davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-01-24
CHAPTER vi.
sNrERESrIyU A CA P1HALJST.


The next time Russell called at the
house Of Gilbert Ray he had tho pleas
IRE OF making that Eentlemans 40
uuaintance IIe found the millionaire
bluff, hearty old fellow, whose resi-
dence IN tho metropolis during the past
thirty years had made very little change
in him. As boy he had traded. horses,
and had made some enemies and good
deal OF money His father had taken
the money and left him the enemies.
Thcse facts in his early history he re-
lated ito Russell with considerable APP
narent satisfaction. He remembered
Tho time when they had accidentally
lunched together, and knew what hus-
sell had eaten, and how much it cost,
ut was good deal moro than you
needed. young man" said he, "but per-
haps YOU know what you were about
Russell ventured TO hope that he dld.
"A reputation for wealth is good
thing said Ray. "a young man gets
it by spending much more than ne can
afford and an old man by spending less.
Every time some OF those fellows down
there see mo eating apple pic for lunch
they add half million to their estimate
OF what I'm worth, but 1t wouldn't have
done thirty years ago when ! was max
ing my start BY the way, come down
to lunch with me Tomorrow. III agroe
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-01-24

40 we're nresent, and IL was evident
that the mother had been helping nel
son with his lessons. Russell was maae
welcome, a few words Of general con YER YER
satiup followed and then the two men
were left together,
RUSSELL locked at Deering and dis
trusted him. That feeling was the nrss
| of which he had been conscious at slgns
Of the man. Though he had found nam
surrounded by every sign OF peace . anu
rood will and moral rectitude IN the
| light Of that best evidence OF q mans
responsibility, q happy home, husse!l
could not repress uncharitabie suspl-
cions. It was behring's face which Dore
| false witness against him 1T had no nn-
| usual feature, and it's general effect was
| not uncomely but it was face that dlS-
trusted itself. The eyes were pale: tney
had no light in them; they vailed tho
| mans thought, and there was deep
line in the center of The brow, giving
the effect Of sullen discomfort.
But Russell, though he knew hisown
| conduct to be not above criticism, car
ried the utmost candor in his counte-
| nance He was man to inspire comb
dence-and make the most OF it.
"You don't like the looks OF me, SAID
| Deering. Nobody does"
"On the contrary" replied Russell,
! 81 think you are rather handsome
man"
cit isn't question Of beauty said
neering; "its confidence or Che lack OF
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-01-24
No, old man; It's the other way about.
She has stolen my heart and ! pay the

No, old man; It's the other way ABOUT.
She has stolen my heart and pay the
penalty"
Russell was bidding his friend good
bye. They stood on the quarter deck OF
a big ship moored to an East river pier.
Brown had decided to let the winds wait
him to Africa, as he had plenty OF time.
A long sailing voyage in these days IS
an unusual experience, and worth TAX
ing for that reason.
Two little tugs had already seized tho
vessel, and were ready to take her ouV
into the stream as soon as the hansers
should DO cast off from the wharf. there
was time for only few words.
"It Is difficult to say goodbye SAID
Brown. respectfully when one wishes TO
say any thing else. forgot every thing
last evening. I wanted to leave some
words behind for her to remember. BUT
II saa remembers any thin said. siia
has the advantage OF 40. was Too
much disturbed in mind 60 know what
was SAYING
ssIf there is any message could de-
liver"
"Nothing Of me; but here are some
memoranda in u case which interests
Miss Rays charity. forgot them last
night, but She will want them as soon
possible. Take them TO her this even
ing"
ssMy dear boy" said Russell, "thert Is
| one difficulty in the way; haven't
dress suit"
Vow don't need one for this call |
assure you that you viii be received as
simply as il it were the home of a we'll
TODD man in IL New England yiliage.'
"But should much prefer to so In
! evening dress. Perhaps would better
| val few days, and ~~"
''Nonsense, old man. What ridiculous
notion is this? However. the difficulty
| Is easily overcome, Take mine. 1t is
| packed away with Some other traps |
| leave behind. l did not think 1t would
| be essential to my social standing III Au-
| luland You're welcome TO it. -
but, great heavens, man, she'll rec
! ognize IT,"
| Not at ALL One dress suit looks just
| like another, and We arc as nearly alike
| in figure as two men ever were. Hut VIC
are off, Goodbye. IT ! can send you
| any address, write to mo | viii ride ii
hundred miles through the desert to get
{; word from You"
Standing on the pier Russell be-
| thought him Of tho old supersti lion that
it is unlucky to "w;1Acti person out o
| sight" lie reflected that Tho saying Is
especially true when the watcher has
great deal Of business on hand and vory
little time for it, That was his own case
! exactly, SO he waved an adieu to hls
friend and FASTENED up the picr
1t will be useless to defend Russell
from the readers suspicion that ho had
not dealt frankly with his friend. II
he had said "Ycs; shall he pleased to
make Miss Rays acquaintance, but
shall be forty times more delighted to
make her fathers acquaintance be
would have given q much more correct
| impression Of his thoughts. lilo had a
confused idcn that money must sur"
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-01-24

