The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-07-05
With Claudia 5
Assistance
D, INA WRIGHT HANSON
oanIlaLl. laa. y =. 3. I,.resIL.

From the doorway Fitzgerald aakis
meadiiy at me from IN trout u u,
dresser locked moodily at ritEgcr
aid.
she refused me he said
"i've got @ so TO Mrs, Writings dln
ner," | answered
riix nodded aud threw hlmself hcav
ily into chair
u wouldn't 50, you know. after Mrs
Writings nicee refused nae, SO she had
to rustic ~ you"
glared al him. then jcrked open the
top drawer
Seems % me, IA the interest of hu
manity, you might have staved on
your old prupasnl tin after the dinner
I've got 10 take Miss Whiting IN What
shall say TO herI I'm no society
man"
You might talk about me, Its
darned strange she refuses me-" Fitg
responded nodestly. 'Of course I'm
fat but what Of thatI Look at my
money!
| turned from my hair brushing and
regarded l'itz with surprise.
She's different from other girls" be
went on mburnfuly. "You never know
what she il going 10 do or say next
She said II she ever found the man she
wanted 10 marry and he didn't ask her
she would propose TO him, You say a
word for me, old man, and maybe she
will change her mind about IT,"
IAN right" | said and started for the
Internal dinner. If | had been left In
peace could have translated few
more pages Of that Latin work was
on.
Why | should have (hguratively Of
coursel fallen on my face and wor
SHIPPED Claudia Whiting the moment
saw her don't know. That any man
could help ad0ring her after he came TO
know her is incredible, but | think |
began before ever she said a word 10
me. II couldn't be because her eyes
were the blucst ever saw or her hair
crlnkled sunshine--I suppose poet
would describe IL better-or her lips
red as the roses she wore In her belt,
one day since that dinner she told me
something about aftinities. II may be
that mysterious word holds the reason.
What we talked of is vaguely remem.
bered know that walked home.
ward carrying with me a vision Of
sweetest seriousness, for that describes
Claudia as she appeared that day,
When | turned the corner beyond
which were my lodgings, ! saw Fltz.
gerald at my gate, his broad back to
ward me. | remembered my forgotten
promise and fled incontinently.
couldn't face him. Later ] stole into
my room like thief In the night.
Next day went to call on her and to
make my peace with Fitz, who had in
terplewed me that morning She was
IN the garden, and ! stated the object
of my call at once.
''If you knew him better you would
appreciate him more" | said and
launched forth at some length into his
peculiar graces and virtues. Claudia
listened, and when ! had finished she
leaned toward me, smiling roguishly.
'And didn't you care about coming
to see me? If it had not been for Mr..
Fitzgerald you would have come any
way, wouldn't you|
To think that she should have looked
straight into my heart and discovered
my perfidy | almost let 90 Of my Sc
cret. almost answered. II came be-
cause I love you" And this on the
second meeting.
Then because must talk, and there
were some things | must not say,
began talking of myself-my college
life, my failing health, forcing me TO
live for years In the pine forests; then
when my health was restored how the
woods still held me with their soil
tudes, so that was unhappy and III at
ease In society.
Il have quite pretentlous cabin
there" | said. 'In It are my books
and my violin. Back Of II flows a
clear stream with trout waiting for me
to catch them for my breakfast. Moth
Ing Is wanting there 10 make me en-
tirely comfortable"
My face grew hot, for all at once ]
realized there was a want--a void~-to
be filed. That II went back TO my
cabin now II would be as lacking AS
the body whose soul is not within.
II was born and bred in the woods"
exclaimed Claudia. "The stars look
closer and bigger than they do In the
cities Of the lowlnnds Up there IN the |
mountains are ferny hooks and man
xanlta. there is water cress which
makes me hungry this minute. oh, |
know about the woodsl' Her blue eyes
were shining like the stars Of which
she spoke.
Then she asked me about my books,
md ! told her Of my published ones
and those IN contemplation-dry old /
tomes-Wby should have supposed /
that they would interest young crea.
;nre Ike herr
But / rambled on. lost in ber sweet /
tn the sun suddenly |
dropped out Of sight. and saw her |
sblver In the breeze that stirred the
poplars. Then remembered Tiiz,
do give him another chance" ! said |
as rose to go. She look.
ed at me seriously. but made no an
swer.
For the greater part Of month Fltz /
was away from town. and ! saw Clau
ala nearly every day. Before going be
asked my promise TO say word In hls
favor every time saw her There are
limits to the duties Of friendship, but
because felt that he would
make her good husband. He was an
man and had more money
than be knew what 10 DO with
She was such bewildering little
rreature, was Claudia. Al the first
meeting she was 80 sweeily serious.
ghe had tod me since that she was
frightened to death of me because
knew 50 much. Fancy ~ The day she
told me. though, she was bubbling over
with laughter. and suspect she was
p0klng fun ni me III ber lrrepFessible
way. Then there Was ise morning