The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-07-10

From the doorway Fitzgerald looked
moodily at me from in front OF the
dresser. I looked modify At Fitzger-
aid.
"she refused me-" he said.
'Pve got to so to Mrs. Writings din
ner." 1 answered
FItz nodded and threw himself heav-
iIy into chair.
at wouldn't go. you know. after Ms
Writings niece refused me. SO she had
to rustic up you"
glared ut him. then jerked open the
top drawer.
"Seems to me, In the interest OF hu-
mainly, you might have STAYED on
your old proposal till after the dinner.
I've got to take Miss Whiting IN. What
GhaH 1 say to bert I'm no society
you might talk about me. It's
darned strange she refuses me" Fitz
responded modestly. 'iOf course I'm
fat, but what OF thatI Look at my
moneyT
1 turned from my hair brushing and
regarded FIts with surprise.
shes different from other girls" he
went on mourntuIly. ''You never know
That she Is going to do or say next
She said II she ever found the man she
wanted to marry and he didn't ask her
She would propose to him You say
word for me, old man, and maybe she
VIII change her mind about It"
IAN right" said and started for the
thermal dinner. II I had been left in
peace I could have translated a few
more pages Of that Latin work I was
on.
why should have (aguratIvely Of
counsel fallen on my face and wor-
shipped Claudia whiting the moment
Eaw her don't know. That any man
could help adoring her after he came to
know hcr Is Incredible, but think I
l-c-an before over she said a word to
re. It couldn't be because her eyes
were the bIuest ever saw or her HAIR
crinkled srnshine-I suppose a poet
would describe It better-or her lips
red as the roses she wore In Nsr belt.
One day since that dinner she told me
something about amnities. It may be
that mysterious word holds the reason.
What we talked of Is vaguely remem-
bered. I know that walked home
ward carrying with me vision OF
sweetest seriousness, for that describes
Claudia as she appeared that day.
When I turned the corner. beyond
which were my lodgings, saw Fttz-
gerald at my gate. his broad back to-
ward me. remembered my forgotten
promise and hed Incontinently.
couldn't face him. Later I stole into
ny room like thief In the night.
Next day I went to call on her and to
make my peace with Fitz, who had In
tervlewed me that morning. She was
In the garden, and stated the object
II my call at once
'If you knew him better you would
appreciate him more" said and
launched forth at some length into his
peculiar Eraces and virtues. Claudia
and when I had finished she
Leaned toward me, smiling rOguishly.
"And didn't you care about coming
% see me? If IL had not been for Mr.
you would have come any
way. wouldn't you?
To think that she should have looked
straight Into my heart and discovered
ny psrhdy! L almost let go OF my Sc
.ret. I almost answered, 81 came BE-
cause I love you" And this on the
second meeting.
Then because I must talk, and there
we're some things must not say, I
oeSan talking OF mysele-my college
lie. my failing health, forcing me TO
I've for years In the pine forests' then
Shen my health was restored how the
woods still held me with their soil
udeR. SO that was unhappy and m ut
Ehse in society.
~ have quite a pretsntious cabin
here" I said. "In It are my books
md my violin. Back OF 1t flows
.Iear stream with trout waiting for me
/, catch them for my breakfast Moth
NO ia wanting there to make mo en-
hrely comfortable"
NV face grew hot. for all at once
eaIIzed there was a want-a Told-to
70 hIIed. That u / went back to my
AhIn now It would be az lacking az
he body whose soul is not within.
at was born and bred IN the woOdsF
acclaimed Claudia. The stars LOOK
loser and bigger than they do IN ine
titles OF the Iowlands. Up there In the
Mountains are ferny hooks and man
nnIta: there IL wnter cress which
makes me hungry this minute. Oh.
rnow about the woodsr' Her blue eyes
we're shining like the stars OF which
Tben she asked me about my books.
ind told her OF my published ones
md those In contemplatIon-drY OLD
ones-wby should ] have supposed
hat they would interest young cTea-
ure like her? -
But I rambIed on. lost In Der sweet
sompanIouship, TIL the sun suddenly
Iropped out OF sight, aud saw her
thIyer In the breezo that stirred the
IonIars. Then I remembered FttB.
4. NanaaT nh