The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1916-01-15

settled IL. The lady turned SO colo
that Walter Wellman himself would
have waited until spring to make &
dash for her in a dog sled.
But Pilkins was something of a sporf
himself. You can't fool all the mil
lionaires every time the ball drops OF
the Western Union building.
"If at any time,' he said to A. V. d
R., you feel that you would like K
reconsider your answer send me a rost
like that"
Pilkins audaciously touched q jacl
rose that she wore loosely in her hair.
every WELL" said she. And wheI
1 do you will understand by 1t that
either you or l have learned some
thing new about the purchasing power
of money. You've been spoiled, my
friend. No; l don't think 1 could mar
~ you. Tomorrow 1 will send you
back the presents you have given me-
"Presents!" said Pilkins in surprise
81 never gave you a present in my life
l would like to see a full length por
trait of the man that you would take g
present from"
you've forgotten" said Alice V. d
R., with a little smile. 1T was a Ions
time ago when our families We're
neighbors. You were seven. and | was
trundling my doll on the sidewalk
You gave me a little gray, hairy kit.
ten with shoebuttony eyes,. Its head
came off, and it was full of candy.
You paid 3 cents for it-you told me
so. l haven't the candy to return to
you. l hadn't developed a conscience
at three, so | ate it. But | have the
kitten yet, and I will wrap it up neat
ly and send it to you tomorrow"
Beneath the lightness of Alice V. d.
RS talk the steadfastness of her re-
lection showed firm and plain. So
there was nothing left for him but to
leave the crumbly red brick house and
be off with his abhorred millions.
On his way back Pilkins walked
through Madison square. The hour
hand of the clock hung about s.. The
air was stingingly cool, but not at the
freezing point. The dim little square
seemed like a great, cold, unroofed
room, with its four walls of houses
spangled with thousands of insufficient
lights. Only a few loiterers were hud-
died here and there on the benches.
But suddenly Pilkins came upon a
youth sitting brave and, as If conflict
ing with summer sultriness, coatless,
his white shirt sleeves conspicuous in
the light from the globe of an electric.
Close at his side was a girl, smiling,
dreamy, happy. Around her shoulders
was, palpably, the missing coat of the
cold defying youth. 1t appeared to be
a modern panorama of the Babes In
the Wood" revised and brought up to
date, with the exception that the rob
ms hadn't turned up yet with the pro
tecting leaves.
Pilkins sat on the bench, one e re
moved from the youth. He glanced
cautiously and saw (as men do see and
women-oh, never can0 that they were
Of the same order.
Pilkins leaned over after a short
time and spoke to the youth, who
answered smilingly and courteously.
From general topics the conversation
concentrated to the bedrock of grim
personalities. But Pilkins did it as
delicately and heartily as any ealiph
could have done. And when it came
to the point the youth turned to him.
soft voiced and with his undiminished
smile.
81 don't want to seem unapprecia-
tive, old man," he said, with a youths
somewhat too early s%pontaneity of adj
dress, but, you see, l can't accept
anything from a stranger. l know
you're all right and I'm tremendously
obliged, but l couldn't think of borrow
ing from anybody. You see. I'm
MarpuS C1avfOn-the ClaVtOnS NJ R0a.