Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-06-23
Jack Dayton's Fortune.

Jack Dayton's Fortune.
Jack Dayton was twcnty-four years Of
age. He was handsome, as that term
applies to man; ho was studious in m
extraordinary sense; he wa' as sober as
a cold water advocate; he was lawyer,
and he was as poor as church mouse
and prouder than Lucifcr before lie was
cxiled from heaven.
Jack Dayton was as brave as Bengal
tiger, and his poverty never seemed II
burden and rcproach to him before he
met Gussie Vandorn. After that mo-
mentous meeting at Saratoga he felt that
he could hang himself because he had
not been born with silver spoon in hi,
mouth.
The fact of the matter is Jack Dayton
was in love from the soles of his feet to
the crown of his head, and because he
was poor his pride stood between him
and the itch woman who had stolen his
heart in an un3uardcd moment.
lilo had been practically raised in a
lawyers office. lie hal entered at the
age of twelve as general utility boy and
he had left it ut the age of twenty-five
a finished lawyer, with few hun red
dollars saved up during the long years.
"Go somewhere, jack said the fond
mother, 'and stay ali the summer. You
never had vacation in your llfo, and
you should celebrate your admission to
tho bar by taking one. You have been
hard student; you have been a loving
and devoted son. Go take vacation.
Jack kissed her and took himself fl
to Saratoga, the worst place On Garth
except Newport, for poor man to 90.
But Jack was bent upon celebrating his
admission in grand style and within tho
limits OF $500. So he went to Saratoga
and took modest room at ono OF the
best hotels and started in for soil ! en-
joymcnt and profitable review OF his
law books.
But the vandorns were at Saratoga,
too, and at the same hotel with JACK.
He got acquainted with them il no
time. He and Gussic got on famously
in an easy, procrastinating way. She
was dashing, brilliant woman with a
sober side the world seldom saw. Sho
began by studying Jack. Hc was So
ciul phenomenon. He was the most
nonchalaut, sclf-posscsscd and digniicd
young man ut the Springs; thoughtful
but yet often humorous convcrsatioaalist.
Everybody wondered what brilliant
and fashionable woman like Gussic
Vandorn could tind to admire in stud
ious, self possessed ard undemonstratvc
man like Jackson Dayton. They wero
ouch together about the hotel talking
literature" some would say.
When Jacks $500 began to get down
to fine point he set about returning
to New York Instead of,.talling hin
through tho summ,r it had just taken
six weeks of Saratoga in a very quiet
way to cat the life out OF it. There is
nothing like n summer hotel for eating
up money. Jack hal to 60 but he
wanted to stay.
While the two were out for quiet
walk one afternoon about the middle of
August, Jack said:
"Nliss Vandorn, go to New York
tomorrow. My vacation is at an cud. !"
Miss Vandorn was "a silent rs tomb
stone. Jack was surprised thereby and
cast hnsty glanc, into her face. He
was startled. He could not mistake tho
surprise and bcwildered expression on
her coua tonance his abrupt declaration
had provoked. His heart gavo great
leap and then stool still.
'If say 1 go with regret It's because
you have male my stay SO very pleas
ant" he managed to say.
'Must you go2' asked Gussie.
Il must go. ain but 81 poor young
lawyer with loving mother to support.
My dream hour is ever. 1t seems like a
dream.
"What seems like drcam2"
"Thc few weeks have been here and
privileged TO have so much of you5
society,"
81 shall be Pleased to see you It au:
home in Now York, Mr.. Dayton"
miss Vandorn,' sail he solennly,
1--WE have always been frank with each
other; let me be so now, Whya am
too poor to DO numbered among your
New York friends"
81 shouldn't mind your poverty, Mr..
Dayton: worth makes the man. and
want of it tho fellow, you know"