The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-12-06
Miss HarmOunt
lOriginal.1

WHICH, TIC wealthy MISS adTIuOuut
came to arrange for the hospital she
was to build L saw in her carriage q
lovely girl Of twenty, attended by
short, fat old woman, a sort of duenna,
l supposed, whose presence would pre-
vent any liability to scandal. To me
the old woman served as background
to bring out her companions beauty.
I understood that Miss Harmount was
enormously rich; but, judging from
her apparel, which was plain, and her
expression, which was sad, her wealth
did not bring happiness 1t occurred
TO me that like families who dress
plainly and put their, servants in gor-
geous lveries she lavished the finery
she might have bedecked herself with
Oh her duenna, who was ,arrayed in
silk. while her fingers sparkled with
jewels
Miss Harmount's face haunted me.
If | read, her dreamy eyes thrust
themselves between me and the page.
If | walked out, I saw them looking
u
impatient for the evening, for / had
an invitation to reception to be CIV
en- to Miss Harmount at the residence
Of one Of the magnates Of the town.
I was SO impatient that arrived
among the first. Miss Harmount was
standing with the hostess and her
duenna receiving" The host offered
TO present me to her, but I told him
that Miss Harmount belonged to us
all, and went up and spoke to her.
I tried to say something about n her
munificence, but she fixed her eyes up
on me with an embarrassed surprise,
and I supposed any reference to her
gift must be repulsive to her, SO /
stumbled In my speech, whereupon she
smiled kindly.
Giving place to newcomers, went.
away to dream of the lady and to
blame myself for not remembering
that she must be surfeited with being
called generous. She was so surround
eG during the evening that had no
further opportunity to get word with
her. Her duenna never left her, and 1
Judged that she must have some secret
influence over her companion and the
disposition of her millions, for no.
ticed that she received quite as much
attention as Miss Harmount. Doubt
less she was the key that unlocked the
young heiress upon her requests.
Miss Harmount made us several WIS.,
it's during the summer. One day was
passing the place where the hospital
was being erected, and. seeing her car
rage there, I went into the grounds,
hoping to get a word with her.
found her sitting alone on a wooden
bench, while her duenna, or manager
or whatever she might be, was walk
ing about the building experimenting
the work as if she had been a man. I
approached Miss Harmount with hat
In hand and reminded her that I had
met her at the reception. She had no
need to be reminded Of the meeting.
Indeed as soon as she saw me coming
her sad face lighted up with pleasure.
"You SEEM" said, ito have an ex-
cellent executive"
"She is a remarkable woman" re-
piled Miss Harmount, with the same
smile she had given once before.
81 suppose you will never have a
husband to manage your affairs?"
"Why not?"
"You women Of wealth can never
know but that you are loved for that
wealth and not yourself. Therefore you
either do not marry or risk making a
mistake"
"You are right. That is the penalty
women pay for large possessions"
Now I had been dreaming Of Miss
Harmount ever since l had first set
eyes on her. Yet L knew that her
wealth was an inseparable barrier be-
tween us. I chatted awhile with her
on the subject I had started, saying
presently:
"Would it please you to know that
there Is one who would love you for
yourself alone?
Miss Harmount lowered her eyes,
and color came to her cheeks.
EYES,"
81 know such a person"
"Who is hep
"To know who he is would do you
no good. He is poor. You are rich.
He would never take you and your
millions together"
"Would he have me give them up for
him?'
mo"
"Then why have you told me Of his
loveP'
Because to know there is one who
loves you for yourself alone must give
you pleasure"
Miss Harmount turned away.
"You have not told me this persons
name" she said presently. "Do not
tell It, This fortune, as you say, stands
between us. Think what a position
might place him in If were to say,
Take me without the fortune"
"He would be overjoyed if the for
tune had never existed"
"You may tell me his name" she
said SOFTLY