Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-08-13

Matchin accompanied him to the ante
room and stayed there a few moments
speaking with him in an undertone.
They We're undoubtedly on confidential
terms, and flor every straw must count
it sent up her stock as the possible Mrs
Trent several degrees. She came back
with d deepened color and a mysterious
smile, and entertained her company
more brilliantly than ever.
Harry Trent walked to his club, only
a few blocks off, where he temporarily
had rooms, and took dinner there with
two OF three friends, one of whom was his
coffee with him in the smoking room
At about eight o'clock Trent left the
club without saying where he was going,
and he did not come back that night.
Let US follow him ourselves. A recent
spell of warm weather has melted the
snow from the streets, but now it has
fallen clear and cold again. The dry,
bracing air tingles in the nostrils. Harry
Trent throws away his cigar and fills
his lungs with the frosty distillation of
the stars; then he buttons his coat across
his chest and steps out at a sturdy pace.
His white hair glistens like silver beneath
the rim of his silk hat; his rudy, kindly,
handsome face, with its aquiline nose,
blue eyes and well set lips, is alternately
revealed and Swallowed as he approaches
and passes the street lamps. At the cor
ner of Twenty-sixth street and Fifth
avenue, where the up town Delmonico's
now stands, he halts and seems to e.
hberate.
A. beggar creeps up and mumbles q
petition. Harry looks at him a moment
and then draws off his glove to give him
a quarter. A woman walks by him,
fingers and turns to pass him again.
Harry says, 'Take care, my child;
there's a policeman round the cornerr'
A hack driver draws up at the curb and
touches his hat. Harry hesitates. There
were no elevated roadsin those days; but
finally he shakes his head and continues
his walk up the venue
'It will do me good to foot it" he says
to himself. "What's a couple of milesl'
Softened light comes through the cur.
tanned windows on either side of the
street; carriages rumble up and down
over the uneven pavement, ever and
amor pausing to set down their occu.
pants at a carpeted doorway. At Thirty.
sixth street Harry pauses again, and be
fore his mind rises the picture of the
young Olympia, a figure of youth, health
and arch intelligence, who is even now
perhaps, thinking of him, only a few
doors away. Shall he go in and pass the
evening there? He nearly yields to the
suggestion, and takes a step OF two il
that direction. But no! he had promised
himself something different; he will SET
Olympia tomorrow. He turns again ant
resumes his walk. Yet Olympia wa
really thinking of him at that moment
and tomorrow-well. Tomorrow some
times al
No such reflection disturbs Harr,
Trent. The exercise has warmed hi
blood, and his heart is light. The con
slant success of his life has had its effec
upon him. He does not believe that mis-
fortune can overtake him. Mortal ma,
seldom or never lives to Harry's az,
without having done something that b
ought not to have done. Yet he has don
much good in the world. His reputatio,
among his fellows is untarnished. If h
have enemies they have not declares
themselves. But has he an enemy? A
any rate, he fears none. Like other fort
innate men, he has faith in his star; lik
them, too, he forgets the legend Of Cre
sus.
By this time he has passed beyond tn
most thickly settled portion of fashiona
BILE New York; the rumble of carriage
is less frequent, and there are gaps be
tween the houses. Foot passengers ar
few. His steady footsteps are echoe,
distinctly from the frozen pavement
His shadow only attends him as h
walks, now frightening behind, nov
slipping beneath his feet and startin,
out ahead of him. Darker shadow
gather in the side streets. As he reache
the park something seems to detach il
self from the duskiness on the left an,
move forward to where a broken board
ing bespread with a gaudy placard an
nouncing the appearance of a favorit
actress in the tragic drama of "Leah
provides a convenient screen. Harr,
Trent passes steadily on and the SHADOW
follows him.
And now, at length, the goal of tn
little journey is in sight. There stand
the new house, solid and shapely on it
strong foundations, built to last and t.
be the abode of prosperity and happi
ness. AS Harry Trent approaches it h
slackens his pace, and a proud glow @
pr~oprietorship expands his breast. H
sees, as in a swift vision, the perspective
of the years to come. Within these fou
walls is to begin the long succession of
happy posterity. Rich, powerful ant
peaceful, they shall take their place a
the best type of the foremost nation O
the earth. The women shall be beauti
full and bountiful, the men eminent AM
honorable, friends of the great and grea
themselves. The house of Trent! I
stands dark and empty now, but tn
hour is at hand when its windows shall
be illuminated and its doors opened, ant
all the city come to do it homage.
There is pleasure for an imaginativ,
mind in doing privately and, as it were
by stealth things that ordinary person
would make no secret about. Harry
Trent, in spite of his proved and prac
teal business sagacity. has a lively imag
ination; and, a the miser steals off t,
count his money, or the lover to serenad,
his lady love, so had Harry become in
fatuated with the idea of spending al
unsuspected night in his new house. Fl,
would not share with any other that vir
gin experience, and it would be agreeable
in after years, amid the stir and voice,
of an OVERLOOKING family and social life
to look back upon this first night of soil
tude and meditation.
With an inward smile of satisfaction
accordingly, Harry Trent ascends tn,
steps and puts his key into the lock. TIL
door yields before him and swings O,
noiseless hinges, but as he closes it tn
hollow sound resounds through the dark
ness. Hereupon, presently, steps ar
heard in the distance, and a light ap
pears, carried in the hand of the faithful
caretaker, who, with his wife, maintain
guard in the basement. Strictly speak
ing, of course, Harry will not pass tn,
night alone, nor, perhaps, can a man O
his business and social importance eve
hope to escape entirely from the knowl
edge and supervision Of his fellows. /
was possible that several persons nigh
know of or suSnact hiS prosapt xybero