Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-09-28

the deliberate Marge to takc a smal. bottle
Of champagne with his midday luncheon-.a
luxury which he usually reserved until even
ing at the club.
But again he was startled when a ligh.
headed friend complained that, although the
said friends father had been promised
place for his son In Tramlsy's office when tho
iron trade should look up, Tramlay had taken
in coantryman instead. His own eyes s,on
confirmed tho intelligence, and, as Trnmlay
made no expanationor or oven mention Of the
fact, Marge again found himself asking:
"what can Tramlay want Of that fellowir
Evidently II meant either business or Lu.
cia. Perhaps tho merchant during the long
depression OF the iron trade had borrowed
money Of the young mans father, or was now
borrowing Of him, to avail himself Of his in
crcasing opportunities tMarge had the city
mans customary but erroneous impression as
to tho bank surplus Of tho average "well 10
do" farmer, II Tramlay wcre merely Dor.
rover, except against notes and bills receiva.
bic, iron had not looked up enough TO justify
aprudent man in becoming tho merchants
son-in-law. IL there had been such transac-
tions, perhaps share Of tho business was to
pay for them Inquiries OF his banking ac-
quaintanccs did not mako the matter clearer
TO Mayge; so he resolved TO devote himself to
the new clerk, as he could safely do In his ca
pacity Of co-dircctor Of the Improvement
company. Tho young man had considerable
self possession, Marge admitted to himself;
but what would IL avail against tho fine
methods Of a man OF twice his years. all spent
among men who considered it legitimate
business 10 pry into tho business affairs of
othersi
So Marge began operations at once no
timo was to DO lost He had no difficulty in
making his approaches, and his courtesies
were so deftly offered that Phil could not
help accepting many OF them and feeling
grateful for kindness rendered The young
mans suspicious were soon dlsarmed, for, liko
honorable natures in general, ho abhorred
suspicion. That there was purpose In nll
of Marge's actions Phil could not avoid bc-
lieviug, but little by little he reached the con-
clusion that II was simply to forward tho
Improvement company's prospects. As Marge
himself said, Phil knew tho company's land
thoroughly, and was tho only person who
could talk Of IL intclligently Any vestiges
Of distrust that remained were swept away
when Marge succeeded In having the privi-
icges Of his club extended to Phil for three
months, pending application for admission.
II was u small club, and exclusive; Phil
heard IL named almost revcrently by some
young men who longed to pass Its portals,
and among its members were few men Of q
social set more prominent than that in which
the Tramlays moved.
To Marges delight Phil began to spend
money freely at tho club; Marge had seen
other young men do likewise, and there was
but one end 90 bo expected II their parents
are not rich. Phil drank no wine smoked
no cigars, yet when he thought II proper TO
give little dinner the best that the clubs
caterer could supply was on tho table. Ho
did not seem TO have any other expensive
habits, except that ho dressed so carefully
that his tailor's bill must be large; still, a
man who gives dinners at clubs must have
plenty OF money From being n source OF
qualification, Phil's FREQ use Of money began
gradually TO cause Marge dismay. Where
did 1t all come front He could scarcely DO
earning 1t in his capacity Of junior clerk In
an iron house. Could II be that Tramlay had
him in training for tho position of son-in.
law, and was paying the cost of introducing
him favorably to tho notice Of some sets of
New York society TO whom he could not
present him at his own housel Such n course
would be quito .judicious In n father desiring
wider acquaintance for his daughter whom
shc should become a bride; but, IL 1t really
wcro being pursued, would he, Marge, ever
hear the end Of tho rallying TO which his own
part in the programme would subject hint
There was moro torment In this view Of
tho case than Margc had ever experienced In
his life before, and II robbed him at times OF
his habitual expression 10 an extent that was
noticeable and made him the subject OF some
club chat No matter how exclusive n club
may be, no matter how careful In the selec-
ton Of its members that mono but gentlemen
may be upon its list, it cannot prevent
small, gradual, but distinct and persistent
aggregation of gossps-fellows whose ener-
gies, such as they arc, tend solely 10 investi-
cation Of tho affairs Of their acquaintance.
There was not an hour OF tho day or night
when several OF these fellows could not be
found at Marge's club lounging as listlessly
and inconspicuously as SO many incurabes at a
hospital. but Marge know by experience that
these were the only fellows worth going 10 II
hs wanted 10 know NIL that was being said
nbout n member. partieularly il it was un.
complimentary. And now, eopfound them,
nossibly they were talking about him. and
intimatipe that he was being used 10 improve
the standing of his own rival
Still, as he informed himself, all his annoy.
ance came from n mere suupositiop. which
might be entirely without foundation Per.
, hans the Young man had means of his own;
no Ind not looked like IL when he first ap-
peared In New York, but appearances some.
times were deceitful Marpe had heard Tram.
Law allude to Pills father as an honest old
farmer TO whom fortune had not been any
too generous, but perhaps bo had been esti
mating tho old mans possessions only by New
Work standards. wos IL not the farming clas,
that ORIGINALLY took M the greater mart Of
the governments great issues OF bondsi
And, vet, IL tho Young man had money OF
his own or OF his fathers, where did no keep
IN Had he ever displayed a check, TO indi
cate his banking place, Marge would have
found WAYS OF ascertaining the sizo aud na.
- - ~. a.a..,.. H.. ,l,o.,.k h.. al ...,,-