Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-29
BY E. M. JAMESON

the room to his writing table There he unlocked a
drawer in which the few birthday letters she had
written him in childhood, and two tr1es that
had belonged to his grwife. He dropped the in
with them, and locked the drawer again.
"It's bound to make dference! he said slowly,
and went up to his room.
A FTER one of the few sleepess nights of his healthy
young existence, Hesketh sat waiting, his eye on
the clock He was not troubled with any doubts of his
acceptance in law by the self made man who
controlled SO many business interests and whose lite
story differed enormously from his own Nan loved
him-nothing else mattered!
He fell into reverie now as he thought of her face
last night of the wonder of her beauty the warmth of
her lips as his own touched them for moment behind
the friendly shade of palm in the conservatory. She
loved him, and he loved her From the first moment
he had her. love had come to him with force, an
ecstasy, of feeling, that left him very humble and
very glad He had endured a torture OF doubt where
she concerned; but he had at all about her
father He glad to be rich that he need not be &C
cused of fortune hunting, glad that his family was un-
impeachable enough to stand with the BEST glad that
in all his eight and twenty years he had kept himself
free of entangements with women. 1t was nothing to
his credit; simply his inclinatons had led him in
that direction.
But now he thanked God that he had ugly door
in his past to keep closed against Nan.
In no way vain man. his life had conspired to give
him assurance and sane belief in himself. He was
young, rich, strong and popular with large circle OF
friends The serious side of life had only lately
come his way He contributed to deserving charities
when asked, he flung argesse to tramp if he encoun-
tered one He good naured, easy going, and since
take good place in spite of himself he had Travelled,
gone in for sport and amusement with zest worthy.
perhaps, of a better Hasty tempered he was
generous and possessed of of huor which kept
him from being in the least small minded.
There was an eagerness in his eyes and upon his
tanned face with its clean cut lips that Nan would have
liked to see
He presently sprang his feet and shook his cenched
hand at the clock Hurry, can't you? If l hadn't my
watch confirm you, I'd swear you were working back
ward! Eleven o'clock, she said, then his letters
would be read and his secretaries and there would
be few minutes breathing space to bestow on me be-
fore other affairs claimed his attention He's perfect
end for work. they say, and not the pleasantest
in creation to deal with.
He walked table Uttered with papers and
took up magazine. When he came to the page he
sought, he propped open and thoughtfuy considered
the somewhat harsh lineaments of the ironmaster.
Marshall Balamanes life story often figured in the
press. People apparently never tired OF hearing how
the great man had made his money 1t pleased the
multitude of workers to know that once he was in a
more humble position than themselves; that some
day. by stroke of the magician wand they too night
be mlionaires. They forgot that, together with
faculty for work, he had unusual business
acumen and that, above ALL he had done what is not
given to all men do,-sezed his opportunity, taken
the tide at the flood with the result that in compare
lively few years he ranked high among the richest men
of his time
All this Hesketh might have read in the words
rounding the great mans portrait; but he knew the de-
tails by heart Among them there not the aintest
hint as to how he would be likely suors for
his only chld's hand, and this the sole subject
of interest the moment, Hesketh presently flung the
magazine aside and prepared for his interview
RALAMAINES offices were in town, away from the
= great works he owned; but not SO far but that
from the topmost windows could be the huge CHM
news that beched forth flames and smoke and noisome
smells Balamaine went there nearly every day OF his
life The works his pride; next to his daughter,
the most desirable thing existence 1t thousand
pities people said that he had son to follow IN his
steps d tho offices Hesketb sent in his card Baa-
maine kept him waiting hardly moment. But during