Sharp County record., 1888-07-05
JACKS FORTUNE.
In What It Consisted and How It
Came to Him.

Jack DAYTON was twenty-four years
Of age. He was handsome, as that
term applies to man; he was studious
in an extraordinary sense; he was as
sober as a cold-water advocate; he was
a lawyer, and he was as poor as
church mouse and prouder than Luci-
fer before he was exiled from Heaven.
Jack Dayton was as brave as a Ben
gal tiger, and his proverty never
seemed burden and a reproach to
him before he met Gussie VandOrn.
After that momentous meeting at
Saratoga he felt that he could hang
himself because he had not been born
with silver spoon in his mouth.
The fact of the matter is Jack Day
ton was in love from the sOles of his
feet to the crown of his intellectual
head, and because he was poor his
pride stood between him and the rich
woman who had stolen his heart in an
unguarded moment.
He had been practically raised in a
lawyer office He had entered it at
the age of twelve as general utility
boy and he had left it at the age Of
twenty-five a finished lawyer, with a
few hundred dollars saved up during
the long years.
Go somewhere, jack" said the
fond mother. "and stay all summer.
You never had vacation in your life,
and you should cele your admis-
sion to the 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 off
10 Saratoga, the worst place on earth,
except Newport. for a poor man to
90. But Jack was bent upon cele-
brating his admission in grand style
and within the limits of three hundred
dollars. So he went to Saratoga and
took mode EST room at one of the best
hotels and started in for solid enjoy
ment and profitable review of his
law books.
But the Vandorns were at Saratoga,
too, and at the same hotel with J.rck.
He got acquainted with them in no
time. He and Gussie got on famously
in an easy, procrastinaling way. She
was a dashing, brilliant woman, with
a sober side the world seldom saw.
She began by studying Jack. He was
n social phenomenon. He was the
most nonchalant, self-possessed and
dignifed young man at the springs;
thoughtful yet often humorous con-
versationalist Every body wondered
what brilliant and fashionable wom-
an like Gussie Van Iorn could find to
admire In studious, self-possessed
and undemonstrative man like Jack
Dayton. They were much together
about the hotel, talking literature"
some would say.
When Jacks three hundred dollars
began to get down to fine point he
set about returning to New York. In
stead of taking him through the sum-
mer it had just taken six weeks of
Saratoga in very quiet way to eat
the life out of it. There is nothing
like a summer hotel for eating up
money. Jack had to 60 but he wanted |
to stay.
While the two were out for a quiet
walk one afternoon about the middle
of August Jack SAID:
Miss Vandorn, l go to New York |
tomorrow. Ny vacation is at an
end"
Miss Vandorn was as silent as a
tombstone. Jack was surprised there
by and cast hasty glance into her
face He was startled. He could not
mistake the surprise and bewlldered
expression on her countenance his
abrupt declaration had provoked.
HIS heart gave a great leap and then
stood still.
If say / 90 with regret it is be-
cause you have made my stay so very
pleasant" he managed to say.
Must you goP' asked Gussie.
Il must 60. am but poor young
lawyer with loving mother to sup
port. My dream hour is over 1t
seems like dream"
what seems like dreamP"
THE few weeks l have been here
and privileged to have SO much of your
society"
Il shall be pleased to see you at our
home in New York, Mr.. Dayton"
"Mlss Vandorn," said he, solemnly,
1--WE have always been frank with each
her; let me be so now. Why? l am
too poor 10 be numbered among your
New York friends.
Il shouldn't mind your poverty. Mr..
Dayton. Worth makes the man. and
want of it the fellow, you know"
Yes; but the world does not look
at it that way neither do L l have
got to struggle for place to stand.
Some day we may meet again. pray