The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-10-21

when they met him ON the street--burning
words from his pen in behalf of the wronged
and oppressed, newspaper articles copied from
exchange to xchange-flattering notices of
his speeches in aid OF reform from editors who
thus hoped to win his advertising patronage,
with the cancelled notes he had endorsed and
paid for his :. friends
When the last scrap from his desk had sent
its last Pickering ray forth into the gathering
darkness of the room, Ellis Grant rose up
with light washed his hands in the cracked
and discoored basin, bathed therein his hot
brow, combed his dishevcled hair and walked
to the door with firm step. On the thresl-
hold he paused for moment to give one fare
well, lingering look at his room, as he ex-
claimed
Exit Ellis Grant the philanthropist y
Make way there for Ellis Grant the business
man! 1t is no longer as | would be done
by, but, as We have done unto me- E"
He had energy, industry, brains. He bent
ever faculty into subservience to his one aim
Ito make money, make it by whatever
means business tact could possibly take adj
W. nic uSottC SItW lntO " phoSlou /,
all that was best of the man was resolutely
put aside with the firmness which was his
chief characteristic. Money, and how to make
it, was his one thought by day, one dream
during the night. He did make it /; slowly,
at first, but by and by, to all appearances, as
with the magic wand of King Midas. He
formed no friendships outside of his business
circle of acquaintances. There were plenty
to do him honor now, to seek his friendship !;
managing mothers, and manageable maids
were constantly angling for his favor for his
money had made him the great "catch y of
the season.
Caring little for women now as companions,
looking down upon the sex a little pityingly
and scornfuly, was it not strange that few
sentences from woman's pen, contained too
in letter in which she refused his proflered
wealth and name at the close of his five years
of money making, should have stirred up all
his better thoughts, all his high ideals into
new life and activity, and made him turn with
sudden loathing from the toiling, grasping
life he had been leading?
He had known Augustus Rhodes for years,
but only as reputed heiress he had conrted
her money, not her and would never have
thought of her as wife had be not been the
rich man he now was. She was passably
good-looking, was used to good society, was
thoroughly educated, and lived with a rich
uncle presumed to be childless, and SO she
came to be considered his probable heircss.-
1t was business transaction, and the heart Of
Ellis Grant had never given an extra throb
for her sake until he read herletter of refusal.
She wrote -
81 know that shall not pain you by my
: No = to make sure of that, let me tell you a
secret: / am not to be my Unele's heiress
have only lived with him for one purpose, tc
reconcile him to his two children who have
long lived estranged from him. That purpose
is achieved. have lived here long enough tc
realize the valueness of wealth to give happi
ness. Since have nothing to lose thereby
let me say few plain words here to you =
Five years ago believed in you and that be-
lief helped me to believe in all humanity. TIC
you in those days | was only one of the crowd
who were cared for, and who, therefore, did
not need you. To me you were the one ideal
of manhood l watched you eagerly, seeing
in you the realization of my girlish dreams OF
completed manhood. / cherished your
printed words was always an interested
listener to your impassoned speeches in be-
half of all reforms, kept track of your mani
fold schemes for helping others, wept over
your own disappontments and losses ; could
have foretold the heaviest of these, knowing
the woman better than you had opportunity
to know her sorrowed for your broken friend
ship, but yet had infinite faith in your ulti-
mate triumph. / thought You would come
ont of the fire purer than gold with all the
dross of selfish refined away. Oh how you
disappointed me Can you bear the accusa-
tions of your own conscience? How do you
know how many others besides myself were
looking to you for an example Of true living,
and were disappointed and discouraged by the
course you took?
"AsI have known you for the past few
years. do not like you. There is no sympathy
between us. If | have read you truly, you
will thank me for my refusal, since | am not,
| and never VIII De Ilcii Noi Nouiu Si'o "P
the work have set myself to do for all your
riches. Ellis Grant, told twice over"
Ellis Grant read this epistle over several
times. His eyes had had dull, tired, spirit
less look in them for the past year or two, now
they glowed in their depths like stars lie
paced his luxuriantly furnished parlor for an
hour after, thinking deeply. Then he went
to his library, and seating himself at his desk,
wrote only these words =
"Some day, Miss Rhodes, shall hope to be-
come better acquainted with you. Win you
wait until then2 1t may be long time.
Whether you do or not, thank you heartily
for your refusal of my Offer
CELLS GRANT"
This he put into an envelope addressed e
Augusta Rhodes That was all she heart
directly from him for two years. But indi
rectly she heard of him as the world heard Of
him as again first in every good work, every
philanthropic and intellectual reform. He
lost money, but having made up his mind tt
its loss he did not care He no longer looked
to friendship as the reward Of his good work