Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
81


the greatest desire of my life, and l
never shall forget the day 1 was
pledged"
He was always clear-cut, logical,
straight to the point. How direct he
had been in everything he wished to
attain, and he had been successful so
far. But would he be in this?
Men and girls passed slowly through
the room, silken gowns trailing.
Laughter and broken bits of conver-
sation came to them. The music had
stopped and the hum of voices grew
louder. The man leaned forward, his
elbows on his knees, caught at a rose
from her flowers and mercilessly pulled
it to pieces, crimson petals falling in
bright stains against the pallor of
her gown. What strong, capable, ex
ecutive hands, she thought, and what
ability they showed in their firm touch
and sinewy fingers.
"Then," he continued, latter college.
although l hate money for it's own
sake, | did not wish to fail in holding
my own. OF course, the firm took me
in. 1 had that to rely on, and now
my practice is such that can hold up
my head, when 1 think that have
hung up my shingle."
The moment was approaching. She
almost dreaded it. He was so resolute,
so fearless. How would she answer
him? He caught her glance and smiled
quickly, genially. The broken, petal
less rose slipped to the ground. The
music was starting again. Men and
girls sauntered past them. Men alone
hurried by, anxiously scanning faces
in search for missing partners. Hers
would find her in a minute. Would
he finish before then? Would she an
swer? How egotistical he had been so
far, and yet he was naturally so re-
served that he could only talk in such
a way to one for whom he cared
well, the most important thing in
my life is coming to me still-and l
am going to win in that, as l have in
everything else l have undertaken"
The girl glanced at him in a startled
way An impulse to flee, to escape the
coming declaration, seized her. How
she admired him, she thought, her
hands clasped tightly in her lap. In
the distance through the moving
throng, she saw the man who had en-
gagged the next dance, making his way
toward her. The minor of the music
throbbed in her ears. She closed her
eyes for an instant, shutting out the
face of the man opposite her, and
listening only to his voice.
$50 you see, Dorothy, 1 have taken
your advice in other things, and 1 am
going to in this. I intend to persevere
until I make the girl love marry me-
Do you wish me good luck?
Her partner had reached her and
stood waiting. The girl rose and smil-
ing tremulously laid her hand in his
for an instant.
II do from the bottom of my heart"
she said, as she trailed off with the
other man toward the music.
She left the next morning with her
father on an extended western trip, and
some weeks later found a letter from
the man waiting for her at the hotel
in San Francisco. Once in her room
she sank into an easy chair by the
window and tore her letter open ca
gerly. 1t ran on for a page or two
clear, concise discussion of plays, peo-
pie and events. Nothing in It, so far,
of the personal. The girls eyes glided
over 1t impatiently. On the last page
her eyes caught this paragraph:
"Helen is back from Rome. She ar
rived Wednesday and has been well
coined by her legions of friends. You
remember your advice to me? I am
going to do my best to win her. tell
you this because you are one of my
best friends"
The letter fluttered aimlessly to the
floor. A slight smile, tinged, perhaps,
with sadness played on the girls face
as she looked out the window at the
oke-tinged sky and over the roofs
of the surrounding buildings.