The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-02-13

But the opportunity has come, and I
have no choice but to accept it thank
fully. sail tomorrow"
do you propose that 60 with you?"
asked Rassell.
mo. indeed said Brown; ssyou will
be better off here. have known men
who needed to be taken out of this CEN
ter of all temptations into the wilder
ness for the safety.of their souls, but
you are not one of them. The glitter of
the almighty dollar does not dazzle you."
81 am to execute some commission for
you here; you are to leave something in
my carer"
THAT will seem strange way Of
phrasing it when you know what it is"
said Brown, "but perhaps the heexpression
| is accurate enough. Do you know what
most deeply regret to leave behind
me?"
IA decent climate and the comforts
of civilization, should suppose"
my dear boy, leave my heart be-
hind me; am IN love-
An amused smile crept over Russell's
face.
"Well," said he. at length, s'if there
is any matter on earth or elsewhere,
which is wholly beyond my possibilities
of usefulness, think you have named
it."
"You are mistaken" said his friend
earnestly; ''for this is not wholly an a
fair of the heart. 1t is not money
either; though saw the sus. ;cion in
your face. Let me state the ase: The
girl l love is Alice Ray. She is the
daughter of the lumber-trust king. I
made her acquaintance through her
brother George, now dead. He was my
classmate in college. have told youo
it-before, no doubt"
II knew of your calling there, of
COURSE" said Russell, "but you never
said much about Miss Ray, I used to
think it was unwise for poor man to
attempt the preservation Of social rela-
tions with the very rich"
"The Rays are plain people," replied
Brown; 'sthey do not go into society. l
have thought it unfortunate for Miss
Ray, though have sometimes selishly
blessed the chance which kept her SO
secluded. don't believe that there are
half a dozen girls in the city who speak
with fewer people in the course of
week than she does. She lives in her
home. A few school friends visit her,
but they come from out of town, and
stay only short time. Her father and
mother and two younger sisters are her
only intimate associates. Now Gilbert
Ray is ashrewd enough man, in busi-
ness, and his wife is an estimable wom-
an, but don't believe that either Of
them has read book in the last six
years. They do not impress you as ig-
norant people and yet they have no in
tellectual life. The consequence of
their deficiencies and the queer isola-
tion Of the family is that Alice has
strangely undeyeloped mind She has
been to school and has learned large
| number OF facts but she makes no use
of them. lam sure that she has good
mind but 1t doesn't get any exercise. Do
make myself clear?"
"You do," replied Russell, promptly,
'sbut am afraid there smoothing unique
about Miss Rays position. Too many
girls in this city are similarly situated"
perhaps SO, but Miss Ray has my
love while the others have only my SYM
pathy. She doesn't know it yet, unless
by intuition. She is only eighteen,
you know, and have fortune to make
yet before can hope to win her fathers
consent. AS for her own innocent heart,
Heaven forgive my presumption in
thinking that might ever be worthy OF
its love; but have dared to hope SO,
and can not Danish the thought
s'What want to ask of you, Russell"
he continued, even more earnestly, sit
would be impossible for me to speak of if
| did not regard you as friend and broth
er worthy of all confidence. wantyou to
know Miss Ray; to be her friend when
am gone. 1t will be greatly to the ad-
vantage of both. You will tell her what
to read and what to think; she will dis
pell your misegynistic notions; and
when I return shall find her past
master in logic and philosophy; and you
married, very likely, to one of her
pretty school friends, with the honey
moon shining over your right shoulder.
~ am afraid that all this is planned
for my good more than for hers" said
Russell. tYou knew what lonely life
led, and you thought that some infiu-
ence to draw me out of 1t a little would
be the best thing In the world for me.
You are right, and I thank you. Shall
call there with you tomorrow before.
you sail?"
impossible; the hour is nine o'clock.
But she already knows you, l have
spoken of you so often. This evening
when called to say goodbye, very
readily obtained permission to extend
this invitation to you"
"If she had known your object"
''She might not have been fiattered,"
Brown said as Russell hesitated, "but
she would have wished to see you all
the same. She always agrees with me
I'm afraid she does with everybody. 1.
is the fault of her training. / expect,
however, that she will differ with you
on many questions, and that is one of
the reasons why your company will be
intellectually valuable. blush to say
it in this connection. but ! can not
imagine any thing moro wretched than
to marry woman whose views we're al
ways shaped after my own."
Theoretically, it would be exceed
ingly monotonous." said Russell, "but
in real life 1t never occurs so far as l
have been able to observe. But to re-
turn to the spbieet. ] thank you again
for wishing to put this good influence
into my life, and for the faith in me
which it implies. II am fortunate
/ 7