The Democratic advocate., 1878-07-20
So PER ANNUM

man. acknowledge the spell; yet have
always been able TO shake it off. I'll tell
you why. am intensely ambitious.
long to exert strong and commanding
influence upon my fellow-men. But, some.
how or other, | have never had any calling
into which | felt / could throw my full
force. / studied medicine for awhile, but
though | never feared to WELD the sealpel,
and could realize something Of the nobili-
ty Of the professor, I found that l had
longings which it would never afford me
opportunity to adequately express. Then
| took up the law. 1t enkindled my eu-
thusiasm and kept it blazing for some time
1 became a member Of the bar, but here
| am at last one of the army of its non-
praeticing members At thirty years oE
age, / am ehafng still With his soul as
full of unrest, how can you expect a man
to spend his time in dancing attendance
upon those to whom watering places, balls,
and love conquests are the grand realities
Of life2 People may say, "There is Bas-
il Gordon, young fellow who has had fine
opportunities, but has let them slip be-
cause he las no settled purpose in life
But / have settled purpose. 1t will
sound presumptuous TO name it. 1t ismy
purpose, at least my longing desire, to make
my influence felt in the great movements
of the nineteenth century. When was
younger my faith was stronger, but now l
sometimes lose confidence in my future. -
Basil began with apparent languor,
waxed warmer as he proceeded, his eyes
Frightening and his action becoming en-
ergetic and concluded with an air of de-
lection. He suddenly rose, turned down
the brim of his straw hat, and saying, II
must be in motion" he was off.
Kennedy, smiling somewhat derisively,
drew from his pocket Philadelphia paper.
Having read all the news items, some Of
them the second time, for he had had the
paper couple Of days, he concluded to
60 to the hotel and succumb to the gen.
eral dullness by taking a nap. When he
reached the piazza he found Miss Herbert
there, with her hands folded over closed
book He was passing her with bow,
when she said -"Mr. Cheston, have you
anything you could loan me to read? If
SO, will exchange with you. Here is
Midalemarci.
81 am obliged to you, Miss Herbert l
shalllo in your estimation, but must con-
fess | can't appreciate George Eliot She
puts me to sleep. But here is a Phila-
delphia paper you may have, if you feel
any interest in the news of the day"
"Why, of course | do, Mr.. Cheston.
Thank you"
She took the paper and went up stairs.
After tea, when Basil, arrayed in a cool
white linen suit, was about to descend to
the parlor, Kennedy said:
''By The way, Gordon, 1 can tell you
something you win consider creditable to
Miss Herbert-she reads the newspapers.
| gave her one to-day, and in return she
offered me NiddIemarch, but ], ofcourse, re-
spectfully declined to attempt it in this
warm weather"
As Gordon went down stairs he mur-
INJURED, "Reads the newspapers and enjoys
George Eliot Good"
Entering the parlor, he saw Miss Her
bert sitting alone. Her mother, lady of
classic features and patrician elegance, had
just left her. Losing no time in present
ing himself at her side, and expressing his
qualification at his good fortune in finding
her alone, he proposed promenade. She
took his arm. and they joined the company
walking around the wide piazza, while the
band discoursed some stirring marches and
lively waltzes.
Basil Gordon was not the only admirer
Of Grace Herbert's rich dark brown hair
and deep blue eyes, which, like her lips,
were singularly expressive. She was, as
Cheston said, brilliant belle. She was
the only daughter of the Hon. Lionel Her
bert, who represented his part Of the State
in Congress. She spent her winters gem
orally in Baltimore and Washington and
her summers partly at watering places and
party at her fathers country house, two or
three miles from the town of --, the
place of his residence.
She was getting tired of the excitements
of gay society, and had determined to pc
tition her motherfor a life of more repose;
not that she had lost interest in the great
public movements that carry the race on
in its grand progression toward the high
est civilization, movements that can be
Observed in their inception and develop
ment only in the large cities, nor was she
disposed at all TO withdraw from the soci-
ETY. in which her birth and education
placed her, but she had began to take q
more serious view of life, and felt unwil.
ling to spend her days and years in a round
of mere selfish pleasures
Gordon became engaged in earnest con-
versation with her, and as he looked into
her eyes and watched her lips, parted in
her eagerness to speak, and smiling with
rare sweetness, he thought, "Here is a
unique combination of beauty, intelligence
and apparent lovableness."
They talked with a zcst uncommon in
young persons Of the rapid improvements
of their section since the war; the pros
perity that everywhere gladdens the eye
among the hills and dales Of Western Ma
ryland, and the position of an important
metropolis attained by Baltimore by grad
ual and steady steps; of the breadth of our
national life as seen from the Washington
or New York standpoint, and the greatly
heightened interest and pleasure of social