The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-12-15

passed through. Strong was with the party,
but he left it, and spent half day at his
old home. He was with Varina most of
the time and / saw him only moment.
sNo changes, 1 see,'' said he in a curt
businesslike way, mot house painted,
and not q hammer has been heard since /
left. Everything is just the same"
s'Varina, too?'' suggested.
eyes, Varina, too" he replied. "Poor
little thing. Do you know that she lacks
force of character
II think nothing of the kind" I an
swered shortly, 'she certainly has great
deal of patience under trying circum-
stances, and there is some force OF char
acter ir that"
Strong's eyes fell, and he gave me
parting clasp of the hand. He had to re-
join the railway kings at their next stop
ping place. 1t was hard to tear himself
away, but it could not be helped.
His visit could not have been very sat
isfactory to Varina, for from that time
saw a change in her Her face began to
have a weary, sad look, and she plodded
on with her school work, withdrawing
herself almost entirely from society. She
still received letters from New York, but
they were less frequent than formerly.
When Strong paid his next visit to Cot
tonville, the following year, he was
millionaire This tins he remained several
days, and was at his best. Everybody re-
marked that prosperity had not spoiled
him. He was devoted to Varina. but the
poor girl seemed to be in dazed state.
She saw something in her lover that no
one else saw, GOODNESS that she alone
could detect.
After his departure we all began won
dering when the marriage would take
place. / had said nothing to Strong about
it, and he had not mentioned it to me.
Only once had he said anything that re-
motley referred to it.
"You people call me rich man." he
said s'and l suppose am, but you do not
know how complicated my business is.
/ am liable any night to 60 home a million
or two richer or wreSched pauper. For
Gods sake let speculation alonev'
l thought of Strong's words often dur
ing the next year. From time to time we
heard of his success. Everything that he
touched seemed to turn to gold. Even in
New York men spoke of him as the young
Napoleon.
It was an awful crash, and it carried
some of the proudest firms in the great
city down with it.
In our little village we could hardly re-
qlize it, Surely Strong had been prudent
enough to save something out OF the
wreck.
Our hope proved to be without founda-
tion Not only had Strong's entire fortune
been swept away, but he would have to
begin the world again owing fully mil
lion dollars.
The brave fellow bore up for few days.
His conduct was so manly that there was
some talk of setting him upon his feet
again, and it was predicted that he would
retrieve his losses and make another for
tune.
But the strain was too much. Finally
he staggered to his bed, and when he arose
from it, long weeks afterwards, his attack
of brain fever had done its worst.
''He is mental wreck" said Banker
Jones, who had just returned from New
York.
els there no hope?'
'sNone whatever. He will never regain
his senses. He may improve physically,
but his mind is gone forever"
s'We must do something for him."
said.
something has been DONE" replied
Jones with very moist eyes. 'Varina''-
''What has she dones"
'sIhat noble woman, sir, went on to
New York with her uncle. They took
poor Strong and placed him in a private
asylum, where he will receive every care
and attention. You know that Varina
has given up her school and is living with
her uncle, who is going to make her his
heiress. Well, those two are going to
foot the bills and see to it that Strong is
taken care of as long as he lives"
It was years afterward when I saw
Strong for the first time since his misfor-
tune.
Business had called me to New York,
and on the second day after my arrival l
visited the asylum, a short distance from
the city.
At first I thought that Strong had COM
pletely recovered, he was looking SO well,
but his talk undeceived me.
"And how is COttonville?'' he asked.
"Slow old place, too slow, no progress,
nothing to keep a man of ability there.
Why don't you come here? have some
big schemes ON foot and possibly I'll let
you in''
l was glad to see that he recognized me,
and humored his rambling talk for an
hour.
81 saw Varina before left," / said.
"Varina! Oh, little Varina Vincent
Do you know l once thought of marrying
her, but saw that it wouldn't do. Good
girl, but no force of character, you know.
Why, they call me the young Napoleon OF
finance. Now, how would such a wife
have suited me? Well, managed it so
as not to hurt her feelings let the en-
run along, and at last she Of
fered to release me- l accused her of not
having faith in me, and got in a high
dudgeon and accepted my freedom. Good,
wasn't it?"
1t was too much for me. rose to go.
Strong accompanied me to the door, and
chatted about his imaginary specalations.
s'Stay!' he cried, as was leaving.
He handed me a little flower from the
profusion that decked his table.
''Give that to Varina, he said.
1 took it and rushed of, unable to
speak.
Of course pressed that flower, and
took the utmost care of it until I reached
COttOnville.