Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-01-08

daughter of the lutnber-trust king.
made her acquaintance through her
brother George, now dead. He was my
classmate in college. / have told you OF
1T before, no doubt"
Il know of your calling there, of
course" said Russell, ''but you never
said much about Miss Ray. l used to
think it was unwise for poor man to
attempt the preservation of social rela-
tions with the very rich"
1.-The Rays are plain people," replied
Brown; they do not go into society. /
have thought it unfortunate for Miss
Ray, though have sometimes selfishly
blessed the chance which kept her so
secluded. l don't believe that there are
half a dozen girls in the city who speak
with fewer people in the course of q
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 shrewd enough man. in bust
ness, and his wife is an estimable wom-
an, but l 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-
ton of the family is that Alice has q
strangely undeveloped mind. She has
been to school and has learned large
number of facts but she makes no use
of them. l am sure that she has a good
mind but it doesn't get any exercise. Do
make myself clear?''
"You do" replied Russell, promptly,
''but am afraid there is nothing 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 1t yet, unless
by intuition. She is only eighteen,
You know, and have a fortune to make
yet before l can hope to win her fathers
consent AS for her own innocent heart,
Heaven forgive my presumption in
thinking that l might ever be worthy OF
its love; but l have dared to hope so,
and can not Danish the thought.
What l 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. want you 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 misogynistic notions; and
when l return shall find her a 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"
II am afraid that all this is planned
for my good more than for hers" said
Russell. "You knew what lonely life
led, and you thought that some infu-
| ence to draw me out of it little would
be the best thing in the world for me.
You are right, and 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, 1 very
! readily obtained permission to extend
this invitation to you"
"If she had known your object"
''She might not have been flattered,"
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 1t
is the fault of her training. 1 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. l blush to say
1t in this connection, but 1 can not
! imagine any thing more wretched than
to marry q woman whose views were al
WAYS sbanad after NV own -
Theoretically, it would be exceed
ingly monotonous," said Russell, but
| in real life it never occurs so far as 1
have been able to observe. But to re-
turn to the subject. 1 thank you again
for wishing to put this good influence
into my life, and for the faith in me
which it implies. If ! am fortunate
enough to win Miss Rays friendship,
shall value it doubly, and two years
! hence, will render an account"
! They smoked awhile in silence. Rus
sells thoughts wandered confusedly
over the affairs of the day-the series
of petty loans, and the strange trust
which had just been reposed in him.
| Brown rose to go.
you will call, then, tomorrow" he
said. what is this paper? An 1. o.
u? Why, old man, you owe me moth
ing"
True" said Russell, 81 scribbled it
: off without thinking what was doing"
| CHAPTER V.
ALICE RAY.
I'VE were speaking of Miss Ray"
said Brown.
| IF remember rightly, we were," re-
piled Russell. "Our conversation this
morning has been wholly of her, and
when we weren't talking, you were
| thinking of her. I'm afraid that your
heart is seriously affected"
"Seven hundred and thirty days."
said Brown, with a groan, "what an
eternityw
"It's seven hundred days longer than
the usual sentence for first offenses,"
said Russell; ''but then it's q serious
thing to steal a maiden's heart"
"If were only sure had the plumber!
| No, old man; it's the other way about.