National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-01
CHAPTER ".

hundred yards of home length In advance
Now came the final scratch
CHAPTER w.
TOMS RESOLUTION.
"Brandon has iii Brandon has i'll" yelled the
excited crowd on the shore, as the contestants
drew nearer home
Minnie from her position in the family carriage
of the Stockwe,s, heard II, butts still the confidence
in her champion did not abate one whit.
II seemed to her as though Tom, who was in her
mind so vastly superior to Hartley Brandon, must
win.
There suddenly came a lull in the cheering; for
one moment silence roigned. Then deafenng
cheers rent the air.
Hathaway has III" now became the cry as
Tom, with q long, sweeping, nonchalant thirty
four, glided over the line full the best
Grand was the ovation which he received upon
his return to the boat house. the excited crowd
seizing him and conveying him down the street
upon their shoulders.
a second time had Tom Hathaway won tho club
cup III two succeeding seasons, q record never be-
fore achieved on the Crystal Lake course
As for Hartley Brandon, bumiliated by his sig
nal defeat and burning with rage, he pulled
slowly down to his quarters. He was not n little
surprised at the wonderful power of Tom Hatha-
way, who was not so heavy by many pounds aud
apparently not so strong AS himself,
But in this supposition he had been mistaken.
He had miscalculated his adversary's powers.
life than he had of winning the cup and cham
pionship OF the club when he had started out that
morning.
He had even staked considerable sum Of money
hui This loss did not affect him nearly as much az
the humiliation OF getting defeated.
All the black venom of his nature was now
aroused against Tom Hathaway, and from that
moment he became instlnctively his sworn enemy
TO the death.
"You have crossed my path" he muttered, "and,
Tom Hathaway, L swear by oil the powers of evil
you shall rue It,"
And IL would not seem difficult underta king
for the rich bankers SON blessed with wealth uns
counted, to crush the penniless cooper's son.
- Gayly, and with kind OF reckless desperation,
aNaNF NhA Of kun huN
evening Indeed an unusually hilarious spirit
seemed 10 have come over him. and though at ali
times most agreeable none remembered ever see
ing him so mirthfni before.
Many attributed this very naturally to his vic.
tory on The lake hut a was In reality very al r.
emf motive
Tom was I'm fact upon the eve of taking his first
lesson in self.denial.
For Tom as / have several times before ro-
marked Wns poor nav penniess and unlike his
associates. had not a Handsome revenue of a few
thousands coming into his Golfers monthly.
Even the very dress suit which he wore upon the
present evening had served in that capacity nearly
Two wears and yas sadly frayed and almost
threadbare.
And he had no immediate prospect of obtaining
another for his funds were exceedingly low aud
unless some interposition of a specal Providence
replenished them he would be compelled TO go to
the wall
This was TO him like running upon the edge of
precipico with the dread fear of being at any mo-
ment consigned to the depths
And aCtuated by this knowledge of his exceed
ingly precarious ioothold and position in society
he was led 10 make step which proved the turn
ing point in his life. III impossible to say what
might have become of gay, reckless, and nin- low
ing yet ut heart we'll meaning Tom had not an
OVERWHELMING combination of circumstances
served to make a change in his career
When ne arose the next morning after the
nights festivities his head ached, and feeling of
Hc did notgo Immediately down to break fast,
but dressed himself and seating himself by the
open window which looked out upon the crystal
lake the scene of his triumph Of tho preceding
day, gave himself up to bitter reflections,
For an hour he sat there in moody speculation,
some face, and, suddenly sprngng TO his feet in
his characteristic way he brought his fist down
forciby upon the dressing case.
He Descended to the kitchen, where his mother
| was nrenarInp the morninp meal for the Uatha
wsys = were moor and did nnt Keen servants.
| "'Motbern he exclaimed catching her in his
| strong arms. .imother have got itPP
| Mrs Hathaway. a mild, biue.eyed little lady OF
| forty-dye, and 10 whom Tom was deyotedly at
| tached MS she WAS Io him turned unon him n
| iook of gentle sunrise
"What have you got, Tome"
nation TO be n ge5tlcmHU ioSier no LONGER re.
solve to throw aside the old life aud go forth into
| Tho world to nrove myseif n man o.
'i'I o,v o ana this solve be reade,
shall SEQ in the cnnrse of This narraLiye
That evening he stood in the drawing room OF
the Stockwelf mansion and Minnie Stockwell
stood before him both her hands in his and hei
henutiful hlue eves untlrnnd 10 his I'm ndsome face
"Thea YOU T are going away Tom going to leave
"Yes' Minnie, and Won can never know the paip
| II gives me TO part from youn
SBut why do you goY'
"Bccalse Mnnien said poor Tom desperately
| "beeouse am moor and cannot keen nm the ap.
pearance | have been maintaining in society
| longer. oh. Heayeni YOU can never know the
| hmmiliation of poyerty ~" -O" ''~
"Wouid 10 Heaven didi % eiaoulated the beau.
tiful girl ITO tell the truth, Tom, am tired and
heartily siok of The life lend hate society and
dress and fashion. / wish did not have a rich
father sometines. n is such n hurden to keen mr.
stvIe" 'oi'e''"'''' ~ 10 'u'' ''''0" W A'eP "
| HThen vou do mt care for man,s novertv u
said Tom softly pressing the little hands tighter
| between Ris bip paImse 'Iwould be content tC
| shaTe his int so lhnt as von loved him he Thai
| whnt Il mnyq
"Eyen so Surely love that Is not sci sacri6cinu
| IA valuelessy
| "Thank heaven for that sentiment Minnie" said
| Tom suddenly drawing her to him "You have
given me worlds of fenCouragement can 20 forth
| now and breast the storms of life with a brayel
| heart Knowing that | possess the love of one sc
true and sweet as Yourself Forgive me for The
| outbuTst but | could not help H. Ii was alWayl
a way with me TO speak my mind blunt.like yoT
| know
ii shall nray for your success. Tom. daily. and
hone that the day will NOT be far distant when yoI
| may come back
| "a mnnw interrupted Tom eagerly "Ay
! md IA surh "A thing be nossibie I will nrove my
| self sueh irSen wili TetuTn, int woula Won Wal
to tarrv such a iangtb nTtItne for sncb M uucer
| taintyP"
IaNl