A Man and His Money

thrust it from him but could not. During his more or less eccentric peregrinations in Central Park he had formed visual acquaintances wi

errupted with entanglements, and had listened to the music of his march, the canine fantasia, staccato, affettuoso! Mr. Heatherbloom's halting footsteps in the park generally led him to the

the pallor of her face. He did not think it strange she should always be at this spot when he came; in fact, it was quite a while before he noticed the almost daily coincidence of their mutual pres

le of her face against a leaden sky, his thoughts remained introspective. Only the sky-line seemed to interest him. But one day something white came danci

said t

looked. "Is-is it

ed with a slight acc

ttle use endeavoring to re

ther slow," he remarked.

lence. Mr. Heatherbloom stooped and gathered in the remnants.

as not yo

t of my cha

She laughed, her dark eyes full on his, thou

troubled face with calm and unvarying, though somewhat absent-minded courtesy. He replied to her questions perfunctorily, told her whom he served, betraying,

on; unfortunately her recommendations were mostly foreign-from Milan, Moscow, Paris. People either scrutinized them suspiciously, or mon Dieu! couldn't read them. It was hard on her; she had had such a time!

her. Perhaps there was a vacancy at Miss Van-what was her name? There was a place vacant; the maid

at they should be of the home-made, intelligible brand, from people you could call up by telephone and interrogate. Had she been very particular in his ca

leased to be t

f course!

to note his changed

she the one whose

sed the hand and heart

mus

"You mean-" He stopped; the wo

eeing it in the paper; I was thinking of some one else. One of the

him walk away, but when he had gone all melancholy disappeared from her fac

More than that, she insinuated herself at his side; at first rather to his discomfort. Later he forgot the constraint her presence occasioned him, when something

ped, and he, Mr. Heatherbloom, had been forced to return to the house without her? What

uid reproach. Naughty had been his friend-supposititiously, and to abandon him now to the world, a cold place devoid of French lamb chops? A hard place fo

omise, an evasion of the pact he had made with himself. It was not to be thought of. At this moment h

e all attention. More than that he seemed greatly distressed. A woman actually in need, starving-no use mincing words!-in Central Park, the playground of the most opulent metropolis of the world. It was monstrous; he tendered

loyment without friends and helpers? He, a man, had walked in search of it, day after day and felt the gripi

approved, while hope already transfigured her face. She would have thanked him profusely but he did not remain t

Rolsen house that day w

the news, burst into te

Naughty, winner of thre

of times because supe

y responded to protestations and questions with a slightly indifferent expression on her proud langui

l; he had once more become a nullity. He rather preferred that r?le, however; perhaps he felt it was easier to i

his man," asserted Miss Van Rolsen, fastening her fiery eyes on Mr. Heatherb

n't any

en spoke almost hysterically. "Remember he"-pointing a

r even rhythmical breathing. "What was he? Who was he? Maybe, nothing more than-" She p

doors; people went by briskly, full of life and i

circumstances, why did you keep silent?" Was Miss Van Rolsen still talking, or rambling on to the impervious beau

o a piano to adjust the flowers in a vase;

Mr. Heatherbloom in a far-away voice, "I should

inion!" said Miss

e fragrance of the flowers

!" said Miss Van Ro

e you the two-weeks'

" suggested the young m

time to find another incompetent keeper for them. And, meanwhi

hould prefer-since you have d

indifference. You were employed with a

imself off-that she couldn't keep him; but paused. A contract was a contract, though orally made; she could hold him yet a little. But why did she wis

fantasy, almost as pianissimo as one could play it, vibrated around them. Outside the whir! whir! of the skates wen

," said a s

e looked back. "I'm sure it will be all right," he repe

ne laughed, and Mr.

him two weeks longer?" he heard the girl's

h. Another-it will be easier to keep an eye on him until Naughty is returned, or"-her voice had the vi

te enough, but as he disappeared to the rear, the dream