Middletown transcript., 1910-01-29
". 3. ROSE

him. He had always worked. He
had worked his way through
college. Now that he was sue
ceeding in business, now that the
old sting Of poverty was gone,
be was still busy with brain and
hand.
But, of course, it was different
now. It was work that be liked,
work that was lifting him above
the herd, work that meant in time
both fame and wealth.
And if there was someone to
share his hopes and his pros.
perity-if that fair girl across
the hall-but no, that was fool
ish dream. He had looked into
her eyes. There was no answer
ing CLEAN. He was altogether
tuulHGFGub w AG4s
He would go. 1t was folly for
him TO wait.
AS he turned to replace the
book he noticed that the room
had suddenly darkened. He
glanced toward the windows.
Dark clouds we're rolling up from
the west.
We are to be visited BY thun-
derstorm, fancy, said a pleas.
ant voice from the doorway.
Yes, David answered, with Lis
eternal monosyllshle. ] seem to
be unfortunate. I should have
started away sooner.
The girl laughed softly.
Do you know that your remark
is not fiattering? she said. OF
course you can't go now-not in
the face of this storm. Is that
another misfortune?
He tried to make his eyes tell
her that twas q blessing instead.
You are very kind, he said.
But if you will loan me an um.
brella, | will take the chances and
| run for it-and / have been con.
sidered quite a remarkable run.
ner in my time.
The girl looked at him archly.
Mr.. David Sherman, she said,
my father, your strong admirer,
must have a wrong impression
of your courage. He has given
me to understand that you are
not the sort of young man TO run
away from anything-and GER
tainly not from a harmless girl
whose aunt is i'll and who is lit
tie afraid OF thunder. And yet
you are talking of breaking rec
ords in your inglorious retreat.
David actually smiled. The
girl was quite sure she had never
seen him smile before. II was a
pleasant smile.
lam very glad to stay, he sim
ply said and his face grew serious
again.
The girl nodded at him re-
proachfully.
You must try to look glad, she
said. Come into the living room,
she quickly added, and we will
have a better chance to watch
the clouds roll by. The front
/ windows are so much larger. OF
course I don't want to draw yon
away from your reference vol
nmes. I can turn on the electri.
city, il you wish.
have finished my search, be
said.
She suddenly laughed.
It took you into Tennyson, |
see. And she pointed to the vol
ume in his hand.
He flushed as he thrust the book
back on its proper shelf.
supposed you were interested
only in material things, she said.
I picked up the book quite by
accident, he explained. could
have no purpose in opening it
because l know my Tennyson
almost by heart.
She opened her pretty eyes
very wide at this.
Tennyson is my favorite, too,
she said, but | don't know him
quite as well as that.
/ know it isn't q thing that
does me any credit, he FASTENED
to remark. But ! have an unfor.
tunate habit Of wanting to mas.
ter the thing that interests me.
lisa habit that usually takes time
I can very poorly spare.
They we're standing by the big
windows and the long living room
was quite dark. The rain had
commenced falling IN big drops
and suddenly . white light
streamed across the sky and .
heavy grOwl OF thunder closely
! followed it.
! The girl gave q quick start and
drew a little closer to David. He
/ had nnk stirred. buk was standing