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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 1909)
! .air, v.. BV 1 . -U V vv ---r "-- "W ' CWrWM, !. W riutsw. Cral ttU BJ.hu .Mrwd.l TTIINK I bv never bee raer amaied tbaa o (hat flrst dy that I saw htm Otto Bchmldt. Janitor. It ss In lb corridor of the dingy apartment house, where we three girls, without money and without friends, but with a fortune of youth, good health and courage, had taken room and started out. tach to fight bes flgbt (or place la lha workshop of tba world. ; ' Helen was library work at tha Drexel Institute. Judith waa tha secretary, r. rather, travailing companion, of tba rich and eccentric Mr a. Pblllpa (a "nervous - prostrate," who imagined that aba could not alaap en land) So my dear Judith waa con tinually sailing somewhere only to coma ailing back again ! Poor child. -aba. waa seasick . almoat half tha yearl and I a ' trained nurse." . lis stood side at tha foot ef tbe stair to 'let no pass. I amlled and nodded 'ta him, at which, Instantly, bl haala cam tog ether, arm to side, broom handle to. ahouldar. Ilka a musket head tip, aa ha gave the military salute of the German Army, " X am alwaye looking out for auch Inter , siting bit of human driftwood, ao reach "lng the flrat landing of tbe atalra, I turned and looked again. Ha atood facing me In tbe ' lower,! corridor, pollening torn braeeee a, . most unusual and plctureequ figure. He waa tall and allgbt of build, but wonder fully actire for a, man of hie year, which must have been over sixty. On his head u a Ilk skull-cap, and around It hie snow white hair, worn quite long, atood ont like the aoft woolly mops my grandmother used to make. . A close-fitting Norfolk Jacket., dark trousers and a blue gingham apron '. completed hie costume, to which a scarlet necktie added a touch of color. Ilia brow was broad and noble, the eyes of a deep violet blue, fathomless, yet withal a sweet and childlike expression of guile lessnes. I was startled by the extraor dinary brilliance of his eyes eritable win 1 would like soma lugs for the Bra. Otto I am chilled with my long walk" and I shivered a llitle. lie hurried out. his atep quick and light as a boy. By and by he returned, his arma full of hickory logs. He knelt on tbe hearth and quickly the dreary ebadows of tha lata afternoon were chased Into the farthest corners of the loog, Ipw room by the glow of the biasing lire. I thanked him; hut aa be turned to go, t caught a look on his old face ae he peeved the open piano, a look of auch wlatfulnesa and unutterable longing as I have never eeen sate on tbe face of little, ragged children la front ef the ahop window at Christmas time. , He gave me one beseeching look eoeh a look of entreaty aa a child might who mast not ask ..for the thing. It wants and was passing out. when X, being bora democratic and having acquired -an uneon ventlonallty which la the despair of the girts, said, "Are yon fond of mualo, OttoT Do yon playr . Ha caught his breath aharply, a wonder ful light on his face "O lady. If yon will but permit mel It la years that I have not the keys touched r i And be Mated himself on the stool, struck a few chorda.' paused, and then, seeming to. forget my presence altogether, he' played on and on marches, to which years ago a hot-headed German youth had, perhaps, ' rushed Into battle . with his Emperor's legions a bit of one of Wagner- opera a rollicking drinking ' aontc then a love ong. aoft knd alow. - with a plaintive refrain. Abruptly he stopped, bringing hla hands down upon the keys with a crash of die- cord I He rose to' his feet covered with con fusion, for. standing In the doorway, look , tng in speechless amazement from me . to ' my strange visitor, were the two girls! . -This .. Otto 8chm.dC the new JItg,.- mad. up flr. for m. '. c losed the explain.! X. ahaking with silent laughter. A heavy shutt.. -r .. .wi.l.' J'v ' - " ' "a v '" alnglng la lis gilded cage In the aunehlne, a bright-colored spread on the narrow bed. a picture of the Kmperor over the mantle, croeaed swords beneath, some steins , and long-stemmed plpea on a ahelf on the floor, etained yellow, a brilliant strip of. rag carpet. The sunshine seemed to linger longest In this room.