The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-09-24
Architects
Of Fate.
By LOUISE SANBORN.

I'D
Herbert Bryce was not a sentiment
taiist, but practical, hard-headed
young man of stern New England par
entage, whose rugged manhood had
been formed in the school of economy
and self-denial. AS for love at first
sight he would have scoffed at the
idea If it had ever been suggested
to him, but his thoughts had never
wandered into the rosy realms OF
love, and none of his friends would
have considered asking his opinicn
upon any phase Of that subject.
He had never found time to enjoy
the society of the gentler sex, intent
AZ he was upon making success
o. his chosen professions that of an
architect. Nevertheless, almost un-
consciously he had formed an ideal Of
. home that some day would be his.
end OF the quiet, sweet woman model.
led In his imagination after his moth
or who should sit beside a work
basket under the lamplight to cheer
MIN when his days work was done.
Into this very conservative air cas-
tie there came crashing one day a
beautiful, tropical creature, the exact
ant'thesis Of the lady underneath
the visionary lamplight, and who so
hlled the modest picture-home that 1t
burst like soap bubble and the
work basket vanished into thin air.
In the flash of an eye Herbert Bryce
had fallen in love, and he was to-
tally unprepared The ground seem
ed swept from beneath his feet and
ne to be floating in chaos.
Madeline Carter was beyond his
reach, that he well knew. And there
\ in lay his despair. Moreover she
Belonged to the class that he. him
self had been wont to characterize
as the idle rich" whose sole pur-
pose in living was the indulgence Of
self Family instinct and tradition
urged him to condemn her as un-
worthy of his love. But the grim fact
remained that Bryce was face to face
with the greatest of human forces.
and he recognized it. His we'll or
dered plans were wrecked The lady
under the lamplight was henceforth
impossible; everything was impossi-
bis! And he had seen her only once
He strove with all his strength TO
shake of the spell. He called him.
self incoming fool and applied 9TH
or unpleasant and undeserved epith
cts to himself. But he could think
z Of nothing and no one but her.
She had sent for him to thanl:
him personally for having saved her
life, and he had sought excuses for
putting of the call. His physical
courage had not faltered when he hal
sprung into the street to seize the
heads of the runaway pair that
threatened the lives of the two wom-
en- in the swaying victoria. It was
when he was being lifted, half-un-
conscious, but not seriously injured,
from under the horses feet that the
look from her wonderful eyes had
entered his soul. And now he had
not the moral courage to be in her
presence and know what she was not
for him.
In those days of torment his In
innate friend. Horace Turner, wrung
MS secret from him. For the first
time Bryce learned that his friend
was distant cousin of Miss Garter.
Turner had never mentioned the re-
lationship. for, as he laughingly said /:
1T seemed like Dragging. But ]
know her welA, old man." he said.
&c in and win. She's not a snob,
and you are equal in manliness to
the best of them"
Put Bryce's jaw set itself. 81 would
Dever marry a woman so much rich
or than /. What could offer her?''
The ghost Of his air castle fiickered
before him a moment "She would
not at into home that / could give
her. shall call once. as courtesy
demands. but that shall be ALL"
But he didn't call Miss Carter len
suddenly for her country home.
in week Bryce received a note
signed Frances Carter" explaining
that the writer was Miss Madeline
Carter's cousin and secretary. That
Mss Carter wished him to prepare
Clans for bungalow which she wish
cd built on part OF her land over
looking the ocean. That Miss Carter
Nifhed her (the writer) TO deal witt