The Lucky Piece

tle and Constance rose a

more," she said. "I think I s

The soft chair and the luxurious room were so much m

asked, walking over beside her. "It's still

t seemed like flying. You can stay here by the fire and keep nice and cozy. Mamma will be glad to come in and talk to you. She will not urge you to d

ider the serene yet sterling qualities of both your parents, I find myself speculating on

t he thought a

, "But Father made his fight, too. It was in trade, of course, but it was a splendid battle, and he won. He was a poor

d her ser

tant talk with your father," he said. "I have b

ay toward the Fifty-ninth Street entrance to Central Park. Not many people were there, and, once within, they made their way by side paths

e in the mountains such weather as this. I dream of bein

assented rat

"It was pretty nasty. I suppose you have spent s

the wind,-oh, it's no such little wind as this, but wind that tears up big trees and throws them about for fun, and the limbs fly, and it's dangerous to go out unless you look everywhere, and in the night something strikes the roof, and you wake up and lie there and wonder if the house itself won't be carried away soon, perhaps to the ocean, and turn into a ship that will sail until it reaches a country where the sun sh

listening-meanwhile steadying their big umbrella t

much more than I. And," he added reflectively, "I should not think, with

reading. Every child with a fairy-book for companionship, and nature, rides on the wind or follows s

cases where men and women who died four thousand years ago lie embalmed in countless wrappings and cryptographic cartonnage-exhibits,

fe and surroundings of that long ago time. Then they passed to the array of fabrics-bits of old draperies and clothing, even dolls' garments-that

to find things right where they were left by the people who last saw them-not here, all arranged and classified, with numbers pasted on them. If I were a man, I should be an explorer, or ma

was studying a fi

se things. Discoverers are born, I imagine, as well as poets. Besides"-he lowered his voice to a pitch that was meant for ten

corridor of statuary and up the stairway to wander among the paintings of masters old and young. B

e commented-"something which the world will pre

e one of my paintings being hung here or any place else. They m

y and a girl driving home the cows-Israel's "Bashful Su

of ownership that comes of having a lot of money. You were a good-hearted boy, rather impulsive, I should

ghed e

y?" he demanded. "Perhaps I was just such a slim, diffiden

ou looked at that boy's age. Sometimes I see boys pass along in

d to him that her confession showed a de

ld like to have me now," and could not help adding, "only you'll have to decide just

et bowlder on the other side-the girl as agile and sure of foot as a boy. Then they pushed toward Eighth Avenue, missed the entrance and wandered about in a labyrinth of bridle-paths and

d be sure just where I was coming out." Then they laughed together happily, glad to be lost-

y wanted to go down, but because at that time in the afternoon the down cars were emptier. They had no plans as to w

statue, and she stood looking u

erer," she said; "one who sa

ext time there is a new world to

vements were sheltered by a gleaming, tossing tide of umbrellas. Frank and Constance got out at Madison Squ

nd it is those splendid engineers who have helped to make it so. I know of one young man who is going to be an engineer. He was just a poor boy-so poor-and has worked his way. He would never take help from anybody. I shall see him th

her cheek and in the little tangle of hair about her temples.

emanded, "and love him, too-a b

hese things"-indicating with his head the great building which they were now passing

railroads and great bri

the way, I believe you go to

That is, he had. He says he supposes it's a wreck b

some idea of what I ought to be like to make you proud of me. I haven't been there since I was a boy, but I remember I liked it then. No doubt I'd like it this year if-if that yo

thought a lit

ow that from Father. He said we might have to stay there awhile until our camp is ready. Oh,

sed umbrella, along Broadway on a March evening. Perhaps the incongruity of i

t," he objected; "besides, I thought

right and wonderful, though after all there is nothin

y were. He was not altogether happy over the thought of the young man who had made his way and was to be a civil engineer. He had not heard of this friend before. Doubtless it was some one she had known in childhood. He was willing that Constance should be proud of him; that

sed? The bill that the President has just vetoed? I don't know just what the bill is, but Father is so against it. He'll think the President is fine for vetoing it!" A mome

ghed o

opportunities, as you say; but some of the men who hav

them there. You could be

at is, after I've uncovered a few buried cities and found the North Pole. I couldn't do those things so well if I went into political reform." Then they laug

. When they had tacked their way northward for a dozen or more blocks,

mind, I should suggest that we go in there and have, let me see-something hot an

le soul and too confiding-but I heard him say that you were one person he was perfectly will

y questioned," avowed the young man, as t

smell that omelette now. And may I have pie-pumpkin pie-just one piece? You know we never had

ntrance of her home they noticed a crouching figure on the lower step. The light from across the street showed that it was a woman, dressed in shabby black, wearing a d

but money. It's a chance for philanthropy of a very simple kind." He thrust a bill

not give like that. I've heard

I've never heard that she or anybody else has

anks and was tottering slowly down the street. The girl held fast to her companion'

think you will ever lead as a philanthropist. Still, I'm glad you g