Gordon Keith

influence on Alice. It flattered her and filled her with a certain content that the young school-teacher should like her so much; yet, knowing

from her with his poetry and his fancies, and she was afraid that he would discover it

id Alice one day. "Why, he ca

e as cool as a physician's glass. "He, perhaps, does know more about books than any boy of his age I am acquainted with; but poetry

everything. The place that Ferdy Wickersham told me about his father owning, with its old pictures and all th

e all unpractical. Your father began life poor; but

reflect how absorption in business had prevented his obtaining the culture of which this young school-teacher had g

rt there was some truth in her mother's estimate

it, and Gordon did not know until afterwards that there was another reason for it--that he had been in correspon

out my troubles. I have but two: that old

he scanned the thin, fine face with its expression of calm and its lines of fortitude, he felt that it wa

in distinction that pleased her. Mrs. Yorke, too, was both pleased and flattered by h

eral observed them with a quiet smile in his eyes. Now and then, however, the smile died out as he heard Gordon expressing views which were somewhat new to him. One evening th

ng in the hands of the man who knows how to spend it. But riches considered as something to pos

ught of the toil and patience it had cost him to make even his little sa

great opportunities for everything; travel, knowledge, art, scienc

said to him, meaning, kindly enou

neral smil

nt upon wealth, my son. The Columbuses of science, the Galileos, Newtons, Keplers; the great benefactors of the wor

amma," said Alice when he had left. "He is an

s chin tilt

all the men I know, none appears less fitted to cope with this world. The only r

rich. Don't you remember

it," said Mrs. Yo

uch cases said she did not believe a thing, it meant that the

ay she had undoubtedly improved. She was more serious, more thoughtful of Mrs. Yorke hers

f a very good family, lived in a big house on Murray Hill, and had as large a circle of acquaintance as any one in New York. She prided herself on knowing everybody worth knowing, and everything about everybody. She was not lacking in amiability; she was, indeed, so amiable that she would slander almost any absent friend to please one who w

?" she said to her, "and your daughter i

nswered somewhat coldly that she was glad that Mrs. Nai

ain the day her horse ran off with her? So romantic to make an acquaintance that way--I quite envy you? There is so little real romance these days! It is delightf

tinguished family. She gave him a pedigree t

urse. I am sure you would never encourage such an intimacy unle

le," she said to herself. But this pin had st

nt think of acting so foolishly. And really Mrs. Yorke felt that she herself was very fond of this young man. She might do something for him--something that should be of use to him in after life. At first this plan took the form in her mind of getting her husband to give him a

fternoon Keith had borne Miss Alice off to his favorite haunt, the high rock in the Ridge woods. He was in unusual spirits; for he had escaped from Mrs. Nailor, who of late had appeared to be rather lying in wait for him. It was the spot he loved best; for

n white, and a single red rose that he had given her was stuck in her dress. He had been reading a poem to her. It contained a pic

eams." He was looking away through the pine-trees to the sky far beyond; but the soft light in his face c

r tone wa

er with that in his eyes which said, as plainly

way, wondering to her

count mere red and white beauty. Phrony Tripper has that." This was not without in

," asserted the girl, "

al beauty, the beauty of the rose, the freshness that you cannot define, that ho

sque beauty, with whom another friend, Norman Wentworth, was in love, a

to himself for her benefit. "I cannot defi

at Louise Caldwell woul

girls have in common with some

ch," she said, thinking of another school

ng of that kind. It is womanliness and gentle

acquiescingly. "Well, go on;

ly, and sat up. "I ex

was very good-looking when he was spiri

ay have to help you find her. There don't appear to be many around Ridge

ird, a gleaming jewel of changing sapphire that, poised on half-invisible wings, floated in a bar of

expect to find

in her dress, and, darting to it, thrust its bill deep into the crimso

ard her, with mantling cheeks and close-drawn lips, his

d darte

turn?" She turned to him, and spoke half mock

nd gazed in

es. She had fancied the neckties he should wear, and the pins that should be stuck in them. He must be brave, of course, a beautiful dancer, a fine tennis-player. She had once thought that black-eyed, handsome young Ferdy Wickersham was as near her ideal as any one else she knew. He led germans divinely. But he was selfish, and she had never admired him as much as another man, who was less showy, but was, she knew, more of a man: Norman Wentworth, a bold sw

p reflection. Presently she said,

Why, you treat me as if I were a superior being

a gesture of dissent,

w men, or you would know that any girl is t

now girls,"

he said, with a smile th

speaking slowly and very seriously. She wa

yly took her hand and raised it to his lips, then released it

as something I am not. I like you too much to wa

perfectly well," he said. She was not convinced; but she let

it. One moment she was distraite; the next she was impatient and even irritable; then this mood changed, and she was unusually gay

nt simply announced his name. This, then, decided her. It was the most fortunate thing in the world that Alice had gone off and was out of the way. It gave Mrs. Yorke the very opportunity she desired. If, as she divined, the young man wishe

nding words she had formulated. His face was somewhat pale; his mouth was firmly set, throwing out the chin in a way to make it quite strong; his eyes were anxious, but steady; his form was very erect, and his shoulders were very square and straight. He appeared to her older than she had considered him. It would not do to patronize this man. After greeting her, he handed her a chair solemnly, and the next moment plunged straight into his subject. It was so sudden that it almost took her breath away; and before she knew it he had, with the blood com

she was quite overwhelmed by it. She felt that this was a lie, and she was not sure that he did not kn

rom the North and I am from t

ood myself. My grandmother was from th

en

rassing, but s

heres, and--ah, it's really not to be thoug

n life as a store-boy, and her mother was not the most learned person in the world, Alice Yorke was a lady to her finger-tips, and in her own fine person

difference"; but he restrained himself. He sai

o be so plain, but it was, Mrs

most--exclusive society; she has had the best advantages,

nk my family is not good

made her glance up at him, and a look o

have heard it is--ur--. But my daughter has every right to expect the

" Keith asked, a

osition. Now, don't go and distress yourself about this. You are nothing but a silly boy.

the prettiest I know," e

so you fancy you ar

oggedly. "I would be in love with her if

"Now, the thing for you to do is to forget all about

e will not," groaned the young man

d not but feel real commiseration for him, especially as he appeared

something--something to show my appreciation of what you have done

o turn my attention now to--getting an establishment." H

ght," she s

, with sudden vehemence. "It is a

ight can't be all wrong." M

g away?" the young

uely, but even as she spoke, s

to me," said Keith, standing very s

came to her from out of the dim past; a country boy with broad shoulders suddenly flashed before her; but she shut it off before

u otherwise, but it would have been simple madness. You will some da

some day, Mrs. Yorke, you shall hear of m

a friendly adieu, and also watching lest that which she had dreaded for a quarter of an hour might happen. It would be dreadful if her daughter should m