The Holbrook news., 1914-11-07
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TASTE FOR ORADORNMENT
By FRANK M. o'sRlEN.

~>-~~~ A-OAAJ A1ASOA AOCCAfO4 AAOA4 LIN chief bookkeeper a confirmation of hil own idea that he had completed hil first million, he, MT. Elton, remem bered that he had forgotten some thing.
 Tt was just twenty years ago to day." he said to one of his partners and the partner pricked up his ears as if expecting orchestral accompani ment-"that l left Farmerstown.
 Tt was day just like this down in Maine. spring in the air, but not SC much hellish noise. I haven't been back there since"
 Village turn out to say farewell to young hero?" asked MT. Henderson who was the floor member of the bro kerage firm and who from experience on the exchange made 1t a habit to omit super1uous language.
 Nothing like that" replied Elton. Those who wished I'd make fortune were those to whom my parents owed bills when they died, just few weeks before.
 "The only on-the-level farewell got was from Mary Sarre, the neighbor's daughter. She was all of fifteen. was only seventeen myself; only thirty-seven now, and an old man. And so she's thirty-fve, If she's alive" "
 Were you strong for her?" inquired Mir. Henderson. It was his coarse way,
 He never minced words, even in calling on customers for more margin.
 T think I was," said Elton
 ''Why haven't you married her7" pursued the blunt partner.
 q haven't had time." said Elton sharply. 'T don't know whether she'd marry me. I don't even know that she's alive. Probably if I saw her coming this minute I'd run. scream ingl
 But if had gone back in ten years and married her I probably would be better of. What have got now? A million, according to the books; an apartment with a man servant who is a constant reproach; an automobile whose real owner, the chauffeur, won't E let me jiggle the carburetor, and a case of occasional jumps, which the doctor calls the warning of nervous
 
 breakdown"
 That million might have some slight appeal to the lady" said Hen- derson, eff she Is still free and as attractive as of yore. What was her juvenile idea of a triumphal return 2"
 ''She asked me- said Elton slowly and reflectively, ''to come back hon. est and buy her the brooch in the gen eral store"
 "Ah. taste for adornment," com mented Henderson. Nothing beyond your present means, trust"
 "A plain little cameo thing" laughed square gold band around 1t. I think old Baxter wanted $s.75 for it; said the gold was 1s-carat. We used to look at 1t almost every day.
 T think" continued Elton after a pause, that I'll go to Europe. The market is dull and I'm tired"
 You'd better go to Maine," said Henderson Perhaps your chauffeur would consent to drive you there"
 Four days later Elton entered Farm erstown in six-cylinder triumph.
 No one seemed to know him and he was glad of it.
 The old church was there. and the old store, with new garage squatting beside 1t. Baxter's had not progressed much.
 Elton went in, bought three apples and asked to see collar buttons. While he trified with the buttons he scanned the show case.
 He had in his pocket a solitaire wor- thy of an assistant rajah's bride, but he knew the value of the dramatic and he felt that if-well. if he wanted to /say anything important the brooch would be help.
 The brooch was there and 1t was still $S.75. Elton bought 1t
 ''I wonder" unused Elton as his car sped toward the house of James Sarre. just how long that brooch was in the store and how much the loss on it was at compound interest"
 Elton was spared the embarrass. ment of asking for Mary Sarre.
 She was coming out of the gate as he neared her fathers house.
 He saw two things at glance; that she was unmarried and very poor.
 He might have been able to tell you | why he knew she was poor, but the | art of learning at a glance whether a person one has not seen in twenty | years is married or not is an art that | cannot be described-at least not here.
 Nor did he. when the car atonnad | beside her, need to bring into play any of the small, polite conversation | he had prepared in the fear that he might find her some one whom he hardly knew.
 For to him she was just the same as when he had left her, or as nearly the same as twenty hard years can leave a woman.
 She had aged. but not as he had. (Uhoro hia 1fnoa had formed har6 ,-s |