Crawfordsville Daily Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 21 February 1891 — Page 2

CJIAPTEK X.

ri.Atteuish .isi i:nkxpi:ctri. As a coiisoioiuious man, liussrll could not fully persuade himself that Hrown'a desire for Miss Kay's intellectual advancement would bo adequately met by the work of the Socioty for Cleneral Culture. If the society should map out a plan for itself at any meeting be foresaw that at the time of the next assembly there would be at least seven different ideas of what that plan had been, aud seven opinions of any thing that might be ottered as a substitute. Thts resulting debates would not bo in the line of mtlitul progress.

Hut it was not because of these considerations that Russell continued to call upon Miss Hay as frequently as tho circumstances would permit, lie went heeause he found it more and more agreeable to do so. He was becoming even deeper involved in money-making schemes of a nature ill calculated to make a man feel at peace with himself. These fanciful projects appeared to spring up without his volition and to control him. He was their creawire. They gave him a living, but for all he could see they might cut him of[ with a shilling any day. lie regarded himself as an inflated fraud, and though this was on the whole rathor pleasant at first, lie enjoyed the variety of feeling honest once in awhile.

And when such a desire came to him he called upon Alice Hay, and talked of the subjects which interested her as frankly as she herself, and derived a pleasure which he did not understand, but which came to him because he really was honest in regard to her, and hadn't a thought in his brain which couldn't have been safely photographed for her inspection or llrown's. lie liked her simply as he liked sunshine and fresh air. She was so palpably innocent of small deceits and vanities.

Russell rather liked Mrs. Ray, too. She was inferior to her daughter in every way. Kven in her youth she had not possessed half of Alice's beauty, yet at, forty-five she was by no means the embodied prophecy which sometimes frisrhtens suitors away. Mentally slio was almost a blank, as Brown bad said, but with good instincts and breeding she had never felt the want. A safe mother for a girl, after all: for if is impossible to inherit evil tendencies from a person of 110 tendencies whatever.

It was easy for Russell to win her approbation. lie made no special effort to do so. but he was innately respectful and of a most courteous demeanor. (Albert Ray had told his wife that Russell was a "hustler who would be heard from," and she had taken this to mean *n active young man who might be supposed to prefer theaters and wine suppers of a riotous and forbidden character. rather than peace and quietness.

Russell read the minutes of the previ-ous.-mooting which he had made out •.villi oilensive accuracy. The girls all •protesu.il that tliey never said a thing of the .sort or voted that way at all. Tho report was then amended in such a thorough i!i. unintelligible manner that the

T»K

kindnoss which bad hitherto bwn shown him by 'he Hays bad not prepared him for almost any tiling. Ilo accepted most

any young man is a symptom, but it may never lead to a proposal or to a reI form. If Russell had considered tha I subject at all, I10 would have said at onoe that he could not permit himself to fall in lovo with Alice without gross I treachery to his friend. Rut as yet ho I thought only that sho oughtn't to bo allowed to know him, and ho wondered that her father should permit it. "Old Ray must know the condition

I'm in," thought Russell. "I wonder I that ho doesn't politely hint that I'd 1 better stay away from his house. Suppose some crash should come and two or three of my creditors should combine to put mo in jail. It would not be pleasant for Miss Ray." lie was surprised that Ray should renew his invitations to the villa. Hussell felt like an impostor when he accepted them and at last I10 began to refuso, but as a rule the old millionaire would take the young man by tho arm and walk him down to .the yacht as if he were under arrest. Russell realized that he had won a place in tho old fellow's affections, and this made him feel meaner than ever about the whole affair.

It was possible that Ray did not know all about him, Russell reflected. Ho might be blinded by prejudice in his favor: he might accept him because of llrown's assurances. lirown had been on the most intimate terms with the family in the days when the son whom Ray had lost had been a youth at collego, Alice only a little girl. At any I rate he resolved to go to Ray. malce a 1 clean breast of the whole matter and give the old man a fair chance to kick him out of tli0 house. This would mean financial ruin, but, Russell didn't care for that, lie was in a tit of despondency—a mental condition eminently favorable to virtue, for hope is the tempter

1

She therefore felt complimented by his evident delight 111 the home-like evenings he spent there, with no moro hilarious entertainment than a somewhat vacuous conversation and a little music. If he had been in love with Alice that would have been another matter, but the maternal eye detected no siun.

