Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-11-06

AL vor,- s-c'l - fellows who hadn't brains
or .aersg o.-3a.-l to achieve success in the
real bat.le Ct lifs'' land here Warden was
'swelling visi bly'D, ''but not at ell the
thing for a man Of your ability. We all
conceded a. school that YOU were head and
shoulders above the rest of US. We were
talking OF il some years ago in this very
room: uhere'd been something about you
in the papers-sOine general or other had
mentioned you in q report. Let's see;
didn't YOU get wounded, or something,
chasing some Indiausz' Lane replied that
he believed that something like that had
happened, but begged his friend TO 90 or;
and Warden proceeded TO further eXpound
bis views
Now, you might have resigned years
ago. taken hold Of your fathers old bush
ness and made a fortune. There's been a
perfect boom in railroad iron and every
other kind Of iron since that panic of 'l3
Look ii Terry: he Is rolling in money-one
Of our most substantial men; and YOU
know he was "a mere drone at school Why
Fred, II your father could have held on six
months longer he'd have been the richest
man in town today. II always seemed TO
me that he made such mistake IN not
getting his friends to help him tide things
over
''You probably are not aware, was the
reply, that he went to friend after friend
so called and that it was their failure
or refusal to help that broke him down.
The most active man in pushing him to
the wall, am told, was Terry's father
who had formerly been his chief clerk.
''Well. " answered Warden, in some little
confusion, for this and other matters incon-
ncction with the failure Of samuel Lane x
Co., years before, were now suddenly recall
ed to mind. that's probably true. Business
IS business, you know, and Those were tough
times In the money market. still, you
could have come back here when you left
West Point, and built up that concern
again, and been a big man today-lmd your
own establishment here, married some rich
girl-you're not married, are you;
Lane shook his head
"Oa the other hand, then, you've been
fooling away all this time in the army, and
what have you got TO show for ity'
"Nothing-Jo speak Of was the half
whimsical. hall serious answer.
'Well, there Now don't you see?
That's Just what I'm driving Mt, You've
thrown away your opportunities. All
right. Strong; I'll be with you H. min
ute, he called TO a men who was signal
ing 10 him from the stairway Come in
and see us, Fred. Come and dine with us
any day. We're always ready for friends
who drop in. want you 70 meet Mrs.
Warden and see my house. Now excuse
me. viii yous ! have 70 take q hand at
whist Aud so away went Warden. leav
ing Lane 10 walk homeward and thiuk
over the experiences of the day.
He had made a name for himself that
WIS well known from the Yellowstone 10
the Colorado Thrice had that name been
sent TO the president with the reconlElen-
dation OF his department commander for
brevets for conspicuous and gallant con
duct in action against hostile Indians.
The Pacific coast had made him welcome
Busy san Francisco had found time to
read The Alas and The Chronicles CORE
spondence from cscene of hostilities, and
cordially shook hands with the young OH
Ger who had been SO prominent in more
than one campaign. Santa Fe and san
Antonio. Denver. Cheyenne and Miles
City were points where he could not &c
without meeting troops of friends" Il
was only when be got back TO his old home
in the east thnt the lieutenant found his
name associated only with his fathers fail
ure, and that his years of honorable ser
vice conveyed no interest 90 the friends of
his youth Money makes the mare 60
said Mr. Warden, in "a subsequent CONVEX
sation; and money. it seems, was what he
meant in telling Lame he should have
come home and made a name for him
self"
Lane had been on dutya year in the city
when n rgmor began 10 circulate To the
effect that investments of his in mining
stocks had brought him large returns, and
men at the club and matrouly women at
the few parties he attended began asking |
significant questions, which now il pleased |
him to parry rather than answer directly |
His twelve months experiences in society /
had developed in him a somewhat sardonic |
vein of humor and made him, il anything |
more reticent than before And then |
then all of sudden there came over the /
spirit of his dream marked aud wondrous |
change. He no longer declined invitations /
to balls, parties or dinners when he knew /
that certain persons were TO be present. /
Mabel Vincent had just returned from a I
years tour abroad, and Lieut, Fred Lane /
had fallen in love at first sight
Il was note from her that made even /
that dingy old Office, on this most dismal /
Of days, fairly glow and shine with "a radi /
ance OF hope, with halo Of JOY and glad /
ness such as his lonely life had never /
known before The very first time he ever /
saw himself addressed as Capt Fred Lane, /
Eleventh cavalry, was in her dainty hand |
He turned his chair to the window to read /
,nce again the precious words, but there |
entered, dripping. Western Union mes
senger with a telegram
Tearing it open, Lane read these words
"An Join in congratulations ON your pro
motion and in wondermenta at the coionel's I
selection Of your successor. Noel Is
named
Lane gave long whistle Of amazement
tOf all men in the regiment he ex
claimed "Who would have Thought OF /
Gordon Noels"
CHAPTER H.