- ' The flrst floor of the apartment bouae waa -vector business offices. In the front room the Threa rartnere elderly gentlemen all . sat at their desks on high stool, busily writing from to & but never too busy for a cheery "Good morning? for any one of un who stuck a smiling face through the of floe door la passing. So the next morning I atopped a moment and -Inquired if they could tell me anything of tbe blrtory of (he new Janitor. "Nothing" answered Mr. Stephens, ,-ne . Is Oerman. as you see( h,ls last Job waa that ; or artlsf model; but aa to hla peat.' and why be seems so above his present menial position. I oan tell you nothing. Be what he may. he la tbe best Janitor we have had ' In yeara-. Some say that be I touched la bl mind.'" concluded Mr. flirphea The Is certainly very eocentrla He rushed Into the office the other day la a violent' state of excitement My Emperor!, he cried, wildly, 'My Emperor 1st to the floor fallenT I did not understand his inooherent epeach. but went with him upstairs, thinking some thing dreadful must have happened. The picture of the Emperor of Germany bad fallen from It place over the, mantel to -he floor: It lay face downward amid frag ments of broken glass. Otto stood by with tears coursing- down bl: furrowed cheeks. Such a child! He evidently thought the fann ing of the picture an Ul-omen. I pi -.-.- i blm a now glaae for It, and he was com forted." . :, . : ... -"v Tht ven!ng at twilight Otto earn again, cringing the letters. He stayed and Otto, these ladles are my two friends "Broom handle to shoulder, he gave the military salute of the German Army." down of the soul through which tbe white flame of his spirit shone. "What a topsy-turvy place the world i," thought I. as I nodded to him again, and passed on Into our rooms "he a Janitor! This gray-haired child with blue eyea full of dreams!" t Am It was a cold day. I looked around for -wood for the open fire, and, finding none, touched the bell, which waa promptly an vwered by Otto. "I im at your service, Trauleln." be said la bis soft voice. Miss Field and Miss Tenton who share the apartment with me. You will come again some day and play for them?" They smiled and raid something kind to the old man, who backed out of the room, bringing his heels together at the door and saluting. "I thank you." he said, beaming: upon me, "for giving me a most happy, hour." Otto's room a tiny place with one sunny window was Just at the head of the stairs. I peeped In once. In passing the quaintest little den! So clean and bright! A canary. wlndowa which opened In the sauara. - ' "Tell me something of yourself. Otto," I asked with what I thought was my most Ingratiating .mile. He turned from the of J cW,"d looked . t me sadly, "I am Otto Schmidt. Janitor,-. he said with su perb dignity. "It Is my pleasure to be al ways at the service of the fraulein. Is it ot enoughr And., saluting, he was gone! Boon after this my dear Judith had an encounter with Otto which amused me no mtle. She was waiting In the Broad Street Station when he suddenly appeared before her, beaming with pleasure. (She bad been sailing with the sleepless lady for months, so he had not seen her for a long time.) He saluted with great ceremonyl Of course, every one stared, and poor Judith was quite overcome; then, abruptly, he sud denly wheeled and hurried down the steps, returning almost Immediately with a long vtemmed red rose." "Permit .me," hi said, bowing low before the abashed Judith as be presented It "Happiness to the Lady of the Bed Rose!" f About this time J was called out on a case which kept me from the city for sev eral months. t f When I returned I learned, among other Item of news of the a.partment house, that the small room back Of our apartment had been rented to a spinster of uncertain age and unattractlvWppearance. Her occupa tion. Otto Informed us, had something to do with the manufacture of artificial limbs. She went daily to the little shop 'on Eigh teenth street How gruesome, thought I, to sit alone in the evenings stitching on the . artificial legs of disabled gentlemen! In her place I