The life of the family was simplicity itself. Tiiev spent almost all their evenings at home, and enjoyed each other's company in the good old fashion. Alice sang and played well, and both her parents.were good listeners, though Mrs." Ray had a slight tendency to sfimnolency. They staved in the city very late that season, to Russell's great satisfaction. lie made other acquaintances through the Society for General Culture. This organization discovered at its second meeting that the approaching summer would dry 11 the springs rl knowledge: and it was voted and reconsidered and voted a_'ain and finally settled by a general misunderstanding, that the third session should be the iast till fall. The girls all pledged themselves to read during the summer a lot of books (the names of which tliey c.ouldn't.al'terwards remember) and thus gain a sLore of wisdom te share when they reassembled.

Uecrr.ihig Angel eon hi never have reS-| :i3gm/.ed it as- a:i aecoiiur, of any thing .which Jiad. transpired oii earth during jiis ter'u of'vuuurvifcion.',:.

li.

WKCllKIAIiV BBI'OUT.

This second nici'iing was not at tho "Rays'," 1ml at a house near by. All tho girls lived within a stone's throw of 0110 another. Through this association RuaBoll received invitations to 0110 or two minor social gatherings in the very last days of town life. Near tho end of Juno the Rays went to their summer homoon the udson. 11 was not beyond »asy accoss from New York, and Russell was exjieoted to come up frequently during ,tiie summer. This cordiality would jjjave amazed him if tho extraordinary

after all. The occasion came on a day in the last of September when Ray proposed another Sunday at the villa. "Mr. Ray," said Russell, "your kindness blinds you to reasons why I should not be a guest a', your house." I Tho old man started and looked searchingly into Russell's face. "lVrhaps it does," said he, "and perhaps it doesn't. I may see the reasons better than yon think I do." "Then why do you ask me to come?

I should not be offended if you did not, or even if you forbade 1110 to enter your door. If I could still retain the benefit of your counsel which you havo often so kindly given me here in your office, it would be much more than 1 could reasonably expect. Though 1 have never had a home. I am powerfully sensible of the jealous care which must bo employed to guard one. I am a reckless

Jtr.ssi'i.i. aoi:i:i:h to uk honest.

fellow, pursuing a career of most uncertain issue, through ways which are not the best. It seems to me that I should never meet Miss Hay again, l'ardon me for even mentioning her name." "You're blue, young man," said Ray, "that's what's the matter with you. YourY farorT will come out all right, and you'll lo a rich man. I've picked you out as a fellow with a very level head, and 1 don't, make many mistakes." "If 1 ever got rich," Kjissell replied, "it will.be by such methods .an that deal' with Remington arid others, by which a man iiiight feel disgraced." "U1Y. all thissentilnentnlism is natural at such a time,!', said Uuy, cheerfully, "but there's nothing In it. Remington will play some other chump and' get his money back. It's all in the game." "But I'm only an adventurer, anyway. I have 110 solid hopes: and my character is, becoming as unsettled as my -circumstances. I am flush to-day and broke ''to-morrow honest in tho! morning and a scamp before night "When 1 think of Miss Ray—" "Yes. when you think of her,"said that young iidv's sire, with a goodhumored smile—"when you think of her your sins look big and black. I'm f*lad of it: 1 could ask no better guarantee that you really love her."

Russell started up in astonishment, liut before hi* could utter a word Ray con! I "I've been waiting for you to speak to me like this. More than once I havo ithought you were going to begin. When jyou showed hesitancy about coming up jto the villa I knew why. You said: •'She's a rich man's daughter and I havo only my wits.'" "But, my dear sir," Russell broke in,

"I havo never vnriturod to remotolv consider the possibility—" "Of course yon haven't, but you may

of Ray's invitations, which generally bcRin now. ^Don't speak to horyot sho included a Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon at the villa and a sail up and down in the millionaire's handsotno steam yacht. At the villa Russell learned" to play tennis nnd to wear picturesque summer clothing. lie was a young man designed by nature to complete a landscape with a striped blazer.

is only a little girl you know. Of course you haven't so much as hinted any thing of the sort to her, and I wouldn't for a year let us say for a yoar. 1 daro say you wouldn't havo thought of doing so. What you wanted to say to 1110. and what I saw that you wanted to say—for a father's eye can not be deceived—was that you felt it moro honorablo to toll mo straight out that yon were in lovo with my daughtor and then ask tho right to let every thing go 011 as before. It's only a fow months that we've known you, and that made it harder. I pitied you, and says 1 to myself: I'll help him out.' And because 1# think so well of you, young man, and trust you so fully, and 1»te to see you down-hearted, I'll give you a word of encouragement: I believe the little girl likes you pretty well already."

