The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-11-03

either of these lay at the bottom
of the matter; the strangely passionate
love that filled this old human-eagle
for his only child and daughter, Mattn:
A girl like dark, hot Sunshine, she was,
if such thing could be conceived, 70
whom the gift of all things beautiful
that ever were would not, in the eyes
of the fond old lawyer, have seemed
over-lavish. His life had been an an
cry one; sixty years Of strife, pain.
loss, luck, defeat, victory, and time
only knows what else of fateful fever
Gus matter. 1t had come out of pow
erty somewhere in the Mohawk valley,
with possibly touch of the Red Man
in it, and had gone forward through
the Lake Superior region on into the
great grinding. roaring w est, and
doubling back from California a half
score years before, had lodged in Open
stone. The little girl and a pocket.
full OF gold was what he brought
with him, and erelong he
built the house in kind Of
worship of the child, and
employed the most capable persons ne
could find to care for and instruct her.
The mother had been of Spanish blood,
and rumor had it she was dead, at least
unto her husband, and the old mans
heart was wholly given to the child.
John Earling had sometimes seen her
going to and fro, but since his life
pressed so closely on him that he did
not much heed strange faces, and since
the old attorney would not permit his
daughter to attend the common school,
he had not known her. But that she
was comedy, willful and prone to curl.
Gus bursts of love and hate, had often
fallen within the circle of his hearing
as he worked. For it was one of the
old lawyers habits, so full was he Of
this growing girl, to lean back from
his writing by times and give his part
ner some scrap or other that had to do
with her. Now and then John Earl
ing felt an inclination cross him to
meet and know this daughter
of his curious old employer, but with
the moment it would pass away into
his work and be forgotten. He seldom
TESTED or considered any hippant thing;
not that his blood was else than sweet
and wholesome, but for the reason that
he was earnestly intent upon his own
self-education and the earliest possible
completion of his task. Harry Whit
ney dropped in upon him often, and
occasionally left a book with his old
time digestive joke. Joel greeted him
good-naturedly, but hardly with the
hale and hearty openness of the years
before. This upright, resolute young
fellow seemed to trouble him. He
often stared before him and murmured:
"Consarn the youngster! he will make
me look like fool yet-or something
worse" But what John Earling had
done to him was not so clear. Certain
ly he had never whispered of him to any
one save in a grateful. generous way,
and that he should keep his agreement
with Joel seemed the most probable
thing in the world. But the heart Of
the trouble that followed Joel was laid
open at the end of the year when John
Earring came into his Office and wished
to settle with him for the time which
had elapsed since his withdrawal from
the store. Joel colored and fidgeted a
little, unusual things with him. and
got up and went into his private den.
For den it was in the sense of having
witnessed the weaving of many little
business webs about the feet of those
who entered it, and sundry well-nigh
impalpable schemes that had to do
with politics. Indeed, in this latter
connection Joels little private Office
was coming by slow and natural gra.
dations, since his wealth and moral
looseness made it fitting, to be the I'M
seen center of the ring" that squeezed
and Slapped the town and county.
John EARRING sat down and took
an account book and pencil from
his pocket, but Joel remained standing
and pushed the papers about upon his
desk in a curious way. John Earring
leaned back in his chair and looked al
him. "What do you consider the
proper amount that l should pay you
for the year l have been with Bower
& Woodman?' he asked. II shall be
guided entirely by your Judgment
since l wish to make my agreement
perfectly good.'
Joel turned about and opened .
small safe and took out some papers
and sat down at the desk and opened a
check book. Il ought to told you ]
s'pose long time ago." he said, ''that
have some money belonging to you.
He looked flushed and somehow could
not be easy under the steady eyes Of
this young fellow. 81 don't know how
it viii look to you," he went on, e ]
s'pose you will think it another evil
dence of my want of moral heft, but
while / don't intend maxim any par
ticular excuse for it, I'll just say that
thought may be you'd be easier-easier
managed. you know, if you didn't
know it.
John Earnings dark gray eyes lit up
with Joel's first sentence, but they
seemed darker when he finished.
"Your idea was to keep me under
obligation that you might the more
easily use me?" he asked. Joel did
not look at him save with glance.
The youths eyes were burning against
his face in a fashion that none but "A
| very cledr-nedfteu Or very DraZe0
person could meet.
"No, not-well, of course not exact.
ly that" said Joel. Il didn't aim to
set you to any thing mean, of course.
| don't know that | aimed at any
thing particular, but of course you
would be less likely to want your own
way if you thought there was nothing
comm to YOU He glanced at the
eyes beside him and added quickly:
"Of course, you can manage yourself
/ now: YOU got to it quicker than most