think I should welcome any caller even if he come without his coat, as I learned later hers did. . That night about 10 o'clock, I beard the sound of a scuffle on the stair of the main hall and the sound of a strange -man's voles raised angrily, then the banging of the vestibule door. i As such sound were unheard of In our quiet abod, I rang for Otto and Inquired the cause, of the disturbance. He appeared, somewhat disheveled, and informed me that "the artificial-leg lady" frequently had a caller in the' evening who persisted,,, in spite of Otto's expressed disapproval, in walking bbout the corridor in his shirt sleeves! Meeting him thus attired,. Otto . had, with no more words on the subject, forcibly ejected him from the building. "I must my young ladles protect!" he ex plained breathlessly. The girls told me that Otto had made friends with everybody in the place (except the lady in the back room of whom he evi dently disapproved). "Kitty, the aorubwoman. adores him," said -iteleo rield. "He calls her 'Katrine.' and leave little aosegaya for her on the closet ' shelf -wbere he keeps her dustpans and . Jalla.- ' , . - . tie buys toy and candle for her three , children kept. . while she scrubs, Ir a day nursery. I seo him tying up the tiny pack ages almost every day and bis wages are so small It can hardly be enough for. hla own needs. Isn't It pathetier queried my 'tender-hearted Judith. ' . . Poor bedraggld.cwork-bardened Kitty, a drudge. Into whoiedull soul no light bad ever shonel doing to the broom closet one morning I found this note pinned to a tiny . bunch of fragrant vloleU whtoh waa tied ' to Kitty' bucket handle: "Katrlna I leave you this bit out of a' beautiful world that your, sad heart may be made glad if-OBly for a moment by ' . . "OTTO." "Katrlna," he raid to me one day with the faraway look. In his eyes "Katrlna is ugly and sallow and not always clean; but Fraulein Katilna has a heart Ilk a'water Illy. . Coming up out of stagnant water and slime and mould, the water lily rises above them all and i(how. to those who have eyes '. to e; t heart of gold!" . . "So our janitor has tbe soul a p6tr said I to myself. 'Being pretty well tired out -with loss of leep and -the (t rain of my last care, which ' bad been very difficult, I concluded to .stay quietly at home 'for a few day and recu- ' perate. Aifd the characteristic relentless aess of the. trained nurse possessing' me, I "rested" by beginning next morning a vig- orbua and thorough "Spring-cleaning" of our rooma. , ; X engaged Otto to do the heavier part tbe beating of rugs, washing of paint, etc while I devoted my attention: to the mov ing and dusting of tbe many , books with ' which the walls of the living - room were lined. ..'- . . , In the midst of the upheaval the bell rang, and Otto went to answer it. He re turned presently, his f.u very white. The fraulein will excuse me birte," he said, trying to control the tremor of his voice, and lapsing, as he sometimes did In -moments of excitement, into i- use words in hi native tongue"! am arrest! I go mit the Herr Officer I" I was dumuiounded. But with a few m meotaJn which, to collect my wits. I re- mefnbered th coatless friend of the lady In the back room and I thought I saw tbe explanation of Otto' summon to court There was nothing thaM could do but let blm gro ;"''" My whole body ached with fatigue. . As I surveyed the hopeless disorder of the rooms, there kept running throuerh my hea-.l the quaint words of that old negro hymn of slavery days word poignant with suffer ing and weariness: "I wlsht I wuz In Heben eettln' down!" As luck would have It, "Kitty" or "Ka trlna'' came to my rescue, and together w got things Into some sort of order before -the girl came In w.,-ch wes a wop '-r, for Kitty, on learning what bad befallen Otto, -v dissolved in tears and refused to be com forted. I hurried into a presentable gown and went downstairs to the office and told tha "Three Partners" what had happened to Otto, and rTegged them to Intercede for him. Mr. Stephens bless hi kind heart prom ised to "bail him out" at once, so we slept that night with minds at rest This thing of having a knight errant for a