Out-of-door costumes were very becoming to Alice, also, and her beauty was too radiant with health to fear the sun. The sight of it might have been dangerous to Russell's peace of mind, except that he had no peace of mind during thoso days. The worry of providing for his personal expenses, which were over increasing his anxiety regarding the motor company his fear lest Deering should hear of certain operations in the stock and should call a halt on the whole procession—all these considerations kept Russell in ft condition unfavorable to love. Alice had conquered liim only so far that ho felt ho was not good enough to bo in her society. The recognition of this fact by his daughter's hand, Russell lost sight

CHAPTER XI. TK.MITK1).

In tho first, flurry of surpriso at Ray's acceptance of an imaginary proposal for

entirely of tho fact that he had made 110 proposal. The benevolent old gentleman terminr-tcd tho interview with a hearty handshake and before Russell recovered tho use of his vocal organs tho two men were out upon the street whore confidential discussion was not possible.

Whatever may have been the subject Ray selected for his remarks on tho way to the yaoht, they sell far short of Ills companion's attention. Russell's thoughts worked hurriedly upon tho problem presented by the strange result of his attempt to obtain an edict of banishmentagainst himself. That such an exile was now moro than ever necessary was evident enough, but it was also clear that it must bo voluntary. I lie should keep out of tho way of temp-

3XTKHBt'PTBD MliMTATIOX.

tation and here he was being led tamely to the villa again. Somehow, I10 was more than usually glad to go, although his conscience exerted a feeble restraining force. Why was it? Ray's favorable view of him as a possible son-in-law meant nothing to him. lie had 110 shadow of an idea that he should ever take advantage of it. liut that "word of encouragement," as Ray had called it, was a matter of a very different nature. Could Ray possibly have given such a hint on any weaker grounds than absolute certainty? Father and daughter were on •rms of the closest confidence. Russell had often observed it, with a feeling that the millionaire had been blessed in other good things than dollars. Kay should know the state of his daughter's heart as soon as she did herself, and if he said that she thought kindly of a man it should be infinitely encouraging.

Tliero was only one ground for doubt, pnd it lay in tho old fellow's firm belief that he knew very nearly every thitig that was passing in the minds of thoso about him. He was ono of those men who believe that their eyes aro electric search lights which they can turn upon tho souls of others and expose all hidden th ings.

This belief in him was coupled with a total inability to read the ordinary external signs of emotion. It always is. These eagle-eyctl fellows are tho ones who can see a man poisoned with strychnine and swear that he looks pleasant, and stick to it with a confidence unmoved, after tho unfortunato has died in convulsions. Russell thought of all this, and it seemed to him probablo that Ray had not received any verbal intimation from his daughter, but had depended wholly upon a glance of his infallible eye. "If that is the case," said Russell to himself, "she does not love me"—and his exultation was immediately changed to gloom, liut his reflections had convinced him that he loved her. long before the two men reached the yacht,, and be had resolved to tell. Ray the truth aboutliissupposed offer, and to prepare some way of backing out of the whole entail glome nt.

Yes. he resolved to do all this, but he did not do any part of it. lie changed his mind when the time for a disclosure came: resolved to'keep his secret safe to pursue a strictly guarded course v.'ith Alice which should show her what, a hero lie was. Of course she couldn't help noticing that he loved Ser. Sho. would

BOO

that ho avoided

1 !ood, and grew thin till his eyes took on hollow look and his coats began to flap I iround his withering form. He would lock his love up in tho dungeon of his ioul and have fun with tho misery of it.

Then when IJrbwn camo back, full of misgivings no doubt, I10 would take tho wanderer by the hand, and say. with a hollow cough: "I have been faithful to you, oid. man, but I a.11 a martyr to my love." "I say, young follow," cried Ray, Interrupting Russell's meditations at this point, "if you stare at mo any longer in that Boulless fashion, without saying any thing or listening to what I'm talkfag about, I shall think you've gono crazy."

They had been sitting on tho deck of tho yacht, face to face, and Ray had been talking in a lively and as ho supposed entertaining fashion, for about half an hour, when it had suddenly dawned upon him that Russell's face had taken on an expression of deep misery wholly uncalled for by any thing that had boon Bai,(L llis question brought Russell back

to a rational framo of mind, nnd ho was ablo to conduct himself at the villa as if nothing unusual had happened.

