Arms and the Woman

by high red brick walls which were half hidden by clusters of green vines, and at the base of which nestled earth-beds, radiant wit

was only twenty-two-a most impressionable age. Her hair was like that rare October brown, half dun, half gold; her eyes were cool and restful, like the brown pools one sees in the heart of the forests, and her lips and cheeks cozened the warm vermilion of the rose which lay ever so lightly on the bosom of her wh

which implied that she could readily underst

was suddenly seized

ade," I answered, bravely laying dow

ly, that is to say, by degrees. She filled a glass for me, and as I

ered, passing back the glass

t any chang

onscious of a sullen pride. Presently the object of my errand returned

. Wentworth

im? Uncle Bob, here is a gentle

hat, "my name is John Winthrop. I am a reporter. I have called to

any number of reasons for my declining it,

ank you;" and

asked the girl, as I w

, I

draw p

I do

write

h a nervo

ss of interrogation to make one

you did," she said, and

rkened halls of the hou

told her my ambitions, confidences so welcome to feminine ears, and she rewarded me with a small exchange. She, too, was an orphan, and lived with her uncle, a rich banker, who, as a diversion, consented to represent his country at foreign courts. Her given name was Phyllis. I had seen the name a thousand times in print; the poets had idealised it, and the novelists had embalmed it in tender phrases. It was the first time I had ever met a woman by the name of Phyllis. It appealed to my poetic instinct

o get. Her income bothered her because she could not spend it; my income was mortgaged a week in advance, and did not bother me at

hyllis, I sat at my desk in the office. It was raining; a cold thin rain. The window was blurred. The water in the steam-pipes went banging away. I was composing an editorial which treated the diplomatic relations between this country and England. The roar of Park Row distracted me. Now and then I would go to the window and peer down on the living stream below. A dense cloud of steam hung over all the city. I swore some when the copy boy came in and said that there was yet a column and a half to fill, and that the foreman wanted to "close up the page early." The true cause of my indisposition was due to the rumors rife in the office that morning. Rumors which emanate from the managing editor's room are usually of the sort which burden the subordinate ones with anxiety. The London correspondent was "going to pieces." He had cabled that he was suffering from nervous prostration, supplementing a request for a two months' leave of absence. For "ner

the many times I had paid his. Ah, me! those were days when love and fame and riches were elusive and we went in quest of them. The crust is hyssop when the heart is young. The garret is a palace when hope fl

enough for London when we were married. Then I began to build air castles. A newspaper man is the architect of some splendid structures, but he thoughtlessly builds on the sand when the tide is out. Yes, foreign corresponding would be all well enough, I mused, with Phyllis at my si

you!"

s coming down with an

the copy. I was satisfied that the United Stat

l brought two letters.

first.

but he would not say. Aunty and I want you to go with us in his stead. Ethel and her fiancé, Mr. Holland, will be togeth

YLL

! I thou

morning a certain sum of money would be given to me. I regretted that I had reached that age when a man's actions must be dignified, although alone; otherwise I dare say I should have danced the pas seul. Whatever my uncle's bequest might be, I believed that it would make me independently rich. I am ashamed to admit that I did not feel sorry at

coming this week, Mr

ng next week." It was only on very rare occasion

were paying me. I took some old envelopes from my pocket and began figuring on the backs of them as to what purposes the money should be put. It could not be less than $50,000, perhaps more. Of course my uncle had given a harbor to a grudge against me and mine, but such things are always forgotten on the death bed. It occurred to me tha

lso my desire that she should share of it. I turned into a florist's and had a

loveliness," a tangible dream. Her neck and shoulders were like satin, and the head above them reminded me of Sappho's which we see in marble. From where I stood I could catch a glimpse of the profile, the nose and firm chin, the exquisite mouth, to k

he piano, Jack," she said

her. I vaguely wondered if, at the distance, she had s

roses," she said, smiling and

l things in the presence of the woman he loves! "I have great news for you

A

y telling you of a rich

ut

as left you a fortune?" s

ve gues

sake, Jack. I was begin

y abo

to her intimate friends. I secretly considered it an honor when she talked to me like this. "I have told you repeatedly to send me flowers only once a

aid. "He doesn't-that

ad almost said: "He d

s I do

assment. The others came in then, and c

n had risen. Phyllis and I took the rear chairs

I whispered lowly. I was beginning busine

a smile: "Supposing I were to say

isconcerted, "that would

not do

ty we men owe to a beautiful woman is

o a fine-looking man?" a rog

evading the question. "A man may tell a woman that she is beautiful, but

ms are n

oman and she told me that I was handsome, I shouldn't be able to speak again the whole evening. On the other hand, a be

said, the dimple continuing its elusiv

r fiancé's head; Phyllis had turned her face from me to the stage. As for myself, I was not particularly interested in the cigar

in my voice. Perhaps I had not spoke

e me an inquiring and at t

t is

l you till now," I said earnestly. The voice on the sta

that flush, that shy, sweet glance of which

of this," she said. "I am

, crushing my gloves. "Wait awhile

o wait; I should have said yes. I do not love you in the way you wish. Indeed, I like you better than any man I know, but that is all I can offer you. I should be unkind if I held out any false

cognition. There was a singing in my e

nd who will love me. We may never meet. Then he shall be an ideal to me, and

plete?"

truly love and who will return your love in its fulness. Will you meet? That is in the hands o

issertation on affini

friendship of ours must come to an en

. It seemed as though the world had slipped from under my feet

hastily, "you will have me cr

rned and saw the tears

is the matter

ery pathetic story," said Phy

ight," said I, staring at the prog

ot the place for them," turnin

pe. I wanted to be alone, alone with my pipe. I was glad when we at last entered the carriage. Mrs. Wentworth immediately began to extol the singers, and Phyllis, with that tact which is given only to kind-hearted wom

, Mr. Winthrop!" c

o have loved and lost, and

an improvement. Do

uch her hand, to hear her vo

brilliant audienc

d. Those were the only w

iage rum

i return i

s of dreaming, a

carriage merc

nt even a flimsy excuse. So I went in. The coffee was tasteless. I put in four lumps of sugar. I stirred and stirred and

e to the do

se I was an ass to think that you might love me. They say that it is

e very

latch back and forth, "when all t

her eyes than

ight other paths than

too manly to

e. There is no more wine in the cup, nothing but the lees. I'll have to drink them. A wry face, and then it will all be o

es," suppleme

ers that I am versatile. Forgive

l not forget what you term folly. It's something any woman might be proud of, th

" I kissed the palm of her hand, opened t

ember how I

s all

e had fallen in ru