Part 8 (2/2)

I have done this bit of philosophizing that I might give Dic and Rita a moment to themselves on the sycamore divan. You may have known the time in your life when you were thankful for the sight of a dear friend's back.

There was little said between our happy couple for many minutes after the explosion; but like a certain lady, who long ago resided for a time in a beautiful garden, the girl soon began to tempt the man: not to eat apples, for Rita was one of the ”women here and there” spoken of above.

She was pure and sinless as the light of a star. Her tempting was of another sort. Had Rita been Eve, there would have been no fall.

After several efforts to speak, she said, ”Now you will not go to New York, will you?”

”Why, Rita,” he responded confidently, ”of course I'll go. There is more reason now for my going than ever before.”

”Why more now than ever before?” asked the girl.

”Because I want money that I may support you,” he responded. ”I'll tell you a great secret, Rita, but you must promise you will never tell it to any one.”

”I promise--cross my heart,” she answered, and Dic knew that wild horses could not tear the secret from her girlish breast.

”I'm studying law,” continued Dic. ”Billy Little has been buying law books for me. They are too expensive for me to buy. He bought me 'Blackstone's Commentaries'--four large volumes.” The big words tasted good in his mouth, and were laden with sweetness and wisdom for her ears.

”I have read them twice,” continued Dic. ”He is going to buy 'Kent,' and after that I'll take up works on pleading and special subjects. He has consulted Mr. Switzer, and if I can save enough money to keep you and me for two or three years in idleness, I am to go into Mr. Switzer's office to learn the practice. It is a great and beautiful study.”

”Oh, it must be, Dic,” cried the girl, delightedly. ”To think that you will be a lawyer. I have always known that you would some day be a great man. Maybe you will be a judge, or a governor, or go to Congress.”

”That is hardly possible,” responded Dic, laughing.

”Indeed it is possible,” she responded very seriously. ”Anything is possible for you--even the presidency, and I'll help you. I will not be a millstone, Dic. I'll help you. We'll work together--and you'll see I'll help you.”

Accordingly, she began to help him at once by putting her arm coaxingly over his shoulder, and saying:--

”But if you are going to do all this you should not waste your time leading horses to New York.”

”But you see, Rita,” he responded, ”I can make a lot of money by going, and I shall see something of the world, as you heard Billy Little say.”

”Oh, you would rather see the world than me?” queried the girl, drawing away from him with an injured air, whereupon Dic, of course, vowed that he would rather see her face than a thousand worlds.

”Then why don't you stay where you can see it?” she asked poutingly.

”Because, as I told you, I want to make money so that when I go into Mr.

Switzer's office I can support you--and the others--” He stopped, surprised by his words.

”The others? What others?” asked the girl. That was a hard question to answer, and he undertook it very lamely.

”You see, Rita,” he stammered, ”there will be--there might--there may be--don't you know, Rita?”

”No, I don't know, Dic. Why are you so mysterious? What others--who--oh!” And she hid her face upon his breast, while her arms stole gently about his neck.

”You see,” remarked Dic, speaking softly to the black waves of l.u.s.trous hair, ”I must take Iago's advice and put money in my purse. I have always hoped to be something more than I am. Billy Little, who has been almost a father to me, has burned the ambition into me. But with all my yearning, life has never held a real purpose compared with that I now have in you. The desire for fame, Rita, the throbbing of ambition, the l.u.s.t for gold and dominion, are considered by the world to be the great motives of human action. But, Rita, they are all simply means to one end. There is but one great purpose in life, and that is furnished to a man by the woman he loves. Billy Little gave me the thought. It is not mine. How he knew it, being an old bachelor, I cannot tell.”

”Perhaps Billy Little has had the--the purpose and lost it,” said Rita, being quite naturally in a sentimental mood.

<script>