The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-06-11

him rcassuringly. II rather think tho young lady
lett that you might not have the bother of thanking
her. It's awkward this gratitude business"
Though he waited all the next afternoon, she did
not conc. And lie could not discover her name,
even where an unknown young lady with red hair
had been staying, After three days of angry and
fruitless seeking, Mcrwn went back 10 town Set
ting down again to steady work was not easy.
He got back to the business of writing his novel
with stod, doggcd perseverance that the
utmost remove from enthusiasm, Each night, as
,hc read his days work, IT seemed to him wholly
undressing ct his tentative excursions to the
houses of his friends lent him no inspiration, He
found them amazingly commonplace. we'll bred
well groored with a cordial liking for himself and his
workout somehow shorn in his eyes of the human
interest which counts for the JOY OF companionship
He wanted just one thing,-to discover the hiding
place of his Lady OF the Sea. Yet he told himself
great many times that he fool; that though
she had saved his life she cared nothing for him.
And then morning, still thinking about her.
and wondering what manner OF she might
be in her native atmosphere and imagining tho
simplicity, the dignity, the perfection of her environ
mcnt, he upon her face to face, behind the
counter OF 4 huge white marble department store !!
She shaking out pair OF long white gloves
preparatory TO trying them on the hand OF a woman
seated before the counter and she met his amazed
fame, and her eyes fell Then she looked at him
again, her head high In response to his grave bow
she gave d curt nod, and in another moment she was
lost HIM in the quiet and deft performance OF her
duties.
He went home in a fever OF ragc-rage him
self rage at this woman with her air OF distinction.
and for her extraordinary trade. and sick amaze
mcnt that the thing could be possible And yet the
poet in him scoffed at the notion that she was any
lDb
against 4 background Of blue sky and green water.
lie thought OF his friends OF his stately. old-fash
oncd mother he remembered pretty fastdious
Jessie Van Ness in her dgnihed old New York en-
vironment and though he had never loved her. Jessie
Van Ness meant Il great deal to him, not merely
in herself. but because OF what she represented III
the conservative set which to Mcrwin the best
that modern city can show,
Yet 1t was not Merwin's mother nor Mcrwin's
friends who counted most in this struggle with his
own soul 1t was his own scorn he feared He had
always recognized that there warning forces
his nature the imagination which rcves in tho
beautiful and the unhackneycd wherever placed and
that respect for the very mundane conclusions of his
own kind, his class, OF himself as lie knew
himself best in the moments when stories were not
weaving themselves in his brain.
Two weeks later, at six o'clock OF an October
day. Fifth Avenue black with hurrying groups
OF young women swept suddenly from Inc doors OF
a great building into the streams OF pedestrians
which ttrong OF the proudcst streets in the
world AT the corner, little beyond the surgng
OF these eager young women, tall man waited and
watched
Al last came girl dressed severely in dark green.
Under her simple hat elcam OF bright hair showed:
her face was pale with tired lines about the mouth
and shadows beneath the beautiful eyes The man
came forward eagerly. and the girl faced him half
angry, no longer pale
"Mr Mcrwin!'