The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-07-26
With CIauIdia's
Assistance.
4 Lesson In Literature and
a Lesson In Love.
sy INA WRIGHT HANSON.

'i--i-i-i~l~l.'!..i.i-i-;-i-s-s-s-s-i-l-s-i-!-s.4
From the doorway Fitzgerald looked
moodily at me from In front Of the
dresser. looked moodily at Fitzgerald.
"She refused ne." he said.
1--WE got to 60 to Mrs. Writings din.
ner," / answered.
Fitz nodded and threw himself heav.
lily into a chair.
II wouldn't 60. you know. after Mrs.
Writings niece refused me. SO she had
to rustic up you"
! glared at him. then jerked open the
Dop drawer.
Seems to me. in the interest Of hu-
manity. you might have STAYED of
your old proposal till after the dinner.
I've got to take Miss Whiting in. What
shall ! say to her? I'm no society
man."
you might talk about me. It's
darned strange she refuses me-" Fitz
responded mOdestly. "Of course I'm
fat. but what of that? Look at my
money!
turned from my hair brushing and
regarded Fitz with surprise.
''She's different from other girls" he
went on mournfully. You never
know what she IL going to do or say
next. She said II she ever found the
man she wanted to marry and he didn't
ask her she would propose to him. You
say word for me. old man. and may.
be she will change her mind about IT,
"All right" said and started for the
internal dinner. lf had been left In
peace could have translated few
more pages of that Latin was on.
Why ! should have (iguratively Of
course) fallen on my face and wor-
SHIPPED Claudia Whiting the moment |
saw her don't know. That any man
could help adoring her after he came
to know her Is incredible. but think
began before ever she said word to
me. It couldn't be because her eyes
were the blucst l ever saw or her hair
crinkled sunshine-I suppose a poet
would describe 1t better-or her lips
red as the roses she wore In her belt
One day since that dinner she told me
something about afiinities. 1t may he
that mysterious word holds the reason
What we talked of is vaguely remem.
bered. know that | walked home
ward carrying with me q vision Of
sweetest seriousness. for that describes
Claudia us she appeared that day.
When ! turned the corner. beyond
which were my lodgings. l saw Fitz-
gerald ut my gate. his broad back to-
ward me. remembered my forgotten
promise and fed incOntinently. could
not face him. Later ] stole into my
room like thief in the night.
Next day went to call on her and
to make my peace with Fitz. who had
interviewed me that morning. She was
In tie garden. and stated the object
Of my call ut once.
III you knew him better you would
appreciate him more." said and
launched forth at some length into his
peculiar graces and virtues. Claudia
listened. and when I had finished she
leaned toward me. smiling rOguishly.
"And didn't you care about coming
to see me? II 1t had not been for Mr..
Fitzgerald you would have come any
way. wouldn't you?"
To think that she should have looked
straight into my heart and discovered
my perfdy! almost let 60 Of my Sc.
cret. almost answered. II came be.
cause love you" And this on the
second meeting.
Then because ] must talk, and there
were some things must not say. !
began talking Of myself-my college
life. my failing health, forcing me ia
live for years in the pine forests; then
when my health was restored how the
woods still held me with their soil.
tudes, SO that was unhappy and III al
ease In society.
Il have quite a pretentlous cabin
there" l said. ''In 1t are my books
and my violin. Back Of II flows n
clear stream with trout waiting for me
to catch them for my breakfast. Moth.
ing Ii wanting there to make me en-.
tirely comfortable"
My face grew hot. for all at once ]
realized there was want--a void-to
be filed. That II l went back to my
cabin now 1t would be as lacking as
the body whose soul Is not within.
II was born and bred In the woods!
exclaimed Claudia. '"The stars look
closer and bigger than they do In the
cities OF the iowlands. Up there In the
mountains are ferny hooks and man.
santa: there Ia watercress. which
makes me hungry this minute. Oh.
know about the woods" Her blue eyes
were shining like the stars Of which
she spoke.
Then she asked me about my books,
and told her Of my published ones
and those In contemplation-dry old
tones. Why should ! have supposed
that they would interest young crea
ture like her? tN
But I rambled on. lost In her sweet
tompanlOnship. till the sun suddenly
dropped out Of sight ana I saw her
shiver In the breeze that stirred the
poplars. Then remembered Fitx.
"DO give him another chance" said
perfunctoriiy as rose to CO. She look
ed at rue seriously, but made no an
swer.
Jr<>r hx, svron xs,o nm w< "a a INA.