The Salamander

wounding thought could ever cross his timid imagination, but that she feared a crisis which by every art she sought to postpone. On the day he found courage to propose, she knew th

tious, passionately enwrapped in work, without the distractions of a youth that had been closed to him, or without other knowledge of women than the solitary devotion he gave to an invalid mother, who querulously and

, to look upon children whom he might shower with the enjoyments of youth, which he might thus in a reflected way experience. But the complaining shadow at his side was a jealous tyrant, always on the watch for such an eventuality, bitterly resisting it with hysterical reproaches and frightened prognosticati

y the need of doing good, of generosity toward some other human being. He thought of adopting a child, and as this idea grew he was surprised to find that his thoughts constantly formed themselves not in the image of his

had me

he temptations and the hunger of the flaring city, he had felt an instant desire to step between her and this huddled snatching mob, to give her everything, to make all possible to her, to watch her face flush and her eyes sparkle at the possession of each new delight that youth craves. But other thoughts came, and he began to suffer keenly, afraid of fantastic

and-salt business suit, ready-made, which had been presented him, low turn-down collar, and a light purple tie, likewise made up. Small nose and aquiline, eyes gray under bushy eyebrows, lip obscur

aginary flowers on her way; and the sensation of life and terror that she set leaping w

said at last, when they had reache

by the confusion in his manner. She understood the reason, and it saddened he

ugh; wanted to kn

aid, raising her eyes in heavy melanch

do more than glan

he said, shaking his head. "You need a

Doré, wondering what he had in view. "O

in the market," he said joyfully, deligh

rote in a light curved hand,

ch morning, will you promise faithfully to make an

rest that had made her lead up to the subject, for she could have secured a response from a dozen quarters. It was perh

out his memorandum and by the si

ng up her napkin, she gave a cry of pleasure. Inserted between the folds was a package

he exclaimed, carrie

good music," he said in self-excusation. "Shan'

o with you!" said Do

enth heaven of happiness. "But I want you to go

forgetting for the moment all thought of calculation. "Real

g hastily to a glass of water. The waiter came up

ch he studied the menu for the dishes she ought to take. "He wo

. At any rate, he ought to change his tie. Purple-light purple! and made up, too! With any other man she would have attacked the offending tie at once, for she had a passion for regulating th

r, Miss Baxter?" he said finally, tu

t is

appy-very happy," h

she said, wonderin

you need a ride,-good air every afternoon,-and, besides, I don't like to think of you going around alone in taxi-cabs or street-cars, unpr

eavey, I couldn

t would be proper?

k of her head. "For the opera, yes! And occasionally in the aftern

lieved that this wa

" he said earnestly. "That worries

ke care of myself!" said Doré, with

nce, her ambitions-rapidly, feeling that there we

going on the stage, I should take everything as it comes. Besides, it teaches me what life is, doesn't it? Then, it's such fun being independent, and making yourself respected! By the way, I feel so much stronger now,

id not wholly accept his

want a career?"

trouble is, I've got to find out! Oh, I don't want anything small! No

t like th

w some women have a bad time! B

difficult choosing her questions, for all would not do. For instance, she wished to ask him why he

k so hard?" she

I'm on the point of something big-if I carry it throug

r thus against his fifty years! But in a moment, chirping ahead rapidly, she had put h

, placing her in his automobile an

s always of the best. The chauffeur had quite an air, too. She disturbed the heavy fur rugs that had been so carefull

s one thing

sider it from al

be like to be Mrs.

etter still, travel, strange countries, curious places. Then she remembered the mustache. On a colonel or a jud

widow, with lots of money. Fifteen was rather long-ten would be better! There was a girl she knew who had married an o

it pure generosity, or was there something else? She smiled; such motives she read easily. Wasn't it, in fact, to know what her daily life was!-whom she saw, where she went, to know absolutely, before he took the final plunge?

turning the corner. She did not wish to meet him thus, though she was not sorry that he had seen her return. So she

him to

rt, maliciously studying the clock for a good twenty m

thought to herself; and assuming a langui