The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-03-04

Rilas read the first five chapters and
then skipped over to the last page.
Then he began 1t all over again and
sat up nearly all night to finish it. The
next day he called it trash" but in.
vited me to have luncheon with him
at the Metropolitan club and rather
noisily introduced me to few old GRO
MES Of his.
\ month later be died. He left me
fortune. which was all the more stag
gering in view Of the circumstance that
had seen me named for my Uncle
/, John and rot for him.
| 1t was not long afterward that I
made u perfect fool of myself by fall
ing in love. 1t turned out very badly.
| can't imagine what got into me to
want to commit bigamy after l had
already proclaimed myself to be irrev
ocably welded to my profession. New
ertheless | deliberately coveted the ex.
perience and would have attained to It
no doubt had it not been for the young
woman in the case She would have
none Of me. but, with considerable in
dependence Of spirit and, ! must say.
noteworthy acumen. elected to wed a
splendid looking young fellow who
clerked in a jewelers. shop in Fifth
avenue. They had been engaged for
several years. it seems, and my swol
len fortune failed to disturb her sense
of fidelity. Perhaps you will be inter
ested enough in a girl who could re-
fuse to share a fortune of something
= like 100000 (not counting me, of
course, to let me tell you briefly who
and what she was. She was my typist
that is to say. she did piecework for
me as ] happened to provide substance
for her active fingers to work upon
when she wasn't tipping law briefs in
was she an able typist, but she was an
exceedingly wholesome, handsome and
worthy young woman
Somehow | was able to attribute the
6asco to an Unborn sense of shyness
that had always made me faint heart.
ed. dilatory and unagsressivc. No
doubt If had gone about it roughshod
and fiery l could have played hob with
the excellent jewelers. peace OF mind.
to say the least.
Still. some men, no matter how shy
and procrastinating they may be-or
reluctant, for that matter-are doomed
to have love affairs thrust upon them.
as you will perceive If you follow the
course of this narrative to the bitter
end.
In order that you may know me
when yon see me struggling through
these pages, as one might struggle
through a moraSs on dark night,
shall take the liberty Of describing my
self in the best light possible under the
circumstances.
! am talIish sort of person, moder-
a,ely honcly and not quite thirty five.
| am strong. but not athletic Whateve,
physical development | possess was
acquired through the ancient and hon
orable game Of golf and in swimming
In both of these sports am quite pro
ficient. My nose is rather long and in
GuiSitivc and my chin is considered tt
be snguIarly firm for one who has NJ
ambition to become Il hero. My thatch
is abundant and quite black. So there
you are. Not quite what you would
cali lady killer or even a lady's man
| fancy you'll say.
Yon will be surprised to learn, how
ever, that secretly | am of a rather TO
mantle, imaginative turn Of mind
Since earliest childhood ! have consort
ed With princesses and ladies of higt
degree mentally, of course-and my
bosom companions have been knight:
Of valor and longevity.
At thirty-five | am still unattached
and. so far as can tell. nnloved. Fo
the past year | have done little or n,
work. My books are few and far be
: tween. My best work is done wlel
the madding crowd is far from me.
A month ago, in Vienna. | felt thu
plot breaking out on me, very much a.
the measles do, at a most inopportun'
time for everybody concerned, and IN!
secretary, more wide awake than you't
imagine by looking at him, urged M
: to co(ldlc the muse while she was will
ing.
1t was especially annoying comm.
ms it did. Just as | was about to Sc
of for a fortnight's motorboat trip III
the Danube with Elsie Hazard ant
t her stupid husband, the doctor.
] The fourth day of our delectable ex
rlrsion brought us to an ancient tow
! whose name YOU would recall il | wer
> foot enough to mention it and wher
e we We're to put up for the night. o.
the crest OF II stnpendoTs crag over
t hanging the river, almost opposite tn
t town, which isn't far from Krems
= stood the venerable but unvenerate
t castle of that high handed old robbie
t baron the first Of the Rothhoefens,