Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-11

much the best of it as you seem to think
You have your advantages, too; you areyery
clever. !" .
He was very clever indeed; for not only
had he known what line to take and how "a
work it effectively, but he knew exactly
when to stop. He heard compunction in his
friends voice, SO he kept silent for some
time to let it work fully. To do him justice,
however, the cleveIness was instructive, not
calculated; he was really pleading from the
depth of his own feeling.
At last he spoke again.
"I've said all can, Whelan. The thing
is in your hands. I can't contend against
you, as said. Tve put the matter before
it is, as feel it, that's impossible"
Whelan did not answer. He sat looking
absently at the clear, silent, frosty sky. The
Mall was getting empty now, and the cold,
pure night air was quoting and pleasant
The surprise with which he had listened to
his friends request began to wear off; the
feeling of exaltation which had filed him
when he left the theater began to reassert
ITSELF He remembered how eagerly he had
longed for an opportunity of seli-sacrifee
but half an hour ago, and was almost
ashamed to see that, how his opportunity
had come, it was doubtful whether he would
avail himself Of it. He looked across at
Davis, and saw his attitude Of utter and
helpless detection; he fancied, too, that he
saw tears in his eyes; and was profoundly
touched. At the moment his friends plead
ings seemed to him full of force and truth.
There could be no question which Of the two
wanted Ito use the only available word) Miss
Parry most. Would it not be contemplate
to use all his unquestionable advantages
against a man who had absolutely no power
of competing with him2 So easy victory
would be no glory, but to resign a certain
victory was true generosity.
After long pause he spoke.
"You think she will have you, Davis2"
IL am sure of it. II not, you can still try
your chance, you know"
''Leave my chance out of the question and
try your own, and I wish you success with
all my heart, Tom"
Three months later the marriage Of Miss
Parry and Mr.. Davis was announced in the
papers, and Chris Whelan, who had been
keeping himself out OF the way through the
liberty to return to town.
t'You won't mind my looking you up oc-
casionally, suppose?" he said to Davis; ST
shall like to know how you get on"
"Oh, come by all means" Davis said en-
"You have a right to see
the result of your generosity, = and you'll con-
gratulate yourself when you do see it. We
are making q success Of marriage, Madge
and ].
So Chris went The Dayises had nothing
of what is usually termed position" but
they had a cozy little place at footing, where
Chris got into the way Of going very often
indeed, always sure Of warm welcome
from his friend and his friends wife,
Mrs. Davis, indeed, was particularly gra-
cious and cordial toward her husbands |
friend, but now and then Chris caught |
glimpse of something behind her friendly |
manner that puzzled him. She never seemed |
to have any hesitation IN letting him see how |
devoted she was to her husband, and how |
happy in her married life. Some |
times, indeed, it seemed as If she rather |
went out Of her way to impress him with /
her felicity, for she often positively over |
whelmed Davis, in his presence, with dem |
1nstritive affection, or sometimes, when /
Whelan and she sat talking, as they often
lid, all through long afternoon, growing !
confidential together, listening to each 9TH
sr's pet theories and day-dreams, speculat-
ing upon all those immaterial and mystical |
themes that are so delightful to discuss just
because we never can arrive to any under
standing of them, changing in a sentence
rom sarcasm to solemnity, from tragedy to
rivolity, growing earnest over trifes or
playing lightly round the edge Of immensi-
in short. as any people who
know and like each other can
would suddenly break of and in
lulge in an utterly commonplace eulogy Of
Ter husband.
This would have bored Whelan II It had
Tot puzzled him 20, for he had known Davis
! good deal longer than she had, and was
1erfectlT familiar With his virtues, and his