!
.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.. .