The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-10-27

what has drawn me out of my den at thi
hour
81 won't try. Never saw you out befor
midday before. What Is I'll"
Business"
"Business-you, George Gordon-impos
sibler'
"It's fact. I'll tell you all about Il
when we get mp into the studio"
mo, tell me now. It's never too early /,
hear good news"
well, then-pardon me, mademoiselle,
can't express myself in French.-have yor
found any one to burn your group yet
awhile'"
'No have been to Cramps and Fisher
and Hudson. No good. They're all fright
ensd by the size. They haven't proper kilns
for the work and can't do it,"
"Then will"
'Youn
eyes, I've invested capital In pottery y
SIN order to help me out of my difficulty. ~
"Not entirely. The fact is, kind OF
moral awakening is at the bottom of it.
Don't laugh. It's no joke, / can tell you.
i never felt SO serious, SO right down In
earnest, in all my life. You know my con.
science has been pricking me for some time
past There you go again. Can't man
have conscience without being n redhot
revolutionist like your I tell you have
felt that my life has been misspent, and in
stead of lounging about doing nothing, ex-
cept waste my money, / ought to occupy
myself and invest my capital in some in.
dustry that would give employment to the
laboring class"
Gordon spoke with perfect gravity, but ]
saw by the twitching of Taras' mustache
as he bent over his tea thai he found it diff.
ficult to listen to this announcement with
serious face.
snow, old Bell-you know Colonel Bell,
the fine old fellow who came with me about
month ago to look at your work-his
feelings are Just like mine only-pour old
fcllow-he hasn't got the cash. He's per
haps less concerned about the welfare of
the laboring class than l am-it's you who
have worked me up so tremendously in
that way-but he's quite as eager to invest
his capital In paying concern. But the
worst of it is, you know, he's got so deuced
little of it that he couldn't very easily do
anything off his own bat. And for the sake
of his daughter he dare not venture it in a
very risky concern. You know he has a
daughter"
Taras nodded, with humorous twinkle
"kavanagh tells me she is most beauti.
full and charming young lady" he said
"She is, old man." Gordon said enthusi.
astically, coloring up to his temples. "You
must meet her. I've told her about Mile.
Aura, and she is most anxious to make her
acquaintance"
Doubtless" Taras' nod seemed to saw,
"She is awfuiiy nice. However, that has
nothing to do with the affair. The thing
is that the old gentleman and have hit it
off completely. He quite jumped at the
proposal. OF course take all risks"
Taras nodded, as IL this arrangement were
tho most natural thing in the world be-
tween men of business, and asked when the
idea had first struck Gordon.
"The very day that humbug H backed
out Of the affair and you expressed an opin-
ion that 1t would be difficult to find another
pottery where such work could be fired
BY the luckiest chance possible learned
the same day that Perry, round the corner,
wanted to sell his works"
1.-The ginger beer bottle placer" Taras
asked with a little ruefulness In his face.
"Oh, he does drain pipes as well. But of
course we shall build a new kiln-can't
make bricks without straw, you know
and get the best workmen that are to be
had. l haven't said word on this matter
to any one for fear the negotiations might
fall through, but last night the affair was
concluded satisfactorily and we enter into
possession at once AS soon as you are
ready the workmen can set about casting
the group, so that it will be dry and be
ready for burning by the time the kiln is
finished-of course, old man, supposing
that you are willing to give us the Job"
"A proper kiln and good workmen-.I ask
for nothing more than that"
"You may depend ON having them. Anv
thing is to be had for money, and l shall
be only too glad to put mine to such good
use. You know how thoroughly l sym
pathize with your cause. That alone would
command my fortune, but look what a
start this job will give us-what an adver-
tisementl"
Taras stretched out his hand and grasped
his friends in silence more expressive
than any verbal testimony of his faith in
Gordon and recognition of the generous
motive that underlay his scheme.
We saw great deal of Gordon during
the following week. On the Saturday
there was long consultation in the work.
shop with two of the cleyerest men in the
trade with respect to the casting of the
group, which had now received the last
touch, and it was agreed that on the Mon
day following the operation should be be-
gun. Taras told me this when the work
men were gone and found him in the
workshop. There he stood before his work
with folded arms, and after regarding it in
silence for few minutes he said with i'm
pressive force:
HThis is the finest work have ever done
In my life, Aura. am pooud of it,"
1t was the pride of conscious strength,
not the vanity of weak mind, that i'm
PEELED him to say this, and it evoked cor.
responding feeling of exultant admiration
In my breast that banished all foolish
thoughts md compunctions. slipped my
hand under his arm and pressed it. was
proud, TOO, not of the work, but of the man
whose genius had produced it.
ut should be his finest work, said to
myself as the awful reflection flashed upon
me that It was likely to be his last and
that it would cost him his life.
We went to Kew on Sunday afternoon
and fingered under the beautiful trees in
the gardens until the keeper cried, "All
outlh We were both more silent than
usual, for we We're both thinking about the
with some anxiety, probably,
about the delicate operation of the morrow,
lOE iht EtSult Ol lls BllCCeSAIuI HcnleNe-
ment. But with my anxiety was mingled
, supreme happiness, a lifting sense of my
in being the friend and companion
Of such noble man.
On Monday morning I rose early, and go
Ing out to the atelier l saw Taras standing
in the doorway, his chin sunk upon his
breast and his eyes fixed on something
within.
At the sound of my step he raised his
head and turned, looking down at me with
deep detection in his face and with such va.
cancy in his regard that could scarcely be.
Iieve he saw me.
"Taras" l exclaimed, halting at the foot
of the steps In wonder and fear.
Without n word he beckoned me to come
lp, and as reached his side on the landing
he raised his hand and pointed within.
ITO BE CoNTINuED.l
All He Desired.
MY dear sir" said the grateruI father, |