Los Angeles herald., 1908-07-12

with almost superhuman energy
10 unravel the tangled threads of his new duties
Chlngs had run pretty much after the fashion of
machinery that has been well oiled But David had
mad the feeling lately that he was not only part of
the machinery, but the machine itself and tonight
his head was buzzing with the whirr of wheels
within wheels
From the high office building in which he sat
the eye looked out upon the myriad lights of a
great city, gl1mmerfng through the falling snow
IN the early winter twilight. Just below was the
intersection of two of the principal business
streets, and people on foot and those in carriages
ana autos could be seen hurrying to and fro on
tner various pursuits of pleasure and business.
But David saw nothing of this as he looked-hs
vision was turned inward upon his own life and
its purpose
Three months had elapsed since that neverto-
be-gotten night when his idols skirts had been
rudely brushed aside, and he had been compelled
to see the clay feet well the utter heartess-
ness OF the girl he had worshipped from afar
through those weary three years. Had her last
words been a lash applied to his sensitive quiv-
ering soul, the sting could not have been keener
He had not realized how far his castle in Spain
mad reared. its shining turrets skyward until he
saw it tumbng about his ears
Fortunately swift upon his establishment
mad come the providentially-time words of his
host, THE most reliable inspiration is not
woman, but mans knowledge of his ca
pacity for work" That sentence reused the fight
in him, and he determined to accept McClintocks
Offer let the cost be what it might.
He was thinking tonight of what that decision
udu HlednC 10 MIN ana nlS-maCer1aly, at least,
the harvest had not failed--Eis mother and sisters
were comfortably settled in pleasant cottage in
a neighboring suburb His older sister had taken
up her music where she had left it three years
before when she had to the city, and the
younger one could at last have the art lessons
for which she had craved since her early teens
How glad he was to be able to repay them even
in SO small way for their sacrifice for him.
During the first days and weeks when he had
striven like mad man to prove that his own ca
pacity for work was enough to inspire him to true
success. A wonderful calm had been his, but the
reaction was coming, slow but sure, try as he
would to work around it, above it, 81 wonder"
he unused.
So deep his reverie that the sudden ring
of the telephone at his elbow recalled him with a
start. Mechanically taking up the receiver he
answered Hello" to the voice at the other end
"Is this Central, four double seven?" asked the
voice 1T is" answered David. as Mr. Angus
there?" "This is Mr. Angus speaking" ooh, 1
am so glad" and the little catch of relief in the
voice came to David over, he knew not how many
miles of wire. "This is Elizabeth McCntock
and | was so afraid was too late to catch you
before you left for Roselands. Father has had a
bad attack of rheumatism and will not be able to
leave the house for several days. He says he
must see you on important business and wished
me to ask you to dine with us tonight. Can your"
Mr. McClintocks wishes are law to me-" an
swered David, "and l shall be most happy to
come. What is the hour?"
1--WE dine at six thirty. | shall be glad to tell
father l was not too late. Good bye"
Elizabeth McCntock! The only daughter of
whom he had so often heard Mr.. McClintock
speak, and whom he knew to be of Edith
Rawston's set. Since the evening at his friend
KapperbackS David had had several invitations
to enter this charmed circle from people he had
met that night, and who enjoyed pushing a good
looking and plainly rising" young fellow, but he
had turned with repugnance from the thought of
meeting her again, and so had declined.