The gold leaf., 1906-01-04
was his fault. he had changed, while

was his fault. BE had changed, while
She
When we come back to town
hope you'll find-lime-to call" She
put an odd little emphasis on the word
time"
Thanks awfully, but I'm not going
about much, and
He saw the look, half wondering,
half hurt, which crept into her eyes,
and he turned to her abruptly. His
face had gone bit white and his voice
had lost its even quality.
Il thought you knew. No; / lacked
the courage to tell you," lie said calm
ly. Il took business cropper. and
I'm going to Ponshkeepsie to sell der
ricks for the Graham people. And I'm
riding in u day coach because l can't
afford Pullmans."
She was staring ut him with wide
eyes.
Jack. ii don't understand. Oh,
why didn't you tell me this before?'
Because ! was blooming coward"
The train was slowing up. And now
you'll see why I'm not playing the So
cial game very strong this season" He
was standing in the aisle, her suit ease
in his hand. Remember me to the
Brandons; awfully nice couple"
She nodded her head and followed
his straight. square shouldered figure
from the car. The Brandon footman
was waiting for her.
Jack" she said suddenly. He had
swung back on the train. She caught
her breath sharply as he lifted his hat
and nodded to her cheerlly; then she
turned toward the depot and the wait
ing carriage.
"And never even said l was sorry"
That night she cornered her host in
the library.
"Mr. Brandon, what does it mean
when you come to a cropper in busi-
ness?"
THAT depends on the man, grille.
Who has been coming croppers:'
'Jack Moreland."
"A1oreland. eh?" said Mr.. Brandon,
fiicking the ashes lightly from the
cigar. "Well. the young cub was a
fool After his father had been dead
four years-four years, mind you-it
was found that he had-er-hypOthe-
Gated certain funds belonging to es-
tates for which he was trustee. Beau
tiful piece Of work the old man did
took four years to unearth it, and even
then the thing could have been fought
out in court, and his heirs would have
won Oh technicalitX. But young
Moreand lost his head and threw up
his whole share of the estate 10 cover
what he chose to call his fathers dis
honor. Nearly drove his mother crazy.
The old lady has plenty to live on and
has gone to London, where she will not
be forced to realize too keenly the fact
that her sen is selling
''She was very cruel-and he her only
boy" said Stella musingly
"And he was a fool, according to up
to date business methods. Better come
into the billiard room. They're playing
pool"
NO; thanks. IL want to run up to
At IOOlll lOf ii lew IuOuleulS.
And when she came back she carried
a letter, which she asked q servant to
take to the village for the early morn
ing mail. 1t was addressed to "Mr.
John {. Moreland. Care Graham Con
tracing Co, Duane Street, New York
City" and it ran:
Dear Old Jack - Forgive me. i didn't
understand. l thought you were not glad
to see me back. You might have known It
wouldn't have made any dinerence-not q
bit = do You understand? You haven't
played fair with me. but I'm coming back
TO town on Monday. and II you come up
Monday rIght-very carly-perhaps I'll
forgive yOr OH. Jack. Jack. why couldn't
you trust mc2 And it's going 10 be a
happy. happy New Year for US both. AS
always. STELLA
Absurdly disconnected, with words
lined once and twice. and not at all
the note a girl from a Christy illustra-
ton would be expected TO write. but
she knew he would understand-and
he did BEATRICE NELSON.