Janitor has lta drawback! '..."It la but notblnsr," said Otto, appearing In the morning with his radiant smile. "It is all well so!" It was not all ' well as Otto thought, for by noon that day the landlord sent Otto his dismissal. He "could not have such things occurring on the premises." he wrote, so, in isplte ut a petlti- which we all signed, the landlord remained obdurate, and our chivalrous Otto had to go. I went out on another case th- day, but not before I had had one more talk with the dear old man, In whom I could not but t-'-e an affectionate Interest w ' X asked where be would' ro.' and his Diana Oor he repeated. 'To-day I-go to the bouse of tbe goodf Katrlna. Shea a little iattlo room where' I can eleep. To-morrow T , wno Know- To-morrow T I am with re grets filled that I leave you and the young ' ladles by t I am very happy. Fraulein al , way very happy. The little bird that sings forever (n my heart was still to-day for a lit tle I waited on the atalra to say good-by to my young ladles to get their smile all for ' myself to take away. . It la with such things . that I feed the little bird, so that It does , not tire to sing. I make someone happy every day. .1 win a smile kind words X have stored, up the memory of happy days. I do good deed.., A tiny-flower blooming In the sun, I bring to the aad and tired Ka trlna. . I make a , little j .- V . 1 'child to laugh. Acht but I am happy, Fra u Jeln happy and the world is such' a beau tiful place!" : ' . '. He broke, off. a won derful light oa -bl fur rowed face. He took my offered hand, held It a moment In hi hard, rough one, " then raised It to hi ' lips like a courtier. "I remember always you the musio the firelight the tear I ee In your eyes I go o! Aufwledersehen. I . heard his quick, boyish step through the corridor below. The door - closed. He was gone. The house seemed strangely empty. The next patient was' a scholar, and when the great doctor told him that the "one chance In ten thou sand" which he had taken by undergoing an operation for the restoration of hla Kiph had failed, X found i i lee t ' I ' "The girls looked In at us." All .that Sumrue w heard no' naws et Otto. j, : . - ... . ... Then en day In Ootober X picked up m paper afld read thla advertisement: ' ."Wanted Information a to the where about of Otto Schmidt, on time of New Tork City and brother of Hermann Schmidt, deceased. Henry Bayard, Attorney-at-Law, Municipal Building." I determined to make on more effort ta find him. ao going again to the landlady, at Katrlna' bouse X told her that something had happened which would be greatly to Otto' advantage If he could' be found. Her faoe changed (It seems that the hard-faoed, landlady had a soft place In her heart foe Otto, too), and then with rom persuasion X got from ber the truth.. IT had come jo bar that day of hla disap pearance and made ber promise not to tell what be waa going to do. "I have no mon ey." h told ber. "I cannot work I will not beg, nor eat longer the bread for which Katrlna scrub. So to day I take my little 1 bundle under my arm and croaa over the Schuylkill tothe city almshouses The world Is a very beautiful place even from tne window of the city, borne. There you seo the swift, still river flow by, and the little boats go up and downl Do not be sad. I shall be very happy. A little bjrd sings alway la my hesfrt" I took the time next day to go out to the institution in the west 1 em part of the city, where I found him much the same Otto. The look on hi face aa I went forward to speak to him waa so! . 1 n w8 la- something of a phtloso- like that of a naughty child found in a hid Pher. I was at the hospital in the darkened ing place he bad thought secure that I could .w, ,m ray sonoiar with the bandaged not find It In my heart to scold him. eyes for mkhy weeks, and o lost trace,for ine time of Otto. ' Then one day In my hours "off duty" X went down to the rooms. Helen met me with deep concern written on her face. "Kitty says that old Otto has been very 111," she said. "He waa 'better but still too weak to do any work. To-day when she returned home he had gone away, nobody knows where. Poor Katrlna Is Inconsola ble! He left