A Man and His Money

sted" at any one task so long before. Miss Van Rolsen, to his consternation, seemed to unbend somewhat before him, as if she were beginning-actually!-to be more prepossessed

s. The faces of all the nurse-maids and others who frequented the big parallelogram of green became familiar to h

tatement, it was generally understood (convenient phrase!) that the wedding would take place in the fall at the old Van Rolsen home. The prince had left America in his yacht-the Nevski-for St. Petersburg, announced the society ed

. But then he-Mr. Heatherbloom-belonged in the rear, and, no doubt, the prince had continued to be a daily, or twice, or three-times-a-day visitor to

an eyelash, as if he had been a thing of thin air! But a thing that became suddenly imbued with real life; inspired with purpose! She had permitted him to remain in the house, knowing his professed helplessness in the matter-she must have divined that-playing with him as

. I could not help overhearing you and the prince,

, he would have seen how absurd, unreasonable and uncalled for his words were. But he had no time to analyze;

herbloom felt inclined to excuse himself and go on; but instead, he waited. There was even a furtive smile on his lips that belied a quick throbbing in his breast; he thrust one hand as debonairly as possible into his

or had excess of passion sent the colo

", but he thrust his hand yet deeper into the pocket a

in her eyes, why should he have spoken at all? Mr. Heatherbloom saw he had not qu

nse-"anything despicable, mean,

ures of the case, but not finding one at once apologetic and yet not so, remained silent. He made, however, a little

reath of perfume seemed to ascend between them; the arrows in her

f a dual capacity, or of a general incapacity of simultaneous considerations. He might possibly have stepped back a little now but there was a wall, the bro

on her cheek. "And afterward?-spy!" Her

that was passionate, vibrant in he

ly. Why not? There was no need of being melodramatic. What had to be must be. He couldn't alter her, or what she would think. "Then-then I was too busy to catch more-that is,

he looked at her now, squarely;

s all I heard, or knew,

reamily, "he was comin

swift brightness in her cheeks. "Yo

ite throat. Mr. Heatherbloom had not followed what she said, was cognizant only of he

ave known-if I let you sta

id Mr. Hea

want to turn you ou

r. Heatherbloom seemed now quit

at you once were; who your people were! What"-flinging the

eling seemed to have passed over his features, making them almost mask

ight to feel offended in that you let me remain, you say, 'through pity', when as a matter of fact it was impossible for me to tender my resignation, in view of-" He finished the rest of a rather involved logical conclusion to himself, taking his hand out of his pock

brisk, almost businesslike-"that I, as a factor, am el

o go? To be asked to! You would find the streets"-with swift discerning c

herbloom. He spoke quite air

d them, she came abruptly yet nearer; her b

he said, "you would

ped. There was no need of spea