The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-07-22


Is
These were busy days for Fitzhugh,
DAYS filled with suspense and excite
ment and acute money fever. BY the
end of the year his entire capital was
tied up in spring wheat, which was
lurching and plunging like sinking
ship; and every downward sWoop
drove his fortune upward Though
Fitzhugh's money was all on paper ne
was growing rich with galloping leaps'
and already he was planning deal 10
follow that might send his fortune
soaring toward the million mark.
1t was N the beginning of March,
while the Metropolitan Opera COM
pany was playing a two weeks en-
gagement at the Auditorium, that he
received Through Artie) at his cruz
an invitation to a box party gwen ny
Mrs. Otis.
"WeH, well, tell us how you man
aged it,
81 told her. sputtered Artie, chok-.
ing with mirth, 81 told her l had
frightfully aristocratic fellow putting
IN at my place who was all the talk
of Lunnon. Mondays and Wednesdays
are her opera nights, sdontcher Know
and she'd just been telling me that
chan who was to have rounded out her
party tonight had failed her at the
last moment. and then [ mentloneu
this frightfully aristocratic ielloW,
and saw her prick up her ears, anu
e. t.lf1 ,,ofs IN
along. She doesn't know, don'tch
know, it's you, and she'll be dread
fully
"Her daughter will be there?
"Oh. yes. indeed She. was in the
room at the time. She'll be dreadialiy
surprised, too"
"No doubt. Sparkle, you've got the
brain of a Napoleon. Going homes
Then I'll take you out in my car.
They left the Union league club to-
gether and entered Fitzhugh's new
90-horse power automobile glistenlns
at the curb.
The perennial favorite, LA b.
heme," was sung that evening. LII
spite of Mrs. Otis (who had borne
Artie's Surprise with commendable
composure, sending only one terrify-
ing glance at that rash joker), Fitz-
hugh contrived to sit near Kathleen,
and by the time "Rodolfo" and Mimi
had chorused "Amore" he was subtly
making love to her, saying little py
word of mouth but speaking volumes
with eye and nlien.
1t was near the end of act tHo, ana
he did not know whether Mimi was
making merry with the Bohemians in
the Quarter Latin or dying of starva-
ton in s'Rodolfo's" attic, and he did
not know whether Mrs. Otis was
watching him or discussing with the
lady next her corset display In
Michigan avenue, that his hand found
Kathleen's and smothered it in
burning pressure.
81 have loved you," murmured he,
very close to her ear, "for three years.
Today, in fact, Is the anniversary
the second of March. Three years
ago today I found this"-from under
his cuff ne slipped dainty handker-
chief of exquisite lace and dropped it
in her lap 81 loved its owner then.
/ love her now. have always loved
her. / always shall love her. Every
thing l have owe to her.
She picked up the bit Of lace, bent
her eyes on it. The warm color had
crept from her cheeks, leaving them,
IL he could have seen, as white as
her arms and shoulders-an exquisite,
fine-grained white as pure and as
beautiful as the petals of a milk-white
rose
The act was nearing its close. The
ocean of melody had touched high tide.
II am waiting for my answer" he
whispered
She made no sign that she heard.
eff there's any hope, if I've ghost
of a chance, smile when you look at
me again. You needn't speak. Only
smile"
Some friends of Mrs. Otis, making
an entr' -acte call. had peeped in her
box TO say "how'do,'' and Mrs. Otis,
dimpling and gracious and stout (and
watching her daughter from the cor
ner of one eye) stood gossiping with
them a few moments in the corridor
entrance.
AS the lights came on Kathleen had
leaned back in her chair, pressed her
lovely shoulders against the cushions
and breathed deeply Now she very
deliberately walked to the seat her
mother had vacated, and, with her
back partly toward Fitzhugh, she en-
gagged herself in airy conversation
with Artie Sparkle and the third man
of the party. a middle-aged bachelor
named Chicxering. Not once had she
glanced Fitzhugh's way. Not once did
she notice his existence.
There is one thing at which even.
the most determined of lovers viii
stop. and that thing is Indifference.
Indifference raises wall there is no
scaling.
"Fooll -. Fool that was ever
to imagine she cared A girl
like her-what idiocyl"
He determined that when the act
ended he would excuse himself on
some pretext and --sh into the streets
and walk and walk, as he had walked
on this same night three years ago.
He did not look very far beyond
that. Only he repeated to himself