the reason why he had no difficulty LII
obtaining a loan Of five dollars from M
acc uaintancc; for tho right hand or
assistance is always outstretchcd TO
those who are not in nocd, He reserved
a portion Of this sum for the payment OF
tho small debts contracted on the pre-
vious day; and expended little in the
purchase Of some visiting cards, which nc
was fortunate enough TO got engraved
that same afternoon
Then he cxhumcd Browns dress suit
The idea Of wearing another mans
clothes was not pleasant, especially whom
it was complicated with tho fear that
thew might DO recognized; but the
thought of their usefulness trluuphed
and he took them homo The suit lifted
him like his cpidermis. No thought
with pride that it could not possibly
have looked SO we'll on Brown. There
is somebody In tho world whom every
coat it's better than tho man for whom
it was made; In fact all earthly things
but our temptations are insists.
1t was son OF Erin who said that q
certain affair did not turn out as he OK"
Dected, and he never thought it would.
This luminous ronark admirably DC"
scribes Russell's Impressions of Miss Kay
after half hours con vcrsation. Browns
words had made a picture Of her IN his
mind. and yet he had known that 1t was
not a likeness. In tho first place, he
found her much prettier than he had ex'
pected.
Physical beauty was to him more
considerable matter than to Brown; and
his preference as to types was strongly
in favor OF the blonde. Miss Ray had
an abundance OF wavy, light hair, and,
one might almost say, an abundance OF
blue eyes, too, for they wore very large,
and she had habit OF opening them
like an astonishcd child. Doubtless,
thought Russell, this is what has given
Brown the impression that she doesn't
know much. Then sho had none OF the
| modern articles to conceal q scan1
nligntcnment. The Wcll-informed
woman nowadays is she who can skill
fully conflne the conversation to that
portion OF the subject which she under
stands, and avoid all the rest OF it,
When Miss Ray was intellectually lost
she frankly asked the way Her fault
| lay in believing what she was told
Russell had been the victim OF
double embarrassment at frst. In the
seclusion Of his apartments he had
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-01-24

through, do you? We'll, You're mis-
taken. Some OF ns old fellows nave
more energy than you young ones y
'There arc undoubtedly instances Of
that kind" said Russell, 'aEu yet J.
must adhere to my original opinion,
am not in hurry to find the proper
man to Join with mo in this undertak~
ing. have funds sufficient for my sup
port in tho seclnsion or has
own soul----''cill day after tomorrow.
"You make IL mistake in waiting"
said Ray. "Pu,i> her through; got her
on tho market"
Russell shook lis head.
'"Tkere il % young man who rlay Soon
be able to join mo, said he. "At pres-
cnt he has not tho funds, but he has ex~
pccvations aud a. world Of energy. Young
blood"
''Bother young blood. DO you think
because a man Is fifty or over that he
isn't good for any thing2 Why, look
here, Tn iifty~cight, and three inches
shorter than you arc, but IA bet can
split cord Of wood while you're sphit-
ting foot"
Russell smiled incredulously and
SO uarod his broad shoulders. Fay got
red in tho face. uo was vigorous man,
and he hated to he called old Russell
knew it, and banked on it,
you don't ask mo to get into this
scheme Of yours" said Ray, after walk
ing up and down the floor with the step
of pedestrian.
Russell pretended to be embarrassed
"Yoa would not feel like giving muc''
time to it," said he, land besides the
youne man OF whom have spoken will
Soon"
sI'm as young as he is, by jingo,'
cried the man OF dollars, slapping his
chest II could outrun him, outJumE
him and throw him three times out OF
FIVE, breeches hold, or you either
Russell smiled again, and Ray reached
Cor his cane. The situation was begin
ming to look serious. 1t was not the
old mans intention to use the cane as
weapon, however.
tSee here, young Mr.. William Rus
SELL said he, there was game we
used to play where was born that was
called pulling sticks Two fellows sal
down on the floor, braced their feet TO-
gether and pulled on an axe handle
until somebody had to come up. Now
Pll bet you fifty dollars ! can pull yo'
I'D inside Of one minute"
81 don't think you can, sir" said Kus
sell, respectfully, "but, at any rate,
haven't the fifty dollars to wager on it.
..I'll take your /. 0. o." cried Ray
dropping on the floor with thunp thai
threatened tho tenants below "Si'
: down here, and I'll give you few Les
sons in the value Of well-spent youth
Russell sat down and seized the cano
and the strange tug-of-War began y
was a painful thought to Russell that
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-01-24

