The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-07

ZatIldny a meaning glance, mlHnt
indeed have sat at her board for |
the first time, he knew that he had |
never made a better impression.
Her eyes, which had been heavy
and troubled as they took their
seats at the table. and as old as
eyes could be in that perfect set.
ting. began to look like a gray
landscape illumined by distant
flashes OF lightning. Before long
they were full OF life, and response,
and laughter And pride? There
was something very like pride in
those expressive orbs (not always
as subject to her will as she fan.
cied), as they dwelt on tho bril-
liant young journalist whose mind
darted tither and thither on every
subject he could summon that
would afford the opportunity Of wit.
ty comment. He even quoted him
self-skipping the past two months
and what had been evolved with
much deliberation and rewriting
sounded spontaneous and peril
nent. But in truth he was 80 genu-
inely stimulated before the brief
hour was over that when he re-
turned to his rooms he wrote his
column before turning in. He felt
as If fiery swords were playing
about hts mind, flashing out words
and phrases that would make his
brother columnists, no sluggards in
words and phrases themselves,
green on the morrow. For the mo:
.,.ent he was quite happy. as he al
ways was when his mind was alb
normally quickened, and he dis
missed women and their Internal
whims to limbo. -~',A.' -'- -'-.'f' - '--''
When he awoke at two O'Clock In
the afternoon his brain felt like the
ashes OF a bonfire and his spirits
were a leaden weight. He knew
what was to be expected Of reac-
| ton, however, and after his punch
, bag and showers he felt better.
He'd see her today and force some
sort Of understanding. =
But when he opened his door
and saw q letter in her handwrit-
ing. and evidently delivered by a
servant, as it was unstamped, his
hand shook and his half-refovered
confidence fed. This'time he made
no attempt at the farce of self.dis-
cipline; he opened it at once. When
he saw that It began without for.
mality he drew longer breath.
S''I am not going to see you until
Saturday" it read. when hope
you will take me to Miss Dwight's
party. Meanwhile Shall ask you
not to see Mr.. Dinwiddie nor any
one else likely to discuss me.
shall not care to stay long at the
party and il you will return here
with me I will tell you my secret,
such as it is. ] shall only say here
5 that had no intention Of making a
mystery of myself, for did not ex-
pect to exchange word with any
one in America. but Judge Trent
and his business associates. T came
ITO America for one purpose only, to
settle my affairs. which would have
dragged on unfortunately IL had
not been here to receive my. alien
ated properties in person. Il, know
many people. in New York. but j
had no idea Of seeing any of them
although tempted on account Of the
, money they might help me'to col
iect for the children OF Austria
But l had decided to leave that un
til the last minute. not only was
no longer interested In these ole
y tfriends of mine, but disliked the
explanations should be forced t.
!. give them, the comments, the curl
iosity. the endless questions. Wha
, I mean. by this you will know OF
Saturday night. :. ~ o. sc
1 But 1t is not the first time in nj!
life that 1 have discovered the FIJI
5 tility of making plans. My meet
Ing with you and the profound in
= terest you have awakened has up
set all calculations. 1 expected
s nothing less! II I had I:shoult
d haye told you the truth the nigh
0 We met. But it never occurred Il
y me for an instant that could low
!. my man again. / had done with al
" that years ago, and my intention
was to give my life and my FORUM
q to certain problems in Europ
II which I shall not bore you witt
Il here.
t. Possibly ii had, met you casual
ly with Judge Trent, or II ha
e hot chosen to avoid my old friend
y and met you at one OF Mei
= houses, as I might easily hay
lone. I should have made no mys
|. terry Of myself II indeed YOU di
) Aot know the truth already.
"But not only the curious circun
stances OF our meeting after you
: weeks Of silent devotion. hut you
" avn nersOnaIity. uuickened tn lif