The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1913-12-31

ones, but unconsciously he had drifted
away from the little circle on Fleet
street.
THE shabby old place seemed far
more like home than my new quarters
ever WILL" he muttered, and a realiza
ton came to him that 1t was Alice
with her sympathetic voice and restful
ways who had made 1t seem so. No
matter how tired she might be with
her day In the schoolroom, she was
always ready to rejoice or sympathize.
'I'll send her some roses--the finest
I can find" he declared with sudden
rush of remorseful tenderness. He en-
tered flower shop and bought huge
bunch of velvety American Beauties.
Send them to this address," he told
the dealer and gave him a card.
Next door was the establishment of
an expensive furrier, and Lander
passed the window, he saw Marguerite
Fenton looking at set of brown lynx
The rich tones went well with her
brown eyes and tawny hair. AS she
stood there with the soft furs about
her, she reminded him of some bar
barrie princess. Ever since he had first
met her at a dinner given at the home
of the senior member of the firm,
Lander had been greatly fascinated,
and felt that her beauty and position
fitted In with his ambitious dreams.
Yet, strangely enough, today her beau.
ty did not make its usual appeal to
him that mingled with her sinuous
grace, was also something of feline
cruelty.
Those furs probably cost more than
my months salary" he muttered. "HeI
Unsuitable craving for luxury would
fasten itself. vampire like, on the life
blood of the man who marries her!"
He strobe down the street, feeling
that the crowded cars would stifie him
and longing for the sense of physical
motion and the singing air against
his face. When he reached his rooms
he found on the table an invitation
from Mrs. Dane, a prominent society
hostess. inviting him to attend a din
ner she was giving that night
That doesn't fit in with the load OF
work l must get through with before |
Office hours tomorrow" YEARLY he |
laid a package of business papers on
the table and rested his read in his
hands. what does it all amount to
what does life amount to?" he ques-
toned despondently. These people |
who invite me do not really care for
me. 1t is merely because fill in ant |
make an agreeable dinner guest. and |
for that ! have practically given VI
my old friends
He realized that his present mood
was the reaction from exhilaration OF
conquest which the past year of al
most spectacular success had giver |
him.
I'D like to chuck the whole thing
and go back. II only | could have q
talk with Alice in the old way. I'd feel
myself again He sat up with new
energy. Il wonder il she'd let me
conner"
There was need to look in the tsle |
phone book for the familiar number. |
With breathless suspense he waited
while the landlady called Miss Glea- |
son to the phone. and at the sound OF |
her voice his heart began to pound |
boyishly. She was serenely gracious. |
yet he detected a note of surprise az
he asked permission to call Then she |
spoke of the roses, and added:
81 can't begin to describe my delight |
over that quaint old English book. It
filled a long-felt want for the posses |
sion of a real first edition." Mechan.
ically he responded. questioning him |
self the while: What book? Did
make a mistake and send Miss Fen |
tons Christmas gift to Alice? In |
my logged WEAKNESS | must have Civ |
en- the dealer the wrong address" He |
thought of Marguerite's demand of the |
best as her due. and a sense of impish |
Joy swept over him at the mistake |
which had defeated the usual order !
He sent a messenger boy with q
note TO Mrs. Dane containing regrets
for the dinner. then dressed and hur.
ried to the lodging house on Fleet
street.
Shurre. and you're stranger
these days, Mr.. Landers." remarked /
the maid who opened the door As
she went upstairs TO call Miss Glea. |
son her round Irish face reminded him
OF q CHEEKY full moon. lie glanced at
the worn old haircloth sofa, and cen. |
ter table strewn with magazines, the |
familiar shabbiness of the little par.
lor made the past year seem as unreal
as feverish dream.
When Alice entered she seemed to