The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-09-06

their equipages. fine horses, parks and
establishments, but he had coveted their
libraries, especially those of non-read-
ing men. And it is all very well to
sermonize on Beranger's test, 'Voir,
c'est %avoir;' more practical wisdom
lies in Touchstone's dictum, Gan i'll
favored thing, sir, butmine own" All
of us would fain OWE Horace's portion,
especially in the matter of books. In
his eagerness Mr.. Dollar ever took out
a notebook and began to put down the
names of those time-honored favorites
destined for binding. to cost a guinea
apiece. He was thus jutting one name
after another when the door was opened
with a solemnity that could announce
one piece of news only.
The heart of the new-madc million
aire stood still.
1t was one of the physicians who had
been in attendance on the sick man.
He looked at MI. Dollar c%uriously and
paused.
Then he said slowly and with a touch
of meaning impossible to be misunder-
stood: "An extraordinary, almost a
phenomenal change has happened. My
patient shows signs of returning con-
seriousness and vitality. For the mo-
ment, danger is overt"
He seemed hardly to expect al
answer, and his listener had none to
give. He added: s.In this kind of dis
ease such changes are not unheard of,
though very rare. 1 have throughout
my professional career witnessed not
more than one or two such apparently
miraculous ~recoveries, never one more
startling than the present"
He was bent on apologizing for the
life thus snatched from the grave.
But no apology was needed. The
schoolmaster's cynicism stood him in
good stead. The irony of this circum-
stance was but one bitter touch more
added to his life.
He smiled somewhat grimly, but
with perfect aplomb, without the slight
est change of countenance,. and made
reply:
s'Then there can be no reason for the
prolongation of my stay. L will take
the next train home"
'Your professional duties doubtless
claim you, !" said the physician, and as
there seemed nothing more to say he
went away. urging Dollar to ring for
hot coffee before starting.
"All the household are astir," he
said; "and what a hurry our neighbors
are in to bury us! 1 have had to send
away half-a-dozen undertakers al
ready!"
The cold wintry day had dawned
when Mr.. Dollar reached the railway
station he had quilted barely twenty
four hours ago. What was his dismay
on being asked to show his ticket to
find it gone! Then he smiled grimly
once more. He had thrown the half OF
his return ticket into the fire. with the
thought it was not in accordance with
the fitness of things that a millionaire
should travel third-class.
So Rev. John Humphrey went back
to his school drudgery and his unbound
books, and the hale se~xagenarian took
to himself a young wife. And at the
end of twelve months a son and he'll
was born to the rich man, and the poor
mans dream of millions vanished for.
ever.
But not without leaving a trace be.
hind. When the patient quite recovered
his health, and learned down to the
minutest particulars what had taken
place, his heart smote him. He oughr
not to have come back to life again
He was touched in a vulnerable place, a:
he adored wealth ; moreover, JONI
Humphrey Dollar was his kinsman
and, though a needy man, had nevel
come to him for a farthing. The poo
fellow should no longer grind at schoo
work for two hundred a year.
+ 1t was, moreover, a respectable thine
!, to have a relation in the Church. HI
!, presented Rev. Mr.. Dollar, therefore
with a living in an agreeable MIDLAND
, county.
:, Mr.. Dollar would never ride through
green lanes by the Lady Felicia's side
But he married her all the same. HI
did not pension off half-a-dozen of hi
needy friends, but he supplied his ole
f college tutor with chicken and Madeira
' He did not become the possessor of
, superb library, but he sent all his book
. to the binder.-M. Betham-EdWards Il
L~ongnlan's Magazine.