girl kindly. Out this way
m some building l guess? hope you
been to dinner.
Mother, here's Bertram Wingate.
lie vas out this way and has looked us
lp," she said, ushering Wingate into
he CHEEKY sitting room.
He was thankful for the easily as
umed explanations and glad to follow
he girl into the cosy room. Mrs. Whit.
omb greeted him heartily and the
Whole family gathered about him,
'ressing him to stay and asking news
t his people. There was an air Of
leasant affection and a Difference for
is accomplishments which was sOoth.
ng to his wounded vanity.
When he took his departure, Mrs.
Vhitcomb said, kindly. Cant you
pend New Years with us, Bertram?"
1T would be real charity on your
art if l may" said Wingate, flushing
'armly at the thought Of the other
harity dinner he had expected to eat.
ITS nice of you to speak that way
ertram," said Mrs. Whitcomb, strok.
lg his sleeve, but you know the pleas
re will be ours in having a friend
ON the old Dakota home t. share the
ay with u.s."
The New Years dinner was by no
cans the last which Bertram Win.
ate ate in the little cottage.
In the spring Molly, the irrepressi.
wrote to her Dakota confidante.
Mabel and Bertram Wingate are
ling together a good deal. He isn't q
t stuck up as some of the Dakota
.ople used to say Ire was. Father says
has drawn the plans for nearly all
Q big buildings to be put up this
miner. If he's going to be my bro
er-in-law. l hope he'll plan a cute
tie house for Mabel. / think mother
lows all about it, but she won't tell"
washington Home Magazine.