a note pinned to his pillow In the attic room. She brought It with her. "Here It is," and she put the crumpled bit of paper In my hands: "Katrlna I go sol It Is better. I my canary with you leave. He will sing his way into your sad heart I give Christo pher my swords. To Anna the picture of my beloved Emperor. Little Karlchen must have my gold medals. Is It good-bye or Aufwledersehen? I know not, but It Is well. I cannot thank you with word for the good deeds you have done for OTTO." I read the pathetic words written in his labored English and my heart ached for the wanderer. Where had he gone in his weak ened stater What rash thing had he done, my poor Otto, dreamer of dreama? I took the flrst car and found with great difficulty the house of Katrlna. I ques tioned the landlady closely. She could or would tell me nothing. I thought from her manner at the' time that she knew more than she would tell. I went back to my work at the hospital disappointed and anxious. I then went to the lawyer' offlo In tho , Municipal Building and told bim all X knew of Otto Schmidt He Informed, me that the late Hermann Schmidt had Invested his savings years ago In real estate in the Bronx, at that time considered worthless property. At hi death, which had occurred six months pre, vlously, the mouses were found to be very valuable, and Otto was his brother' solo helrl ' ' Again, but with how light a heart. I crossed the river and entered once more tho gloomy grates behind which the old man awaited my coming. I arranged with the authorities for hla release. , By the next Spring Otto had his own lit tle house on the far "north side" and Kat rlna kept it. The three "kiddles" played all day In the shady side yard and Otto worked In the garden In the sunshine, which lie loved, the little bird still lnginst in his heart. I told my.patient the scholar the story of Otto Schmidt Janitor, and when I bad flnlshed I asked, "is he 'touched In hi mind, a some .ay. or is all the sad. sad world 'touched' and Otto very wiser The scholar thought for a moment.- tho firm lines softening around hla ,...k -Otto 7?dt?ith r"": "Otto Schmidt Janitor, has learned tho Great Secret Hi. -i, the concentrated wis, llVLtP HVI- un wise. H ow Love s Labors Won -By Eleanor C. Chase. ILLICENT piled her little llpperson the fender and 1V1 looked critically at their satin slenderness. She pulled a little at the flounces of her silken tea gown and peered down to' see if the lace of ber petticoat showed Effectively. . "I wonder if 1 look sufficiently worldly." sbe said, as she held her head on one side t get a better view of her slippers and the tempting petticoat -1 do not want to shock him. I want t make him fairly gasp with wonder at my worldllneas. How be will start and stare . and redden to that aanfly hair of his." She leaned back In her chair and smiled and flicked her little satin toe under her laces. Then she assumed an air or Inef fable lanrour. such as she Intended to wear when ber visitor was announced, looking dellciously bored, as If life in gen eral were too much -for her. She half closed ber eyes, and gazed with insufferable eanul ta tbe direction of a gold and white ecreea which filled tbe space where ber in- A virt !m wanlA be seated: then she rearranged the cigarettes, half tumbling from the box oa the Turkish stand by ber aide, and tavned the title page or a risque seciety Journal se that It could be plainly eeen. Then aha laughed: a clear, sweet, ringing Hash, which showed ber beantifal white leeib and the ahine of ber fine eyea 8te waa extraordltarily pretty and very dainty and stylish, with a decided atmosphere ef ebarm stout ber. "1 haven't arra fctse for e'gbt yeara." she wrat a tnannc "What a clod of clar he was, i be sore. M what dreadfal eons trf.ed tnannerirnis. Ob, I ahall never for gt ttat tan. lanky body and the avfal kt -,. w.st seemed ee re and ':: r la bl way, and tkea bl blwehes -tl.ee talsfU red make f bleed that as ad hla sandy hair look white and glistening. It is such a dreadful thing for a man to blush; I can forgive anything easier than that." Mtlllcent put her handkerchief over her pretty eyes as if to shut out the painful sight, and