It was bis last visit there during tho season. Tho Rays camo back to tlioir town house in the following week. Russell called within a few days after their return, and his welcome was tho samo as ever. There hail been 110 change in tho household. Hut not many days after that, ho fancied that I10 noticed a difference. There was an indefinable something in the bearing of Mrs. Ray and Alice which puzzled him at first, but which he soon explained in a man ner fitting closely to the observed facts. It seemed evident that the secret of his talk with Gilbert Ray had leaked out that it had at lust become tho general property of the family. Ilo could not bolievo that Ray had told Alice sho must havo overheard something which betrayed the truth. At any rate Russell was quite certain that sho know how matters stood, but that was as far as his perception could get in her direction. Mrs. Ray, he felt sure, approved. With all possible respect to her, said ho in his heart, she doesn't know any hotter, anil couldn't be expecteS to, by anybody acquainted with her plastic mind. Her husband's approval was qulto enough.

Alico, however, was a rlddlo much harder to read Sometimes he thought that sho was disappointed at his delay and again he imagined that sho was lying in ambush, waiting for a chance to toll him what a traitor ho was. He thought of all the cruel things she might, sav how sho might show him the difference between himself and Hrown, with a balance heavily in favor af the absent. and she might say that she would prefer lirmvn even if ho returned from Central Africa with a ring in his nose and a confirmed habit of cannibalism. Russell fancied her refusing him in so many different ways that I10 began to be afraid sonio slip of tho tongue would launch one of them upon him, even as his acceptance by her father had come by accident, lie began to resent this refusal which was only a figment of his imagination, nnd his resolution to seek her society no moro melted in the heat of his ill temper, ilo determined to show her that her charms bad no power to tempt him, and to make her understand in some way that her father had committed a piece Df stupidity. Meanwhile, despite all this raging in his soul, bis bearing toward her was frank, courteous and friendly, as it had always been.

The Society for Ueneral Culture had survived the summer, and its members had come back from tho shores of tho salt sea with an added thirst for knowledge. One of the girls had also a great idea to propose at the society's first meeting. It was not original, but it was the latest fad 111 societies of that kind—a revival of an ancient custom. Sho suggested that tliey find some struggling poet and help to win recognition for him. Russell must know one. and it wou'i 1»6 B'jh fun to eneourago the poor fellov »V.d Help him by judicious criticism a little money, till at last lie could get his poems into tho magazines.

Russell reflected a moment, while a j»reat and amusing scheme filtered through his brain. "I know the man," said he, at last "he is a deserving fellow, but without some help his genius will never bo known."

The man whom Russell had in mind was tho janitorof a down-town building, a young fellow with about as much idea of poetry as a wooden Indian, liut nature had given him an ideal exterior— the long hair, the thin, hungry-looking visage, and tho eyes which forever fixed themselves on vacancy. Russell had often remarked what a perfect plcturo of tho traditional poet this man was. Tho yearning look in his eyes might havo expressed tho craving of genius for the ideal, but in reality it was tho hardened expression of covetousness. A moro matter-of-fact, hard-fisted, unromantic pursuer of tho glittering dollar it would have been impossible to 1magino. In the building where lie

Worked

ho was known is Cupid, on account of his cupidity. Russell's plan was to hire this man to personate a poet, and to write preposterous nonsense for him to read at tho society's meetings. After mature deliberation he. decided to lot Alice into the secret, partly because he did not liko tho idea of deceiving her, and partly because ho doubted his ability to do so. It required some persuasion to bring her to consent, but at last she entered fully into the plot, and helped Russell to concoct tho soulful mess for Cupid to read. His first appearance and the poem were an immense, success. He read a twentyline wail called "Dust and Ashes," a title suggested to Russell by the fellow's occupation. The girls were in rapture, and it, was mnediately decided that the poet must read.before a larger audience during the following week. The society, would issue about fifty invitations, and begin at once its work of introducing the poet.

Russell: wits s. mewhatialarmed at tho success of bis joke, but he determined -I rnrcy i« -n« far as would r. The preparation of the poem,'however, was a work of considerable magnitude, and, •with Alice, be spent a great many hours digging out, the verses. Alice proved to be remarkably clever at this sort of work, and together they evolved a sad narrative of disappointed affection, with a climax which cast a general blight over the face of nature. It wasn't

ho

bad after

all, and when the society and its guests swallowed the production for a work of genius, and overwhelmed Cupid with congratulations, the real authors were not only amused but Haltered. They had boon "taken in" i'y their own pri ductton no less than tho others. Cupid, in reply to a hundred questions, told tho lio which bad been prepared for him by Russell, with a face as somber as tho opening of a hard winter, and tho two conspirators got no end of fun out of his stolid bearing in the midst of hi^ honors. All sorts of ridiculous plans for getting him into favor were proposed and Russell foresaw that eventually Cupid would have to disappear or bo discovered. When tho oxposuro should finally come, Russell foared that liisown disappearance, too, would bo a necessary condition of safety.

