The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-06-01
"Upon nv word. Shelly, 1 did not

| KNOW there was so much In you
Tom Shelly and Mr.. Dunning were
closeted together in the latter's private
Office, with some papers spread out be-
fore them, and small brass model of a
machine standing on the desk. ON
"Well, sir, since you approve of it,
and think it likely to answer its pur-
pose, suppose we talk business"
Business Z" .........
"Yes. You have capital, and have
the patent. There's money in the ma
chine, bat it will take money to bring it
out" .....r -.
very true"
We'll, your capital invested in these
works is one hundred thousand dollars.
I'll put in my invention at fifty thousand,
| and own one-third of the establish
ment."
"Ha should think you mightW
"Or, if you like, will travel two
months, and see how the thing is likely
to take before we make any agreement"
"Don't you think you've got your
ideas up rather high on the matter 7"
"Perhaps l have" answered Tom,
coolly; but don't propose to go beg
ging, and let others grow rich out of
"Such things are all experiments
great risks"
II know, sir; but you see what it is,
and the need it supplies, and it is for
you to say whether you will run the
risk of taking hold of it,"
Mr.. Dunning paused and reflected.
al will look the matter over" he said at
length, "and you may come here to-
morrow evening"
This was as satisfactory as Tom could
have expected, and SO he withdrew.
When he went home he asked his
mother Ito whom he had confided naught
of his plans) how she would like to live
in Judge Graham's house on Main
street.
"The judge is going to Europe, and
wants to sell"
"What is that to US, Tom We can't
buy his house."
"Well, we may be able to some time"
"Some time What way you have
of looking ahead, Tom !"
"It's better to look ahead than be-
hind, 1 think"
Tom went up stairs, threw himself
back in a chair, and took Lucy Wares
button out. He fingered the memento
over and over, gazed on it, and finally
pressed it to his lips stealthily, as if he
feared some one might be looking. Then
he wondered what Mr.. Dunnings de-
cision would be, and revolved in his
mind all the contingencies of success or
failure. He slept but little that night,
for his whole future hung on the inter
view of twenty-four hours hence.
New Years night A silver wedding
Mr.. Dunnings mansion was thrown
open and thronged with his friends. 1t
was no stately affair. The children were
there as well as the old folks, and the
house was aglow with merriment and
good cheer.
There were beautiful presents, smiling
congratulations, and shaking of hands
bright-eyed girls, with dazzling dresses
and shining white shoulders; dignified
mat"ons in stately silks and diamonds
benignant fathers in glossy broadcloths
and sober kids; elegant young men in
swallow-tails and white vests; scream
ing children, with wild, delighted coun-
tenances; and the buzz and rustic and
din and iclatter of crowd that had dis
Z,
bent on making night of it.
Tom Shelly was there, and SO was
Lucy Ware. The former was surrounded
by friends and new acquaintance eager
to congratulate him on a recent impor-
tant event-namely, his admission as
partner with Mr.. Dunning.
"Dunning & Shelly has very re-
spectacle sound" said one.
Accept my congratulations ON your
good fortune" said another.
We'll, Tom, your luck has come at
last"
You deserve your luck-every bit Of |
it," were the words of an old friend.
Tom received all this with due
grace and modesty. A few ventur-
ed to sound him, to test his intelligence,
but were speedily satisfied on that score.
He was thoughtful reader, and pos
sessed a little stock of books that many
of those around him would have done
we'll to substitute for the unwholesome
sweetmeats with which they were wont
to regale their minds.
In the mean time Tom is soliloquizing
He is growing restive, and
longs to speak to Lucy Ware. But he
how she will receive him
his good fortune will make him
more attractive to her. And if it does,
and if certain hopes he has cherished are
fulfilled, will 1T be he that wins, or some
thing else? Will it be cash match or
4 love match? Or won't it be any match
At all, and is such speculation idle ?
They were perplexing questions, and
Tom found himself unable to consider
them with that GOODNESS of Judgment he
lad resolved with himself to bring to
bear on the matter.
At last Tom approached her, and as he
lrew near felt choking thrill. She
was just as beautiful as ever, and gave
him glance out of her liquid black
,yes, that rippled up from under the
ong lashes like flood of sunlight.
But in spite of the wild canter into
which his blood was fired, he bade her
sood-evening, touched her gloved palm,
md uttered some commonplace remark
With very praiseworthy nonchlance.
Just then set was forming to dance,
md one couple was wanting. Of course
Tom asked Miss Ware for the honor,
to-, and the two marched on the floor.
"You will allow me to express my
pleasure at your advancement, will you
lot?" she asked, in tone in which there
vas just shade of tremulousness.
"Oh, certainly, if you take enough
interest in me to feel any pleasure at
/