The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-12-12

| friends there-especially Alice Glea
son. Whenever he thought Of hej
now, it was with a sense Of remorse
| They had been very warm friends, bui
since his sudden advancement in bust
ness had necessitated more commodi
Gus surroundings, he had seen little ot
her. He had really not meant to neg
lect the old friends when he began tc
go more into society and make new
ones, but unconsciously he had drifteC
away from the little circle on Fleet
street.
THE shabby old place seemed fal
more like home than my new quarters
ever will" he muttered, and a realiza
ton came to him that it was Alice
with her sympathetic voice and restful
ways who had made it 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
can find" he declared with a 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 a Lander
passed the window, he saw Marguerite
Fenton looking at a 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. Her
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 stife him,
and longing for the sense of physical
motion and the stinging 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 | must get through with before
Office hours tomorrow" YEARLY he
laid package Of business papers on
the table and rested his read in his
hands. What does 1t all amount to-
what does life amount tor" he ques-
toned despondently. These people
who invite me do not really care for
me. 1t is merely because l fill in and
make an agreeable dinner guest, and
for that l have practically given up
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 given
him.
I'D like to chuck the whole thing
and go back. If only I could have
talk with Alice in the old way, I'd feel
myself again" He sat up with new
energy. 81 wonder if she'd let me
Gomez"
There was need to look in the tele-
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 as
he asked permission to call. Then she
spoke Of the roses, and added:
II cant begin to describe my delight
over that quaint old English book 1t
filed a long-felt want for the posses
sion of real first edition" Mechan-
ically he responded, questioning him
self the while: What book? Did /
make mistake and send Miss Fen
toms Christmas gift to Alice? In
my dogged weariness must have Civ |
en- the dealer the wrong address," He |
thought of Marguerite's demand of the |