then rested her chin in her hands and went on musing. "What an awjiward way he had of talk ing to a, woman. The feminine had mortal terrors and fascinations for him, for he used to bang aboOt me like an abused dog, and bow I used to torture him. It was wicked. I knew, but I am Just dying to do It again. . There Is no excuse for such awk wardness and diffidence, anyway, and the man who hasn't tbe will to pull himself to gether ought to be tortured Into shape by somebody. Such men have neither humor nor Imagination. and they should be dis ciplined by sheer shame of themselves It be bad spent lesa time poring over books and had gone about among women and girls, be would have learned the waya of the world and the graces of society, and I believe I told blm something to that effect, but it slipped off bis Intelligence like every-, thing else and left blm as callow as ever." MUllcent was widow and tweiity-slx. She we called agreat beauty, and knew the power of ber charm without being a vala woman. Phe waa gracious and tactful and possessed ofall the airs and graces of tbe society world ef to-day. Shu waa. withal. Just aa freeb and sweet for all ber werldUaeee ss Whea she waa eighteen and tartars exquisitely tbe country Tenth f tweaty-twe who waa guilty of bavin; to toaay Band aad too little avoir fair for cemfort. Aad this was tho rasa ehe was expecting. He had seat her word that be we to be la -Iowa fret tbe country, and would venter to rail up. bV Sh bad been feellBgr dewa sytrlied, a bit La M damps, a b . told her friends, and the promise of thla visit with all its amusing possibilities gave a new sest to lfe. She had arrayed herself to astonish him with her worldllnesa-and shock him with her suggested wickedness, and, altogether, she was anticipating a ery entertaining afternoon. She was surveying her silken ankles and ber artless ruffled petticoat once more.whea Hcbbs suddenly, parted the curtains and announced in even tones "Mr. BrowneiL" MHUcent instantly. sank back against ber. cushions and assumed her languid air. With half-closed eyes and a weary motion of the bead she turned to gaze at her visitor; ahe felt that she was doing it beautifully. Then her eyes came open with a flash, and sh suddenly blushed to her temples In the wave of confusion that swept over her, a b saw tbe tall, superb man before her who wss bowing with such splendid grace and wltth the most perfect air of the world that she had ever encountered. "Why!" she gasped, "really oh!' you don't 'know how you startled me, Philip. X mean Mr. Brownell do lt down," and, atralghtenlng up In her confusion she quite forgot all about ber practised languor and wicked slippers. She was frankly fra barraaaed for the first time In her life,' and she showed It plainly aa she looked at the man who had seated himself and was , gazing at her with auch handsome eyes and with such a tantalizing smile. "WeH." be said, with a flash of his whit teeth. "I upset you a bit didn't XT" He looked ber over critically; tbe loo -flowing tea gown, the lace petticoat, the satin shoe, the cigarette beside ber. Tber u aa amused twinkle I hi eye, aad sh' felt auddenly angry with bereftif and with , blm, bat only grew tbe more eonfueed la eeaeqeenre. f "I was urpt1 d t see you," she said lamely, . Eba, u wemaa famous for ber wit and- epigrams, to come out with a speech as trite as that; she could have bit ten her tongue off for It "Didn't you get my note?" he asked with surprise. "I said I would call at three. I felt sure that I could have a visit all to myself at that hour." "Tea why, of course but don't you see I still fancied you a youth," she lurted out w-lth still greater confusion. "Oh, 1 see," and he laughed softly and folded his arms, bending hi head grace fully and looking at her with smiling eyea She felt that he was reading her through and through, and that he was laughing at ber as well. She made a brave effort to collect her scattered wits and to aay some thing to redeem herself in bis. sight, but all she managed to say was: "Have you lived in Garnersborougb vr since that Summer I waa there" The twinkle In hla eyes increased; she fairly writhed under his steady