Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-09-10
A MODERN GALATEA,
Hearts Have Changed Little
Since Pygmalion's Time"
BY cRITTENDEN MARRIOTT.

aS wynn tuteTeu lHe paTlOT u
young man who was warming his
hands ut the fire looked up.
Hello. Wykonr' he said languidly.
Its you. OF course
Wykoff did not seem any better
pleased nj the meeting than did the
speaker "IIumph!" he remarked dis
gustedly. II might have known Id
find you here. Meredith"
It's mutual" returned the other.
with a gesture OF resignation. II can't
for the life OF me see how you can af-
ford to neglect business this way. old
man. Maybe. though. you have seen
Forbes this morning"
wykcff shook his head. He did not
seem In the least interested.
'Ic was looking for you," went OF
Meredith. II don't know what he
ner that II was something important
lie said he would be ut his office till 3
o'clock. It's nearly that now. and you
had better hurry IL you want to see
him."
FORBES can wait Look here. Mere
9TH! I'm tired OF seeing you hanging
around here all the time. wish
Before Wykoff could explain what
he wished a girl swept into the room.
holding out her hands in grave well
come. How do you do. Mr.. Wykofff"
she said quietly. How do you do.
MFR. Meredith? / seem to be honored
this afternoon. Will you ring for the
tea, Mr.. Meredith? Sit down, MIR
Wykoff. You look troubled. hope
nothing Is wrong" Her tones were
calm Any one could see that she took
little interest In the affairs OF others.
"Wykoff isn't troubled, Miss Curtis.
That's his way of expressing extrav-
agant joy. lie was just saying how
pleased he was to see me here
The girl glanced ut Wykoff. who was
plainly seeking for some retort-and
finding none. Airy persitlage was not
In his line.
"You must not tease Mr.. Wykoff,"
she said gently. when is that sister
Of yours coming TO see me. Mr. Wy
koff? l want
The sentence was never finished. for
with rush small girl bounded into
the room and flung herself ON Wykoff.
"Oh. Mr.. Wykoffr' she cried Come
right out and sculp my snow man. You
promised you would" She caught his
hand and tried to drag him to the
door
Bessie. Let Mr.. Wykoff alone" In
terposed Miss Curtis. You ought TO
be ashamed Of yourself
A CLEAN came into Meredith's eyes
"out of the mouths of babes and suck
lings," he quoted gayly. Positively
you are getting quite reputation
Wykoff. Keep on and maybe you'll
get real client some day-somebody
who wants to be 'sculped' In marble.
to adopt Miss Bessie's charmingly ex-
pressive word"
Wykoff WINGED. No one knew better
than he that so far he had not made
moneyed success IL big art; scnlpters
have little honor In western America.
He had known Meredith all his life
and, being tongue tied himself. had
greatly admired the others glibness
until he himself had become target
for 1t. He hesitated now, angry ali
through. but fearing II he spoke at all
he might So more than he intended
Little Bessie. however. had no such
scruples. Deliberately she fixed her
eyes on Meredith. ~ don't like you"
she deDosed positively.
Bessie Miss Curtis was scandal.
lied.
Il can't help 1t, Sister Mary. l don't
like him. So there She turned TO
wykofr. "You promised" she reiter-
ated wlstfully. land I've got snow
pile all built and
Reluctantly wykoff rose. II really
did promise. Miss Curtis" he declared,
"and suppose ! must keep my word"
He spoke sorrowfully. for he hated
to leave the field TO his rival. even
though all he could do was to stand
and take punishment and pretend he
liked It.
But II Meredith expected TO profit by
the others disappearance he reckoned
Ills nOSl-Oi hOoNNcos va los
Curtis talked on In the grave. quiet
way that had stirred the heart OF more
than one man. but she gave him no
chance to bring up the question which
lay nearest to his somewhat sophisti-
Gated heart-the question he had come
resolved to ask before he left. Finally.
when the conversation began to Ian
guish, she rose. declaring that the
house was abominably hot She In
sisted on going out TO see what Mr..
Wykoff had done with the snow man.
Meredith made no demur. Wise In
the ways Of women, he knew better
than to try to force the conversation.
In the girls existent mood he did not
fear Wykoff and welcomed rather than
otherwise the chance to break some
shafts OF wit on what he deemed that
gentleman's sluggish intellect. Wy
koff, he thought, afforded an excellent
foil for his own brilllancy.
When he and Miss Curtis reached