But Cupid had tj be provided with ono

more poem, nnd Alico and Russoll wero hard at work upon it ono evening' in early November in tho library of tho Rays. Alice had not been qulto woll, and sho sat in a big chair before an open fire playing the pretty invalid. Thoro was an air of languor about her which was happily all that, remained of her illness. It was Immensely becoming, Russell thought, nnd the firelight flashing upon her pale cheeks gave her a fascination which well nigh overcame his resolution, lty a hard struggle of 'tho will he kept his mind fixed upon tho poem, and hn made a note now and thon upon writing pnd In his hand, leaning toward the lire for light.

The pencil fell from his hand and rollod along the hearth rug. lie stooped for it but could not find it in tho dim firelight. It must bo hidden near her foot-stool. Ho got down upon ono kneo to look for it, steadying himself by tho arm of her chair. She spoke to tell him whore sho thought tho pencil had gone, and ho looked up into her face. Tho attitudo was suggestjvo—kneeling at her fopt. lie was sure ho loved her sho looked kindly down at him he had it on his lips to tell her.

At this moment Gilbert Ray entered by a door frotn the hall, and Mrs. Ray appeared simultaneously through a Jap-

IT

I.OOKKI)

I.IKK A PKorosAl-

aneso portiere oil tho right. Both caught sight of tiie littie group 011 tho hearth run at the same instant. Ray said ".lingo" aud slammed the door behind him. There was a smotliered "0I1 my!" from Mrs. fray as her ample form parted the portiere with a rattle. "What's the matter with them?" aslteil Alice, laughing. "Are they crazy?" "No," said Russell, rising' slowly, "but they think that 1 am. l'erhapsthey are right, but my madness shall bo harmless, even if it can not now be cured." v-

[TO HE coNTiN 1:i'i.l

Continual dropphgj away the stone." The continual breaki lamp-chimneys costs

KING OF THE TURF.

Turns a square corner either way. See our

Horse-Sh.oe Harrow,

The "slickest ihing that has not been greased." We ouarantee this to be the best spring-tooth harrow made and it has »i angle steel frame.

The Brown is the Only Parallel Spring Tooth Cultivator, nd remember a spring-tooth shovel must be carried squarelv through the ground to do good work.

All kinds of tools, hare1 ware and paints on hand at lowe.-i prices. Examine our stock of Buggies before buying.

for

infants and

"Castoriais bo well adapted to children that 1 recommend it ^auperior to any prescription know* to me." IL A. AEcues, M. D.,

So. Oxford Slt ttrooUja, N. Y.

nit is &

result's Jrom

cleanliness ajri

IHs&soli.d c&ke

ing

oil

deaf in the course oFa've? You

can stop it. Get

beth's

Dearl Ln S1M^'••"r. pearl top or

glass." You will have nom? trouble with breaki hea,You'„,KkSfe instead of misty lineins2 of rough right shape inst^j of wrong and „„ir the same as another

You will pay a nickel a chim. ney more and your

den!"

will gain in goodwill oses ,n trade

he will wi£

his trade by

better service

OEO'A^cU„ue4-C0

REMEMBER

LINC||

IS THE NAME OF THAT |l

Wonderful

Remedy

That Cures CATARRH, HAY-FEVER. CDLBh the HEAD, SORE THROAT, CANKER, and BRONCHITIS.

Prtca »1.00. iibi

For Sale by leading Drifts, PRETAIIED ONLY lif

ea JACKSON ST.. CHICAGO, ILL

vegetable

COUGHS AND

COLDS.

85c. and 81. at all drugcl.ti,

E.

I0BGA11S SOUS, rKOVIDENCl", R.T. TIUDK SUPPLIEDlijr ROSS GORDON,

LaFs.vette, Ind.

Deee's Gazelle 3-Wheel Pl0"W

& FISHER

Children.

Castoriii cures Colic, Constipation. Bour Stomach, Diarrhasa, Eructation, Kills Worms, ffives sleep, pnmi* fjeation. I Without injurious modicatioa. Tub Centaur Company, 77 Murray

good revenue.'

•OltliANtJ

', Looking out over the many homes of this eountry, we see tbousno of women wearing away their lives in household drudgery tlwt might b# materially lessened by the use of a few cakes of S APOLIO. If

is saved each time a cake is used, if one less wrinkle gathers upon

face because the toil is lightened, she must be a foolish woman would hesitate to make the experiment, and he a churlish husband would grudge the few cents which it costs.

scouring soap

an

^CUT

the

who

taxe oii-cloths tnoe. It will Foa can wonr