Arms and the Woman

vens. To his eyes there was nothing poetic in the flash of the distant church-spires against the billowy cloudbanks. The gray doves, circling about the chimneys, did not inspire him, nor the twitte

e had the blue devils the worst kind of way. Finally he crawled out of bed and dressed because it had to be done. He was not particularly painstaking with the procedure. It mattered not what collar

shall be. We have a proverb for every joy and misfortune. It is the only consolation fate gives us. It is like a conqueror asking the vanquished to witness the looting. A

ved not. Should I go on loving her all my life? Undoubtedly I should.

t the lawyer, the arbiter of my new fortunes. Money is a balm for

bequest. He was bent, gray and partially bald. He must have been close to seventy, but for a

ary. You may hand a card case full of your name to a l

rtly, placing my hat beside the chair in which I sat d

ty I should find you here. A few inquiries set me on your track." Here he pulled out a lengthy docum

s my cry. "What sort of a duff

ea that I should find a good-for-nothing hac

hat under the sun did h

grave. "Of that anon. Let me proceed with my business and read

to more than a million. I was listless. The head overseer received the munificent sum of $50,000; to the butler, the housekeeper and the cook he gave $10,000 each. I began to grow i

n the world

u understand, yo

zement. "I don't come

or my hat, "then I go

ellow fog. "What the de

ted to

immediately after this will is probated, and with the understanding that he shall make no further demand upon my so

impotent and with never a chance to retaliate! "Keep it," I said again; "throw it away, or burn it. I understand. He has satisfied a petty revenge. It is an insult not only t

r, going to the window and looking o

e knew that I should understand his motive. In the first place, I never dreamed that he would remember me in his will; never entertained the least

. This is my advice to you: Accept the check, in the privacy of your room tear it up, or light a cigar with it; that's about all it's worth. You will feel no little satisfaction in lighting a cigar with it, that is, if you are anything like me. Think of it! a thousand dollars to light your cigar. It is an opportunity not to be missed. When you grow old you will say to your grandchildren: 'Once I lit a cigar with a thousand-do

ution?-

ll, in which he leaves all to you. The will is in my safe at home. I return to-night, so I may not see you

have met you," said I. "You shou

winked. Then he laughed, and I joined him, though my laughter resembled mirth less

ass. "Ha, ha, ha!" I roared, as the events of the past twenty-four hours recurred to me. There must have been a suicidal accent to my laughter, for t

bartender asked

to several bartenders who looked at m

on me," said

o ask the paragrapher to write my next day's leader. It was night before I became rational, and once that, the whole world donned cap and bells and began capering for my express benefit. The more I thought of it, the more I laughed. What a whimsical world it was! And was there anything in it so grotesque as my part? I took the check from my pocket and cracked it between my fingers. A cigar was in my mouth. S

dow and laid the check on my desk. Courage? Why, it needed the

or wanted to see me. I sprang up with alacrity; anything but the s

me as I entered his office, "you've got

ead!"

order. But I feel sorry for Hillars, and I am going to give him another chance. I want you to go over and take care of

word "check" ja

matter?" ask

chill," I s

ain. And it will be like a vacation to you. If anything happens to Hillars you will be expected to

Here was an opportunity not to be missed. To see n

and. Hillars will find you lodgings. He has bachelor quarters in the west end of the

w York I might forget Phyllis-no, not forget her; I loved her too well

s pride when he pockets a thousand dollars with it. And why not? I was about to start life anew and might as well begin on a philosophical basis. Who knew but my uncle had foreseen the result of his beques

g was arranged for my d

day m

it would feel ashamed of itself and reward me for my patience. So Hillars was "going to pieces." It is strange how we men love another who has shared and spent with us our late patrimonies. Hillars and I had been friends since our youth, and we had lived together till a few years back. Then he went to Washington, from there to Paris, thence to London. He was a better newspaper man than I. I liked to dream too well, while he was always for

s you," said Ethel. "Phyl

aken us," said the voi

part of the bench?" I

ropped easi

hockey," said I. "I am going to London on Saturday. Our foreign

-" Phyllis st

sty, and they think I need a vacation." I was

correspondent

es

n. It is sure to be Republican." There are a few women who pose as Democrats; I never met one of them

ect to remain long in London. When my work is done pe

, Ethel, that a fortune has been left to Jack,

-conscious laugh. Somehow I was not e

bother at times, however, to know what to do with the money. I buy so many

ry inconvenien

said Phyllis, "you will write that book

wish it?

You start out to accomplish something, you find an obstacle i

ble meaning to what she said? I could

l author, but when a man is as rich as I am fame

hat?" aske

the back and s

laughed. "Wha

ne," said I. I was holding out my vanity a

will be realized n

said I. "The last one g

fted past my nostrils, and for a space I was overwhelmed wi

d you good-bye now. If you should chance to come

nd. "You must bring home a Princess or a Duch

" said Phyllis, "if only once a month. I

ed as she put ou

ome man happy, P

od-

od-

ollowed them with dimming gaze till I cou

cigar clenched between my teeth I watched and watched with a callous air, as though there had been no wrench, as though I had not left behind al

which is a little of love, a little o