and nearly foot broader across tho
shoulders. "
lis it possible2" and Miss Ray opened
her blue eyes ye1y wide. Nov do you
know l would have said you could have
worn each others clothes
''Shn's making fun OF me- thought
Russell. ''Wnat in the name OF annihlla-
ton can | dor
'.You saw him just before he s"iled,
did Won noJ?'' she said. ''Wls nc III good
5pirits?''
HE seemed resigned replied Rus"
soil 'As to the work which takes him
there, he is hopeful, but he is not the
man to leave his friends without regret"
las no many herc?'
mot many, but some whom he holds
very dear. am reminded that nc gave
me u card for you. believe 1t bears
sonae memoranda Of treasure you Will
lay up in Heaven, where, Brown tells
me, you have already much invested"
She glanced at the card.
Gle is TOO kind she said. MY
charities arc small, and yet within q
mile Of my home one may find every
kind of distress which Gods mercy per"
mits."
This opened the way TO q moro gene
raj conversation, far from embarrassing
topics Russell WAS soon at his case
and talking, as he thought, in highly
edifylng mannor. IL intellectual dcvel-
opn1ent was what Miss Ray needed sho
would not fail to get it.
1--WE shall be good friends, she SAID,
as ne rose TO go. II must confess taat
Walter had prejudIccd me against you.
uo was forever telling me OF your az
tainments; and saying that an hour with
YOU was equal to four volumes or the
Encyclopedia Britannica. Now don t
like people to BIO Instructive. That is
ono OF Walters faults. But you--why
you've entertained me with the most
delightful nonsense that ever was in tho
world, and feel greatly the better Tor
it. You must come again very soon,
when my mother is able to 500 you, ana
when my father hasn't ;Adirectors' meet
ing on hand"
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-01-24

scanned that dress suit with microscopic
minuteness, In the search for any dis
tinguishing mark. He had not found
one. The garments Woro of the most
conventional pattern. Nobody could
pretend to recognize them, and yet the
first incident OF his call had served to
disquiet him in this matter. He had
been ushered into the parlor while his
card was being borne aloft He stood q
moment by the mantel. with his back
towards the door by which he had
entered.
"Why, Walter" said a voice behind
him, II thought Oh, 1t is MIR. Russell,
after all. Indeed ! am glad to see
YOU" and she gave him her hand. "Eog
moment naistook you for Mr. Brown,
although your card was in my hand.
Your figure is remarkably like his, and
in evening dress. you know"
On shade more proyocation Russell
would have fed up the chimney behind
him, ana though he managed to avoid
any demonstrations OF uneasiness, his
tongue refused It's office The subject
which she had introduced wts not one
WulCD llc IhlCA w PoA2uC' L." WYNN WAN
seat which was favored with the least
illumination, and gathered his wits as
best he could Then the thought OF
what Brown must have said of him came
to uid III his confusion. Doubtless he
had been described as a spring OF Wis.,
dom and fountain Of expression. OF
course she was sitting there, waiting for
him to say something instructive.
Nothing but hoxametor verse would do
for the medium OF such a beings con- er~
sation Would she want all the secrets
OF the universe 70 be revealed III one
evening, or would & sample answer TO
begin with? And In tho meantime he
could think OF nothing bat tho weather.
brown, dear old fellow" he began,
but he could think Of nothing to say
about Brown except shat he wished he
had taken his dress suit with HIM to the
head waters OF The Congo.
"Ycs, indeed, said Miss Ray; che is
n ycry good fellow, indeed, and exceed
inwlv handsome. 1t will not make him
vain to say 80, for tho remark will 90
forgotten before he gets back Most
men would feel complimentcd at being
| mistaken for him. He has the figure OF
an athlcJc.'
''To 10 sure" said Russell, hastily,
"Hrown is six inches taller than | am,
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-01-24