gaze; ah knew ahe waa a guilty wretch, bur sh did wish he wouldn't gaze ber out of all ber self-control and have sucb intolerable com mand of himself. "Do you think I look as though I had been In Garnerstrorough ever since r he said. , "I am glad to knew It If I da,' be cause then I ahall bo convinced that the. eld story or the pewter cup I true I have always bad my doubt about It Nd." be went on. "I have been there but two monies -slaco X saw yen laV and six weeks of that time I have Just spent there. I bav been -In nearly every coantry under the sua sine then, however, and I have got a good deal of life out of those eight year." Milllceat gazed at hisa helplessly. 1 sbeulda't have known yew." sh said, stin feeling the awkwardness ef U her werda. and thinking at to same time that be waa the most dlstiBg-utshed looking maa at bad ever &; sacb. a manner; sucb a t ' ' - voice; such a perfection of dress. She ud denly let her eyes fall to his hands In fearful remembrance they were slender and white and extremely graceful was it possi ble that they could be the ram that wer ao awful eight year agoT Mlllicent drew in her breath with a little gasp eand atralghtened her shoulders. -Philip.'- she said, laughing a little, for sh was getting hold of herself again, "won't you please tell me all about yourself; where you have been and what you have don all those years?" "There isn't much to tell," he raid; "eight year do not count for much in passing. I hav been In South America; I' went there first on a ranch; then I -was consul In Central America; after that I went to Cairo and Algiers for a flrtnNof Importers, for whom I afterward went to China; then back to Vienna for another firm, and Anally to London on my own account wfaer J hav lived for two years and have made a for tune la copper and . ether thing to glv you all deialla." "And nowr Milllcent arked la a whisper T am going back, for I bav a racing tab! In Devonshire and a shooting box la Scotland, both of which are Interests that attract me. I return la a month. -1 came over with the Earl of Stall! mere, who I . purchasing polo ponies la Tessa" Mlllicent' eyes wer very wide open, and was a look of wonder rp reading ever . ber pretty, flushed far. "Isa't tbe Earl of Straltamere a great friend of King Edwardr" bo asked. "Tea." ald the maa quietly; w hoth dined with Hie Majesty before we cam away, aad aest Aatuaaa be baa 4glned bl Intention of visiting ta la Scotland with th EarL" rfcl!!p." Mlllicent fettered. He leased ePghtfy toward ber with cbarmlzg air of atteatlea, St' "Philip, you know how aston-1 isnea I should be at all this, and you are Just gloating over it" And, In spite of the him of tears in her beautiful eves. Phnir. . ... his head back and laughed a great rlng- Ing laugh. "Oh. Milllcent!" he cried, "how you dot hate to have the tables turned and what fool you were going to make of this poor, country man, weren't your Milllcent laughed a little through her wet lashes and said, humbly: "I might as well be perfectly frank and confess, I did think I rhould find you all hand. i end bluahea. and I wae-I will admit It I wa 0lng to make a perfect farce ol your visit Oh. won t you forgiv m.r aha pleaded. "I will.- be .aid, -f you will promise to loy m a llttl. You see. I have made my. self what I am for Just one purpose that of being. a n measure, worthy of you. Ween you laughed at me in my awkward, aess that Summer I made up my mind that I would make myself a maa that you might' car for soma day or at least respect J bave loved yon from the first I think; you knew I adored you. and when I beard of 'your marriage It gave me aa awful heartache; but I tin carried tbe Ideal of what you would wish a maa to bo la my mind, and I trev to live up to It Thea cam your widowhood two year ago, and then I begaa to hope again aad now.- ho aid very gently, -d you, think yoa could love me some day?" MiiUceat looked at blm a moment and aldi "Why. bow eaa I help levlag yoa wheal r r tbe exact Ideal that I bav de. paired of ever finding, aad tbe moat die. tlngulshed man I over aw; X bav simply got t lev y la spit of myself." and rhil.'p held ber face up to bl aad kld) fcsr jBtlBf Uj.. .