The record-union., 1894-09-22

snip only gentIeneSS ana CONSIDERATION,
save III one particular. She was relentless
In her disparagement of class dominance
and his own lily concealed assumptions
OF social and literary superiority.
L see you would Danish us Bohemi-
ans" said Watson, with little smile, in
reply to one of her scathing satires.
Il would certainly have you con-
trolled," she replied spiritedly. Il would
have you compelled TO lay before the
world only clean things. and those in
clean and healthful way"
"4 on would resurrect the old masters,
then?"
II would inspire the new ones, and, to
be plain, l would have every one-even
writers-educated TO the full knowledge
OF the true honor of participation in the
common duties of life. the real pleasure
that can be had IN them, and the bitter,
reactlonary pain in assumptions of what
we do not possess and in efforts after the
unattainable."
But are we writers to take to the
plow?"
MANY of you should" and then with
a 1ar-away look in her eyes, followed by
burst OF earnestness. she said: ''Mr.
Watson, wish you knew my fatherv'
Il wish L did," responded Ned, with
conscientious pangs for the polite lie.
Il am sure you would admire him."
she replied proudly. ''He is not greatly
respected by my uncle here, because he
is city workingman. He is a piece
worker, Mr.. Watson"
"a what?'' he asked apprehensively.
"Ha, ha, ha! l see you do not under
stand what the term signifies. There is
much 10 learn in this world, isn't there
now, MIR. Watson?"
TOO much. But what may a piece
worker be? a kind of machinery?'
so considered by employers. a piece
worker is one who takes garments
coats, trousers or vests-from custom
tailoring establishments, by the piece. to
his home, to be returned as 1auItless as
the perfect human form, for which he re-
ceives niggardly prce-perhaps one
dollar for the tasteful ducking vest you
Wear!''
They were on the river; Watson, with
his coat of, rowing.
And this is your tather's profession?"
looking obviously at his vest.
es; profession as we'll as business, for
that implies, or should imply, artistic
perfection in any trade, and even your
vocation Is trade, Mr.. WatSonp'
he had not looked at it in just that light
before, and confessed as much.
''1 es, he makes vests for a livelihood
Oh, L know it is terribly vulgarp' she
said, flushing: "but God bless him for
his great nobIeness, tenderness and love,
waistcoats!"
His impulse was to respond lament"
not so much tor the old gent among his
wiggan, wax and waistcoals, as for his
plucky daughter who gallantly defended
him away up there in Minnesota, but
somehow it stuck in his throat and re-
manned unSaiu.
Yes" she continued, with tears of
love Tor her dear old father in her eyes,
but still laughing from the thought
which flashed into her mind, ''and his
poor, fat hands may have ached over the
very vest you are now Wearing!"
Ned Watson, and not his companion,
seemed aflame with modification at the
possibility.
"Just look at the vent There, of
course, you can't know what that isl
the opening below the seam Joining the
fronts and back. If you find an 'H'
worked beautifully where the seam is
stayed at the bottom. he surely made itu'
by Jupiter! His crest is here!" he
exclaimed excitedly.
THE 'sJay'-the cross bar of the 'H'-
is necessary; but the uprights which
complete 1t are only a little fancy of faith
er's. he always says: 1t is not every
one that can so easily set his mark on
thousand people every year. Let us
hope this garment may never be worn
by scoundrelo L am sure he would be
glad to know that his handiwork had
come so far in company with a gentle
mann'
The young journalists head was whirl-
ing trom the strange revelation. What
was he doing? Where would this DALI
ance lead him? Above all what would
the tyrant, Society, say TO discovery OF
ms summerlng and sentiInentaliziug
with the daughter OF a Sweltering, beer
guZzling, snuit-taking vest-maker?
All OF this, i'll rapid succession, fright
ened him into asserting his then idea of
manhood, and how that manhood should
make him just: and he rowed back to the
village, settled in his mind, that he had
been doing mean, cowardly thing in
thus dishonesty toying with the attec-
uons OF susceptible girl.
"Good-by, MIR. Watson. / neglected to
say that l am also vest uaker!"
She said this as they parted with de-
gree OF pride entirely lncomprehensibIe
to him, and went home gayly, OCCASION
ally looking backward over her shoulder
at the detected journalist, whose eyes as
he passed out OF sight, were bent reproacn-
fully upon his duckIng vest, as though it
had wrought his downfall.
That night certain Chicago journalist
took no supper, and tramp, tramp, tramp
he went, turning at either end OF his
room in the old Alton Inn, with that
quick, gasping, yet regular, motion OF Il
Gagged beast or jailed criminal. But be-
fore he slept he had dashed OFT letter to
John Hicks, Esq, General Posto1fice,
CnIcago, tuli OF good sense, kindly solici-
taLIon and human vanity.
Then he resolved not to see Milly until
the answer should come, and he kept
faith with himself like man OF honor.
waiting longer and with a drawer spirit
than he had ever before waited, for the
following repiy:
CHICAGO, July 15, 1S71.-SIR: am in re-
ceipt OF your favor OF recent date doing me
anu mine the honor OF an offer of your rela-
tIonship, fortune and patronage.
Ny anect.on Tor my daughter, who has al
ways deserved it, has caused me to weigh her
chances Tor happiness in the days when |
snail nave passed away. My own life (which
mas not been a successful one, measured by
the standard OF many, but which has been
ripe, iull ana complete with love, JOY and con-
tent, ana my observation OF the lives OF 9TH
ers, nave taught me that there is but one road
TO pure and trustful happiness, which Is in the
mating or equals and the pursuance by both
of some honorable labor; where the one may
not be Ielm pied TO false am bitions or the other
be inevitably Drawn into self accusations.
Whatever may b. your personal merits, they
each become DeliLtled, from my view OF these
matters by every dollar OF the wealth YOU
name, you admit this wealth to have been
the noardings OF Others. This is no fault of
your own; put yet it is a misfortune l cannot
allow my dear Milfred to share.
/ trust, sir, that the sense of honorable
esteem for my daughter and Difference to my
own wishes, which prompted the request you
have made, Will cause you TO abide my refu-
sal OF tie same. beg TO remain with esteem
Your obedient servant, JOHN HICKS,
Ny DU