good many thousand dollars were lost
| BY holding these athletic sports in pri-
vate. Doubtless five hundred men In
the street would have given fifty DOL
lars for admission to tho performance.
There was a big clock with secona
| hand on the wall, and the contestants
timed themselves. Neither gained
hairs breadth in the first quarter, nor
in the second, nor the third, nor tho
fourth, but exactly sixty-f1ve SECONDS
after the tug began Russell rose into
tho air, scared over his opponents head
and struck the wall behind him.
'Great Scott!' exclaimed Ray, as soon
as he could get his breath, ~ never ala
the trick as we'll as that before va, aua
I? are any of your bones broken"'
| II believe not" said Russell, pretend
| ing to examine his skull in search OF q
fracture; "but it was the greatest sur
prise / ever had Ihave loss my bet
''No, you haven't" replied tho man
who had not grown old "I'll be honest
with you. was five seconds over time.
The fifty dollars are yours. You see
was little out Of practice, but got
there after awhile"
$50 perceivo;" and Russell rubbed
his head with one hand, and took h1ty
dollar bill with the other.
| Now said Ray, iii you think I'm
youngcnough to take n hand in your
scheme, let me know. I'm willing to
put in one hundred thousand dollars, or
twice that If necessary; and as TOR at
tention, young man, just watch me.
Bring down your papers and your modei
tomorrow, and I'm With you"
This was little sudden for Russell.
It was needless to say that be had no
| invention to olfor. 1t had been his in
tention TO discover what kind Of an in
ycntion Ray would be willing to back,
and then find u long-haired crank who
thought no had it,
IL must have little more time, sir; .
he said. There are matters to be az
ranged. Let us say next Fslday.'
"Al right, and don't stop for matter
Of money. I've always got enough 70
pu5 ir to a. good thing"
"Eut my dear sir, said Russell, you
don't know what this is, yot."
! IL don't caro- a. continental what II
| is." replied tho millionaire promptly.
s'lf it's good thing wen get our money
out Of tho machine. II it isn't, wcl1
have to get it out Of tho stock. It's i'm"
material to me which VIC do. Bring At
alongl'
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-01-24
to feed you on something better than

to feed you on something better than
pie and milk"
Russell accepted tho invitation, and
entered Rays office with an exact re-
gard for the specified hour worthy OF
Monte Christie. They launched in style
OF gilded magnilcence; and afterwards
returned to Rays Office together. Here
Russell sat down by request, and Ray
drew achair in front OF him.
young man" said he with painful
directness, whats your business?'
To Russell this question was not
wholly a surprise, though he had not
had time to fully prepare forit His re"
ply, however, was founded upon certain
information which he had obtained ny
judiclous inquiry concerning the pecul~
iarities of the man before him.
Il am engaged in tho development OF
an invention" said he.
''Yonr own?"
"No, sir; by careful study OF history
I have discovered that there is a great
deal more money in not being the In
vontor. Moreover, q man IL always
prejudiced in regard to his own inven-
ton, and therefore blinded to the ne
cessities Of It's development. He can
not criticize calmly, nor can be describe
the merits Of the idea with convincing
GOODNESS.
You're dead right" said Ray, i'm
prcssivcly.
81 shall not, however, interest myself
in an in ycntion OF whose merits was
incompetent to judge" continued Rus
sell. SIN this case tho SUBJECTS tamil
lar to me- | made a special study OF
electricity in college, and have read
every thing could get hold OF since. /
therefore investigate as an expert when
that great and mysterious force Is IN
yolvcd."
SIT is great things" said Ray; we're
do"
That this WAS hobby Of Rays was
ono thing which Russell mad learned
| Tic also knew that che mlllionalre'9 con-
| fidonce in electricity was Of recent
birth, and had not yet been backed by
| any investment.
';Of course capital will be necessary to
put the invention Of which speak apon
! the market" Russell said.
There was a shrcwd twinkle in Ray rs
eye. So this young fellow was trying
! to 'worIS" him, was nc?
81 suppose you're looking for d mill
! ionairc to 40 inc it with you"'
mo, sir, I an, not" replied Russell,
| firmly "A millionaire, u IMAM whose
fortune is made, is net the right sort OF
:, person for this, affair The money
needed is not q great sum, but want
with il IL man Of energy and determine
ton granddaughter a young man with
the future al }'oforc him, who wonId
work side by side with me ami share al
my hopes to tho fulS."
$50 you think that nobody bat
young man can put &; thing like thai
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-01-24

