The Sussex Republican., 1906-01-06
At the
Ambass ador'c
Reception
By A. M. DAVIES OGDEN

Copyright, 1905, by Eugene PARCELS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Young Leighton went listlessly up
the steps Of the embassy. 1t had been
an extremely hot July day even for
Paris, and leighton felt tired and dis
pirited. But all good Americans must
60 to their ambassadors reception. Be
sides, there was girl. Yet Leighton's
step did not quicken at the thought
His pace, If anything, slackened. She
was nice girl-oh. yes-and pretty
and rich. Nevertheless
The rooms were crowded with the
usual mob of Americans, travelling and
resident, mingled among few French
people. Leighton, watching idly for
moment, caught sight of Miss Harris
wedged across the drawing room and
worked his way to her. At his sug-
gestion of the conservatory she looked
keenly at him and seemed to hesitate.
Then she smiled.
"Why, 1t might be cooler" she assent
ed. "You know the wayi"
But once away from the crowd, amid
the luxuriant green OF the palms where
little ripping fountain lent note of
freshness to the heated atmosphere,
young Leighton fell silent. As the girl
chatted gayly on, apparently unheedful
OF bis quietude, Leighton studied her
carefully. She was slight and trim,
perfect in detail from the tiny patent
leather ties to the huge. rose crowned
hat tilted SO becomingly on the wavy
hair. Yes, she was undeniably attrac-
tive. Yet once more Leighton sighed
Perhaps 1t was the sight of so many
Of his country people together, but un-
doubtedly Leighton was conscious of
q vague nostalgia. Would he ever see
America again?
He was tall, clean cut young fel-
low, with pleasant hazel eyes, but
round bis mouth had deepened lines
which betrayed that existence was
proving none too kind. Five years ago
he had arrived at the Beaux Arts
eager, hopeful, ambitious. He had
worked hard, he had struggled pa
tiently, yet somehow success did not
seem TO come, and now terrible
doubt was beginning to torment the
young fellow. Had he mistaken his
vocation2 4
From the beginning his father had
been averse to these artistic projects.
There is a place for you in the bank
whenever you choose to come home
and take It." he had said, "but no
money of mine shall go for foolishness
and Frenchmen." Young Leighton, at
first too confident to dream of failure
and later too proud to admit the fact,
had fought along striving to the best
of his ability. How could he give up
and go homer And, then, Just month
ago he had met Miss Harris.
She was stopping awhile in Paris
living with a rich old aunt and pos
sessed of the reputation of being her.
self extremely wealthy. Apparently she
had at once taken Il fancy to Leighton
She asked him to call. The day after
he had left card at the Ritz came an
Invitation for dinner, and henceforth
nearly every day saw the young peo-
Pile together on some pretext or other.
Leighton let himself drift. He liked
her, liked her immensely. To her very
finger tips the girl was sensltively alive
10 the beautiful. her perceptions were
delicate and fine, her tastes cultivated
Leighton realized fully her charm, and
yet he still hesltated to put the de-
cisive question. Her voice broke sud
denly across his reverIe.
"You are not listening at ALL" she re.
monstrated gayly, vet with a certain
note below her mirth, which
Leighton In his abstraction missed.
"Why this wool gathering tendency to.
day." Leighton laughed.
II was thinking how like rose you
looked against all this green in thet
pretty pink frock." he answered. Miss
Harris frowned little.
II do not care for compliments" she
uttered dryly. "Pray let me tell you
again that / am leaving Paris tomor
row."
Leaving parisr' echoed Leighton.
"Why"-
1--WE go TO Lucerne for awhile" stnt.
to hiASS AiHitios IL la lar ttu Wui1I
In Paris now
''Lucerne." repeated Leighton again
rather blankly. He could never afford |
to follow Ler there. Ii lie were going
to nsk her 1t must be done now. His
mouth tighteDed. The girl. whose eyes
had scrutinized his face with certain
eager intensity, interposed before he
could speak.
II am going to Lucerne to join a
friend" she began rapidly. as though
there We're something which must be
met and faced now. u want to get |
there before SHE leaves. as l have just
heard that she is sailing next week.
We have always been great chums,
this girl ond /; had no secrets from
each other and that sort of thing"
"Yes." said leighton absently. He |
was wondering how 1t would seem to |
work in the bank. Was 1t fair to a |
girl to marry her for her money? Art |
ir all, dad was good sort. If he could
only make up his mind to renounce art,
to confess his failure to dad! But at |
the thought his throat contracted. Give
In; admit that he was no good! He |
bent forward