The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-07-06

she questioned, you have met with
discouragement-ss 1t not SOP"
The man sat staring into her up
turned face.
Yes" he answered shortly, that Is
all very wonderful and all very true
! and 1t is no easy matter for an I'M
known man to gain foothold In the
business world when one has no pre-
v1ous experience-no recommends
tons to offer"
The girl threw out her hands and
the bangles jingled. And yet" she
cried, you were born under a lucky
star, SO henceforth you shall rise, you
| Will attain great prominence and
wealth" She smiled at these oft
quoted words. BE faithful. be indus
trious. See-I-shall give the message of
your own particular star" She drew
paper and pencil from the pocket of her
crimson skirt, and writing rapidly,
folded the note note and placed 1t in
his hand, then catching up the sheath
Of roses and laughing at his bewilder-
ment, she was lost among the passing
crowd.
Mechanically Ashton unfolded the
note and read Call at the Office of
the N. v. R. r., New York city,
Thursday afternoon between the
hours of nine and ten O'Clock and ask
to see Charles Alden, the vice-presi-
dent"
He crumpled the paper excitedly
IN rosy no rI ho-
wftching face. Who was this little
creature who was SO well acquainted
with his Improbable past? Was she
merely hooking him, or could it be
possible that the few written words
held the slightest possibility of
chance?
He hurried over and entered the
tent where a number of gypsies were
| evidently packing up preparatory to
leaving for the night Ashton was
astonished to find that they were true
Romany people beyond a doubt
Il am searching for young girl
who has been telling my fortune" he
explained to a dark stout woman of
| the tribe. "She did not seem to be
one OI your people.
mo fortune has been told here to-
night except by my people," the wom-
an answered decidedly, ''if you don't
see the girl here now she has gone
home"
He wandered about the grounds and
| peeped into the booths until the mu-
sicians encased their instruments and
departed; but the reader of the stars
had completely disappeared.
When he visited the scene Of the
lawn fete upon the following day, no
trace of last nights festivities re-
manned. Ashton re-read the scrubbed
directions, and then smiling at his
own folly, packed his trunk and board
ed train for New York. The very
air of the morning seemed filed with
a new hopefulness as he fastened
along Broadway and 1t was not until
he had given the card bearing his
unknown name to an attendant who
guarded the entrance to the vice
presidents private sanctum that
| Ashton became appalled,, all at once,
at his own rashness. He was consid-
ering fight when the man returned.
"Mr Alden will see you at once"
he said.
"Eh." the Englishman exclaimed
"This way, please the man re-
sponded, and Ashton found himself
standing stupidity quiet in the pres
ence of a man whose shrewd eyes
seemed to be reading him through
and through
"You have no letters of recon-
mendation, l believe, Mr. Ashton?"
the vice-president asked
These pertaining to my character
alone" he replied.
The man at the desk smiled as he
looked over the letters and Ashton
| flushed
Very WE'LL" the vice-president said
| at length, 1--WE will take you on trial;
you must prove yourself. There is a
chance Of advancement here for the
right person, Mr. Ashton We have
no use for the other kind"
| He went to his hotel that night and
drew a picture from memory of the
girl whose face haunted all his
u,
said but never ceased his unavailing
search for a glimpse of her in every
crowded place.
Then he settled down to work with
determination and a thoroughness
of understanding which were sure to
win success. He allowed himself
three days vacation during the sum-
mer, and these three days were spent
with little old aunt who lived on a
New Jersey farm and the aunt wrote
glowing account of her nephew's
| advancement to her sister far away In
England.
1t was in October that Ashton re-
ceived the great promotion. He &C
| cepted 1t with his usual outward calm
ness, but this time 1t was he who
penned the triumphant news and his
letter was as joyous as that of a
school boy He was becoming accus-
| toned to the new duties when Mr.
Alden was taken Ill and telephoned to
| Ashton to come out to his country
place during the evening, as he de-
sired Information concerning affairs
at the Office.
The yice-nresident received Ashton