Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-01-20


settled IT, The lady turned so cold
that Walter Wellman himself would
have waited until spring to make a
dash for her in a dog sled.
But Pilkins was something Of sport
himself. You can't fool all the mil
lionaires every time the ball drops on
the Western Union building.
eff at any time" he said to A. V. d.
R., you feel that you would like to
reconsider your answer send me a rose
like that"
Pillins audaciously touched jack
rose that she wore loosely in her hair.
VERY WE'LL" said She "And when
[ do you will understand by it that
either you or I have learned some
thing new about the purchasing power
of money. You've been spoiled, my
friend. No; 1 don't think could mar
ry you. Tomorrow l will send you
back the presents you have given me-"
'Presentsr said Pill1ins in surprise.
81 never gave you present in my life
l would like to see a full length por
trait of the man that you would take
present FROM"
you've forgotten said Alice V. d.
R., with a little smile. ut was long
time ago when our families were
neighbors. You were seven, and was
trundling my doll bn 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 5 cents for it-you told me
you. l hadn't developed conscience
at three, SO l ate it. But l have the
kitten yet, and l 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 it's four walls of houses
spangled with thousands of insufficient
lights. Only 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,
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
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 seat re-
moved from the youth. He glanced
cautiously and saw Gas men do see and
women-oh never camp that they were
Of the same order.
Pilkins leaned over after 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 caliph
could have done. And when it came
to the point the youth turned to him.
soft voiced and with his undiminished
smile.
Il don't want to seem unapprecia-
tive, old man." he said. with a youths
somewhat too early spontaneity of adj
dress, 'but, you see. | can't accept
anything from stranger I know
you're all right and I'm tremendously
obliged, but couldn't think of borrow
ing from anybody. You see. I'm
Marcus ClavtOn-the ClaytonS of ROa-