New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-15
GENEROSITY.

l.
Chris whelan came out from the theatre in
state Of mental eXaltation: the play he had been
seeing was tragic and the hero heroc-very heroic,
very noble and sc lfsacrifcng. In the dltorlum
the women had all been crying their compleMons
off, and the men, who Just much moved,
had had the additional excitement of trying 10
look as if they were not.
Chris Whelan had not been crying the play
had had different effect on him he felt stirred,
awakened, exalted, and almost enviOus. He had
felt the grandeur OF the story so keenly that he
envied the great actor who had played the hero's
part his opportunity of self-Sacritice intensely
as if the sacrifice had been reality.
Fate had been very kind TO Chris Whelan. He
was young, strong, and impresslVely handsome; he
was rich well-bOrn, well-mannered, and thorough
IL welLhked but yet he was not exactly content.
because impossible as it may seem in the nine
tenth century, he would have liked TO be a hero.
He had tried such means OF self-Sacrlfice as APP
peared open TO him he had gone in for stunning
when il was the rage but he did not catch fever,
lose his life nobly rescuing some one from any
thing disagreeable moreover several of the ladies
with whom he worked showed signs of falling in
love with him, 50 he gave up stunning as
failure
he had tried politics, choosing unpropitious
time TO attach himself to an unpopular party, but
did not find even that successful as means of
self-sacritice, for his colleagues simply worsmpped
him. and of bis old friends made the least
difference in their behavior toward him. Some
Of them indeed were more conspcuously cordial
than ever either because they wished TO show that
they had been rather jealous OF his popularity
while he had been ON their own side, and they
glad TO get rid OF him.
On this particular night he walked bomeward
feeling very discontinued indeed the paths of
romance and self-abnegauon seemed closed against
him, he seemed doomed TO perpetual ENJOY
ment which was commonplace and prosalc. lie
was so wrapped in his own thoughts that he
scarcely noticed when some one touched him on
the arm.
Halo, Davis he said absently. "where do
have been to your rooms" said Davis;
"they told me there where you were tired
TO wait till you came in, but l got so impatient
j couldn't keep still, so came to meet you.
Whelan was still only half recalled from his
own castle-building. All right; do you want
anything" he said.
" Yes, j want-generoSlty"
Davis would rather have said justice" but
some instructive knowledge of his friends char
acter told him that he would be much more likely
10 get what he wanted if he called it by the more
attractive name.
To be just is only ones duty. that rs why one so
seldom does it; but there is something hatterlng
TO ones vanity in the mere name OF generosity.
Whalen was thoroughly interested now. GU
are in some trouble he said. land can help
you Come into the Mall and let me hear
They walked along slowly IN the shadow OF
the trees, silent at first but presently Davis be
gan his appeal
Chris, old fellow" he said, ave have. been
friends long time"
We have and mean to be, come what may
Whelan half expected confession of murder,
forgery or bigamy. or perhaps all three, and was
fairly revealing in the thought of how steadfasty
he would stand by his friend.
Davis went
You are "a lucky fellow, Whelan; you are
rich popular in good society favorite with
Well, yes said Whelan. II was all true,
and h did not see any need TO deny it. Well,
yes, what them
On the other hand. I am-well, not anything
TO look at or to talk ola person of no account
whatever. / want you to see clearly how much
that is worth having you have and how little
have. | want YOU 10 recognize tAD and be
generous"
81 ] have not many virtues. Tom" said Whelan
warmly but know what friendship is. and |
shall not fail you. Speak without any more
preface what form is this generosity TO take?8
] want you TO give up Madge Parry TO me-"
Good Cod"
Whelan stopped dead short in the middle of q
crossing. This sort of sacrifice had never entered
his mind. Davis had fairly 10 drag him out of |
the track Of the cabs that were rafting past |
the two sat down seat in the shadow of the |
trees.
am asking good de. l know" said Davis |
out am asking il of a man who can afford 10 |
give. and, as you said Just now. ] don't think |
you WIN iail me have very little in the world |
Eau hlnk you would have the heart 10 take !
tbinr W. ,he niue have, seeing you have every,
IN ihing you could desire ANY woman would fail |
III To- WIN you there is only this one in all the
Worlu lof me She was the verge Of caring
Ior me When you came on the scene She will care
for me again if she does not SEQ Won any more
LEI me nave thls one piece of good luck Chris
spar u TO me out of your aiiluence There's
lAdv Lily LevlSon. who used 10 share vour
Whitechapel wanderingS she'd hove von anv dav
and small wonder; or McNamarg's daupbtar the
beauty, proud rs She is she would no nrouder 10 |
MARY 1 you, among all the women who would be
ready 10 marry you, can't you find some one else
and leave Madge TO me? Why. with ali vour ad
vantages any woman who was not a fool wonld
Jump at YOU
You forget one thing said Wbelar slo,sIv.
any woman won do. | am fond 90 Media
farry--No" he went on after a pause mo Tom
can't think of it," -
=, But the answer showed Davis that h, had been
thinking OF il.
They SAT silent for a moment or two. and then
Davis tried AGAIN WV anu 'ne"
=, You remember that fellow in the Bible Chris
t 1IaV we used 10 hear about when were bows
me great man had nOcls and herds witbcut
it eWe-iamb. You are in the position Of the
iicn man don't take her from me
So,in,. a'ogether different" said Whelan. whose
~. "H,i''Ird knowledge WAS vague. but practical
he,.oon -, liked the alleg CORY with the fact and
,oae,ha. an, dio TWO made cut his case. rs al
vn1 TI,o 1.tInetent; Miss Parry don't belong 10
and he was cheated ont 81 !, yvbile no ono
auhg unfairly toward Won Yon did jntroducS
me inc 10 ner; Know, bun did not know you liked
10 you 'iN'I ""S ~ reo 10 'e ds
That all rue said Davis CONCENTRATING
hHnsclI ahMardly on having taken the right line
moi for ius,ia .S why ask you for generosity and
duced von ~ some men might say. i intro
not TO supplsnt WOMAN | loved. trusting yoq
ask yoI to give up TO me. NOT hecause have
n 1ne "eSr ngh but because have the greatest
cannot love Sc .,dI gg.pcrous man such rs you
re 70 me She is M riches nv sociotv nv am am
sNay5 al, az ven as my love; and what have 7 10 |
comparison with uo nave OF winning her love in
'"'''on Win your Don't you see how terribly