The Detroit times., 1908-06-15

by mail aud by messenger in
very increasing volume. He al
WAYS trembled every time he open
ed his morning mail, and now. at the
beginning Of the new, year II was a.
most unbearable The beginning oil
the new year, he thought. was abso-
tureiy ttTF wurst-part of fef-theh-
everybody seemed in need OF money.
Every newsboy wished him a Happy
New Year just 10 get crown. ana
the letter carrier almost broke his face
trying TO smile more friendly every
time ne saw him--of course, IL ne
would only bring him good letter.
a letter telling that his ticket had WOE
the grand prize in the lottery. or that
omebody had left him large amount
OF money. though he couldn't imagine
anybody leaving him money. be would
OF course. have given him tip with
the greatest OF pleasure. but the
letters that he brought contained moth
ing but bills and again bills.
Torben Krag felt very sad and mei-
ancholy on this dreary dark wintry
day as he was sitting in his small
apartment on the main street OF pro
when IL costs too much 10 live In the
metropolis. He looked through som
French books he had just received.
for be must nave something TO read
In this God forsaken place then he
heard the rumble OF a carriage. Look
ing up he saw Henning
Brunn driving by He knew
his beautiful bays. and saw
a glimpse OF Brunn's tall elegant form.
Now he was going to the metropolis
To enjoy all the gayeties OF the sea
son and there he would meet Trolla
and Erik Friss. and they would all be
merry and happy and feeling well AT
ter all the heavy dinners and heavy
wines. The papers would contain ev-
erythIng about them. would tell that
they had been present al First
Nights" in the Royal opera house. that
they had given exquisite dinners and
God knows what not. They wero
lucky. these men who had more
money than they could use.
One OF them had been born the heii
OF a great feudal estate, the other
had inherited a million. and the resi-
of them had married money. but he.
Torben Krag. was sitting here lone
some, poor and nearly an old man
Why hadn't he followed the example
of his comrades? He had been the
most popular, lively. and handsome %
them all. and general favorite with
the fair sex.
Should 1t really be that he had not
been able 10 forget the little fair Ingcr
Holm whom he had loved years age.
and whom he had been on the point
of proposing TO when she surprised
everybody by becoming engaged TO the
young minister whom she married
shortly afterwards
oh. how he had hated this pale, mar
row chested. smoothfaced. nearsight-
ed minister at that time. or course
ne had consumption and was poor.
very poor. with a miserable little
church In the most distant part OF Jut
land. She would have been better of
had she married me. he thought. Well
that was old history. and foolish TO
think OF now He didn't quite under
stand how he happened TO think o..
IL. but then he remembered that IL was
the sight of Brunn's carriage which
made him think OF what he had just
told him about their old friend Storm
who had married He would have
sworn that he would never have done
IL. Storm had tried his luck In all the
families OF the county anG
had always been refused. and now
when he was actually So years OF age
he had married a girl possessing the
three necessary qualities that make
for happiness. youth, beauty and
money.
Why shouldn't he, Torben Krag be
when all he asked for now was money.
He looked at himself in the glass ana
smiled quite satisfied. II may do SO
yet" he said.
In a large old-fashioned house with
brownstone stair. Birgette Knudser,
only child OF the old millionaire KnuG-
sen was living. She was sitting In her
coy parlor. She was coarse, stout
with short grey hair. and heavy red
cheeks. She was dressed in a dark
wooden gown. and there was some.
thing masculine about her. Her intel
ligent brown eyes being the only fea-
ture which saved her from being ab-
solutely ugly. She was sitting at her
desk. and looked with a benevolent
smile with Just touch OF sarcasm on
a young man who stood before her
looking half offended. half dispairing.
so you want still more money. and
you want 1t Immediately. You Will
not get IT, am not going TO help
you keep on dissipating You're young.
and II is not good for you TO use that
much money You must watt
Yes, wait. that is what one Is al
ways told. Wait until one is so old
that one can't enjoy life any more.
And another thing, Aunty. | have
counted on getting that money. Peo-
pie know that I am 10 inherit your
money and. excuse me for telling you,
blt-Vhave borrowed money on your
name so you really must"
Must. oh. no. my child, you must
not be too sure, for maybe I have
somebody else want to inherit my
money"
oh. that Is impossible"
We'll, then. | might marry"
Fritz burst out laughing"
Really dear old fat aunty. Some
times you are amusing You don't
mean what you say When a woman
is "a years Odd she doesn't marry, ana
besides there isn't man who would
want you"
Maybe though"
ON. aow. you are only teasing ne
of course. there would be plenty OF
men who would be delighted TO have
your money. but"
But IL would be too bad 10 have to
take me in the bargain- Oh I sur-