The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-08
The Foard & Stokes Hardware Co.

rocal interest
Almost fore she realized ii the
closing TIM had come, and she has
spent two hours In bis company. She
had sent away her carriage, intending
10 walk home from the museum, so
she permitted hifn TO walk beside her
From taking an interest In Brook
fields fad she was beginning to take
an interest in Tom Brookield himself
She found him well worth her inter
est by comparison with the idle men
OF her own set. Ir1na admired action
and though Brookheld had only just
passed thirty be had been a worker
for half his lifetime.
He had not become monomaniac
on his hobby, but he was a good gen
eral taiker, and, though they met only
at the Settlement house or In the mn
scum, real friendship soon sprang up
between them. Irma had feeling thai;
to invite him to her home would spoil
1t all. and bis dense ignorance Of the
fashionable and atiluent Miss Moul
taire was not lifted.
He believed her TO be teacher In a
fashionable school who gave part OF
her time to settlement work. and they
met on plane Of equality which was
refreshing to the woman after the for,
tune hunting she had so often to en-.
dure.
One afternoon late in the spring
Brooktleld came to meet the class an,
escort them to private view of a col
lege collection They had acquired
some of his enthusiasm. and he had
obtained private views of many col
lectlons for them.
Today he came, with beaming face,
and all the afternoon his high spirits
were apparent. He never shared the
little luncheons which wound up the
expeditions, but today he detained
Miss Moultaire for a moment.
''There is something would like to
say" ne pleaded. May l walk home
with you. or do you have to so with
the girls?"
II cannot very well leave them." she
explained.
"Then shall have to tell you here,
he said resolutely. 81 can't keep it any
longer. l am to be curator of the
Cheeswick collection in the fall and at
salary enough for two. VIII you
share it?"
Only for minute did Miss Moultaire
hesitate; then she placed her hand in,
his
81 will share It," she promised, with
a radiant smile. "Come this evening,
and we will talk 1t over"
She handed him her card with its
engraved address and hurried after
the girls, while Brookfield beamed
upon her from the top step.
But the beam had faded from Brook
fields face when Miss Moultaire came
toward him In her reception room that
evening. Instead of clasping her In
his arms he held her hand an instant
and then waited for her to be seated
you must think me a presumptuous
FOOL" he began. ito ask you to share
the paltly salary which this after
noon seemed so great. ! did not learn
until later who you really were, 1t
seems that l have been very dense
"You are still Dense" suggested
Irma, "Do you come to ask me tol
withdraw my promise of this after
noon|
"You must know how impossible it |
would appear" he reminded, Il be-
lleved you to be a teacher"
"You were the teacher" she cor
rected, "You taught me what love
really is. What does it matter that
have more than you?"
Il would not be considered fortune
hunter" he said slowly
"And l will not marry one" she re-
torted. ut is because you are not a
fortune hunter, because you love me
for myself, that said Yes this aft
ernoon, and shall hold you to your
promise. Instead of you being curator
of the Cheeswick collection we shall
have collection of our own"
Silently he came toward her and
looked down into the tender eyes No
word was spoken, but message was
exchanged, and Brookheld knew that
such love was not lightly to be set
aside hy pride Slowly he sank intol