Amador ledger., 1905-06-16
Continued on Fourth Page.
A Little More Gold.

81 don't think much of Miss Gret-
ton, old man.
"Nor do |, now. When did you see
herr"
Last night It's bad mess. You
have wasted lot of time over it,
"Yes. l can't imagine what | was
at. l ought to have done better. A
little more gold would improve mat
ters.''
"I'd break it, if | were you, and
bave done with it. -
81 hardly like to do that
The two speakers went out again.
The moment they had departed a
girl came out from a curtained re-
cess. She was charming little lady,
with fair hair and pair of laughing
blue eyes. But now they we're far
from laughing. She stamped her
dainty foot and tossed her pretty head
with an air of lofty disdain.
''The idea So he's like all the rest,
is he--after gold. He ought to have
done better. Well, he shall have a
chance. If he doesn't like to break
it, do.
h1oOi ohuo giving N6Hb W H6r I06l :
lngs she rushed frantically down the
stairs and rejoined her father.
The next morning Jack RowIands
had a shock. Instead of the usual
billet douX from Edith came a rather
bulky parcel. Quickly opening it, he
found all the little love tokens he
had sent her. There was the volume
of Moore's poems she had treasured
so much, diamond ring, and a good
sized bundle of love letters.
On gilt edged correspondence card
he read these Words
81 don't wish to see you again.
Edith Gretton.
Tenderly taking up the parcel, he
locked it away in his desk.
"What was the meaning of it all, :"
he asked himself repeatedly.
, 4:
The next morning Edith and her
father we're on their way for a long
planned vacation in Europe. In few
words she told him she had "broken"
with Jack, but he could learn nothing
further. She was terribly upset and
unhappy,
go, how much she loved him! How
unworthy he was of any girls Lowell"
At first the beautiful Swiss noun
tains and the lovely scenery around
Berne helped to divert her thought,
but at best the time dragged wearily.
Her father saw all this, and looked
eagerly forward to the time when they
should go home. He hoped the little
rift was but lovers quarrel.
But how was Jack faring all this
while? He was going from bad to
worse. From the day he received
Edith's parcel there was marked
falling off in the quantity and quality
of his stories. The editors called at
tention to it.
All the ladies were portrayed as
terrible vixens, while heroism and
trusting, faithful love were the sole
property of the men. In fact, real in
terest in his work had gone.
He would shut himself up for weeks
and brook no interference-note even
from his old chum, Ted.
Women we're coquettes, heartless.
They sought mans affection simp-
ly to toy with. He hated the sight OF
them. And yet did he?
Every evening he drew from its hid
ing place little bundle of love let
ters. Over and over again he read
them; and from his pocket he drew g
tiny photograph and kissed it.
All! how he treasured that precious
picture! The heart hoveIs round these
sacred relics of the past. They may
be mere trifies, but after all is not the
world made up of trifies?
Again and again he Iacked his brair
lfn 70 h
strange conduct. Why had she cas-
him side with no word of explana
tion?
Suddenly an inspiration seized him
He would write book and revea
woman in her true colors. " H,
would paint her leading on her love-
to the highest realm of joy and happi
ness just for the pleasure of dashinl
him down again. The book would b,
the sensation of the year.
He snatched up his pen while tn
idea was hot. He was in the middl
of the first chapter when Ted bounced
in. Jack had forgotten to ''sport hi
oak
"Hurrah, Jack" he shouted, "I'v
got two months vacation; am off t.
Europe Saturday." Then noticing tn
pale, excited face of his friend, b
said:
Let me prescribe for you, Jack
Put all those beastly papers out o
sight, or, if you will, pack them u
in your bag and come with me. l
will make new man of you.
"Thanks, old man-no. I've jus
begun my life work-my masterpiece
This book will take the world b,
storm"
cit can be written as we'll, nay
better, under the shadow of the Alp
, than in the stuffy rooms. The novel
ist thought of Berne. He would b
nearer Edith. But, no--he dared no
go. 1t would only be tanning th
flame he was trying to kill.
Ted was in Switzerland. If onl
Jack we're there, too! Why shouldn
he look up Miss Gretton? Why ha
she thrown over Jack in that mysterl
Gus manner? Who knows? Perhap
he might be a peacemaker. He calIe
on Edith and her father. The oil
gentleman tried to sound him on th
n ''split, 'but Jack knew nothing.
Ted and Edith were sitting out on
: evening Watching the sunset. 1t wa