Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-05-11

stood. that she had faith III his power
10 silence his detractOrs. then she
could better bear the tyranny in her
home
The morning papers pictured graph
ically the scene in his otlice-the outer
rooms crowded with mass of excited
men and women clamoring for their
money. while alone In his private Of
fee sat James Douglass Manning. his
head bowed. his whole attitude one Of
miserable detection.
Then Muriei could hold out no long
cr. She would so to him ut once, and
perhaps her feeble sympathy might !
help him to regain the courage he
seemed in danger of losing She dress /
ed herself in her most becoming |
clothes and slipped out OF the house /
quietly, thus avoiding the questions
which otherwise would have tormented
/ her conscience.
lanes Douglass Manning did not
look like 4 man on the verge Of de-
snnir rs he sat in his Office debating
letter after letter and smoking one
black cigar after another He was
bothered-yes, he would confess to
that-and the shareholders had pes
tered him with their unreasonable de-
mands for an accounting. but he did
not doubt his ability TO weather this
storm as he had weathered others in
his checkered career. He was busy, and
he looked up impatiently as his conf
dental clerk entered with card.
Il can't see anybody, Jones' he said
irritably. He waS Il big man. massive
of frame. massive of feature. with
power irradiating frcm every pore.
Its a lady. sir. She begs you will
see her She's not an investor. She
quite young.
Manning held out his hand for the
bit of pasteboard. Miss Muriel Dim
ock." be read. then wrinkled his brow
thoughtfully. But he had good mem
ory. aud he could look back ten years
without effort. The Dimock kid" he
murmured. He remembered how the
Dlmocks had scoffed at him when he
needed help and how he had paid them
back when he was on top OF the heap
But the kid had known nothing
of all this. and he bad been fond OF
the little mouse-like child. with her
timid ways and her big. frightened
ewes. He paused u moment reflective
ly. "Al right. Jones. Show her In
Then he dismissed his secretary.
Muriel appeared in the doorway. hei
hands clasped tight beneath her nun
~ her heart humping audibly to he
ears. her eyes suffuscd and her prett,
y mouth trembling.
Jim" she faltercd. then stopped
=, shocked into silence 10y the reality
" Here was no covering. broken mai
- needful Of woman's tender ministra
" tons. Manning's whole personalit
radiated confidence in himself.
He came forward wonderinglS
u Could this pretty, dainty girl be tn
at kid whose scrawny appearance In
u always called forth pity on his part
- "Muriel, child how you have grown!
'e' was all he could manage to get out.
Gu She smiled family. ITS ten year
since you've seen me. Mr.. Manning
al She could not call him Jim now.
ere He pulled forward n chair. and ST
sat down Ill at ease. What should st
90 say TO him, how explain her errand Z
lu. mercy?
'at There had been no frantic crowd
wv the outer rooms. and she had take
es' that as a sign that even those who
ei he was accused of defra udng had d
'oA serted him. but when she was usher
len into his presence and found him
cen bigger. mightier Jim even than she
her membered her little pretensiOnS melt
e'' into thin air.
- Manning, however. had tact.
saw that she was embarrassed, a!
though he had no conception Of :
"a cause, he did his best to put her nj
- ease. SO we'll did he succeed that Ii
,.o, few minutes she was chatting fran
~ with him as she had never done "
Tho any one else in her life.
.u Il can't explain why | came.
CIV wouldn't understand, but ! wanted ,
- to know that we remembered yo
lono She used the plural. but he understc
and skillfully he drew from her
81 whole story. He did not smile w
rou- he heard how she had pictured
.ities ruined and respondent, but sOmeti
her stirred in his mans breast, and Il W
They Of tenderness swept over him as
tilted realized the sympathy she would h
was given had he needed it.
lpted blessed little kid" he murmu
way gazing into her shining eyes. $50
and thought they'd done Tor me ana
allied came to weep over the ruin. the
one too. l never knew what Il
seem mans sympathy meant. I've had
him dealings with your sex. Ny mo
ieceS. died when / was born. and h0'
hung sisters. Folks call me hard !
sonal Perhaps l am, but you've done !