New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-09
CHAPTER IAN ECCENTRIC RESOLUTION.


business and the fact that ne was at last retained
on great and important case, lrron Archer could
not yet this fancy out of hlS mlnd.
That fair sweet face Heated forever before ms
eyes and haunted his dreams Such an experience
was new 10 his life. and prrpcXed and worried MN
accordingly. He heart %" more and saw y" more
of the glrl, ana gradually tcBhh lo 'hlh ~ "N''
One evening inst as he was putting aside his
papers and thinking OF leaving on work Tor the
day. note brought Ia hun hy hiiIr ragged
utchin. 1t contained few hastIly-scrawicd lines,
| but they evidently gave HIM deep concern, Tor he
put his hat, locked his room. ana went OUT NJ
lie hailed the FIST passing hanson and was driven
rapidly to the northwest of LOnton. In SINAI
mean looking street of tins district lac allghlcd d
dismissed the cab. 4 few steps mp the street
brought him To the hon-e ne sought.
A moment later. aud lac was lending over slght
Young figure lying couch III poor. lllnrniohrd
ROOM In one corr TER stood piano Uttered over
with music aud tine instrument, though Hlin, was
solid and good of It's kind. and looked sHGulafy
ont of place among The 7haooy furniture VI u"o
So You are i'll; suffering again said Heron
| Archer gently, as ho benz over III" young MAN
The pale wan face lit up brightly at sight of the
welcome visitor; the Young man made an ciioft TO
! rise but sank back directly while violent TIT OF
| coughing shook HIM from head TO 1907. go
| The strong man by IN, SHE looked with incNprc5
| sible compassion at the slight Inquire the tim pale
| face and delicate attenuatcd features;
Hush lie STILL hc said. see what 1t IS; yon
have caught fresh cold again. You must take care
| "a
| again then. What il 1t can do for your
1T Is so vcxatIOus, 80 unfortunate. SAID the m
valid family. had such good englgemcn emf .oT
| should be able to keep H. But see II Is no use !
wrote TO you, ! thought you II lght help me- |
| tried to get a deputy, and could not. | was 10
| have two puueas. Ii is such loss 90 me- but
perhaps you know someone who can take my place (;
only ii is snch short notice. Al . is the BALL
| What bali WhereT
! III isa private subscription ball. and takes place
| at the Marlborough Room S. not Tar from hero, !
| was to play the piano. There are tlirco other
| musicans-COrnct yi'lln ahd doubie-baSS. IL IS
| most unfortunate. Someone must bo got.
| Well IN sec what can do for YOU said Heron
| Archer cheerlully. And you shan't lose the two
| gmheas if | can help IT, j. this the mnsicP
| Yes: it's mostly waltzcs. ! have played with
these men before. They are gq9l fellows ana we
| There's not much time certainly, sad Heron
| Archer, looking at his watch. Do YOU know
what I've been thinking. StauntonT III take your
''Yom. sir and the young fellow raised himself mp
on his elbow and stared at his visitor as II he
thought he had suddenly taken leave OF ms senses
Yes l. laughed Heron Archer amuscdly why
mott / play fairly well, and there really seems nc
| time to get a substitute. even If | knew OF one
which don't
sOh. sir. you cannot do such thing it is I'M
| possbep cried the youth. Il wish had let YOU
know earlier. IL is not far to gave you all TINS
trouble you have been always much TOO good To
me as it is. My life is one long debt TO You
Nonsense, have done little enough, exclaimed
Heron Archer looking sadly at the wasted form
and delicate features before him.
In bis heart he knew how little benefit could bc
done him; how short a pan of life remained for
the troubles and pclplexities of earth.
| There was moments silence. Then Heron
Archer broke it abruptly.
Come he said, Il have made up nv mind
shall like the duty immensely You know 1 am
fond of masquerading. THIS will be a new charac.
ter 10 come out in. Give me the address,
you are only joking. sir. surely pleaded the
young man. Surprising anyone you know hap
pened 10 be at the ballP
There is no chance of that / know no one in
this neighborbood even If | was recognized
should not care II would only be one eccentricty
the more for my friends 10 chronicle
The invalid looked admiringly up at tho hand
some determined face.
Your acts of eccentricity arc all noble and gen
erous, he murmured. How few OF your friends
know you really as you are