it, shall tell yoE about my 1nVcn5lch,
and YOU Wont believe q word say. 1t
has been so in every Gasc--aIl my life.
| have taken T1y models to many capt.
talists. They wouIdnt look al the
models; they looked at me. Personally.
7 ana not d practicable machine, and l
never got u dollars worth of backing
'Yol arc wcll~to>do," said Russell
s',Nhy haven't you put tho thing on the
market yonrsclf?'
Isl have some money in tho bank and
d little property besides" replied Deer-
ing; ''bnt cVory invention involves
risk, and will take no chances whore
my vito and children arc involved
will not reach ont after wealth oven for
them, IL nust hazard their comfort and
security. We get along very we'll as We
are" ,..
Russell could not holp strongly ap~
proving this decision, and be wondered
why the words did not give him good
impression Of tho man, but they ola not
*''Tbcle must be something under all
this" he thought II don't bcliove the
invention is OF any value" On the con-
trlry, an examination OF the models
convinced him that tho cntion was
an electro motor destino to bc OF great
practical utility. Ne had not deceived
Mr.. Ray in saying chat he understood
electrical ContriyanccS. lio was really
very well informed on tho subject. In
decd, he was able 80 point out % possible
minor Improvement in Doering's device.
and thus to win the inventors respect.
I'm InT
thoroughly, Russell had no doubt that
it was the very thing he wan ted Moth
ing but tho terms remained to be set
tied.
On this point Dcering was very firm.
He would waive no right whatever, and
he was with difficulty persuaded that 1T
would DO necessary for him to remain
for {. time in tho dark us to tho exact
nature Of Rnsscll's relations with the
capitalist Finally Russell said: IL
don't want your invention, except as a
loan ! will take it and give you my [.
o. q. for it, or any other legal or illegal
instrument which the ingenuity Of the
law can devise. it shall bind me to rc-'
tain tho patent right in my own posses
sion and to- return it to you after two
years, with all tho profits and advantages
have obtained by 1t, except the sala"y
which can dclude tho company into
paying me. In short, will borrow your
invention; develop it; and then return
1t to you. Is it a bargain?'
cit is," said Dccring, 'for think you.
are an honest man."
II wish could agree with you moro
fully" said Russell to himself; ''but at
least my designs toward you are honor
able"
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-01-24
CHAPTER VIII.

THE SOCIETY FOR GENERAL CULTURE.
When Russell called at the house Of
the Rays again he was quickly made
aware that a. change had come upon the
daughter OF tho millionaire. Nobody
could have failed to perceive that Alice
was Of u moro sober and serious mind
than she had been before. The chair
which she had been occupying was sur
rounded by books OF an educational and
forbidding character, and though there
was suggestion that the young lady
had tired of each in turn and had thrown
them all upon the floor, still their mere
presence was portentOus
II have boon thinking OF what you
said to me the other evening"" she be.
gan, land | have come to the concluaion
that you did not mean It,"
Russell wondered what 1t was and
prepared to violently disclaim 1t.
''You gave mo to understand that
girls had no intellectual needs" she
continued.
(To DO Continued)
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-01-24

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The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-01-24

eve were speaking Of Miss Ray :"
said Brown.
IF remember rightly, we wcre," re-"
piled Russell. Our conversation this
morning has been wholly of her, and
when we weren't talking, yon were
thinking OF her. Pm afraid that your
heart is seriously affected
.Seven hundred and thirty days"
said Brown, with groan, what an
eternity"
"It's seven hundred days longer than
the usual sentence for first otfenses,
said Russell; 'bnt then it's 9 serious
thing to steal q naiden's heart"
i Il III i were only sure had the plnnderl