The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-09-12
lMPERIhL MILLIONS
By JULIAN HAWTHORNE

By JULIAN HAWTHORNE
tCopyright. 1891. by American Press Associa-
tion.l
Harry Trent walked to his club, only
a few blocks OF, where he temporarily
had rooms, and took dinner there with
chief clerk. The latter afterward drank
coffee with him in the smoking room.
At about eight o'clock Trent left the
club without saying where he was going,
and he dill not come back that night.
Let uJ 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 ut u sturdy pace.
His white hair glistens like silver beneath
the rim of his silk hat: his ruddy, kindly,
handsome face, with its aquiline nose,
blue eyes and well set lips, is alternately
revealed and shadowed 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 de-
Ibcrate.
A be2gar creeps up and mumbles
petition. Harry looks at him moment
and then draws off his glovc to give him
q quarter. A woman walks by him,
fingers and turns to pass him again.
Hurry says, Take care, my child;
there's policeman round the corner!"
A hack driver draws up at the curb and
touches his hat. Harry hesitates. There
were no elevated roads in those days; but
finally he shakes his head and continues
his walk up the avenue.
II. will do me good to foot it, J" he says
to himself. "What's couple of miles"
.,u.tened light comes through the cur
tainel windows on either side of the
street; carriages rumble up and down
over tie uneven pavement, ever and
anon pausing to set down their occu-
pants ut IL carpeted doorway. At Thirty
sixth street Harry pauses again, and be-
fore his mind rises the picture of the
young Olympia, u figure of youth, health
and arch intelligence, who is even now,
perhaps, thinking of him. only few
doors away. Shall he go in and pass the
evening there? He nearly yields to the
suggestion. and takes step or two in
that direction. But no! he had promised
himself something different; he will see
Olympia tomorrow. He turns again and
resumes his walk. Yet Olympia was
really thinking of him at that moment,
an tomorrow-well. Tomorrow some
times means never.
No such reflection disturbs Harry
Trent. The exercise has warmed his
Lloo l. AMI his heart is light. The con-
stlnt success of his life has had its effect
upon him. He does not believe that mis-
fortune can overtake him. Mortal man
seldom or never lives to Harry's age
without having done something that he
ought not TO have lone. Yet he has done
much good in the world. His reputation
;imon:, his fellows is untarnished. If Lie
have enemies they have not declared
themselves. But has he an enemy? AT
any rate, he fears none. Like other fort
u..ate men. he has faith in his star; like
them. too. he forgcts the legend of Cro
sCS.
e. this timo be has passed beyond the
most thiclsly settled portion of fashiona
lie Ne.y York: t,le rumble of carriage;
il less frequent, and there are gaps be
tween the houses. Foot passengers are
few. Lis steady footsteps are echoed
distinctly from the frozen pavement
Ills shadow only attends him as he
walks, now le1ythening behind, nov
slipping bencat, his feet and startin:
out ahead of him. Darker shadow!
glther il tho side streets. AS he reache.
the park something seems to detach it
self from the duskiness on the left an(
move forward to where a broken board
ing bespread with u gaudy placard an
nounciny the appearance OF a f;lvorit
actress in the tragic drama of 'Leah'
J.oviles convenient screen. Harry
Trent passes steadily on and the shadow
follows him.
And now, at length, the goal of the
little journey is i'll sight. There stand.
the new house, solid and shapely on it
strong foundations, built to last and tt
be tho abode of prosperity and happi
rcss. AS Harry Trent approaches it h
slackens his pace, and q proud glow O
proprietorship expands his breast. I'll.
secs, rs in IL swift vision, the perspectiv,
of the years to come. Within these foul
walls i; to begin the long succession of /;
happy posterity. Rich, powerful ant
peaceful, they shall take their place a
the best ty,-le Of the foremost nation o
the earth. Tho women shall be beauti
full and bountiful. the men eminent ant
honorable. friends of the great and grea
themselves. The house of Trent! /
stands dark and empty now, but tn
hour il ut hand when its windows shall
be illuminated and its doors opened. an,
all the city come to do it homage.
There is pleasure for an imaginative
mind in doing privately and. as it were
by stealth things that ordinary person
would mike no secret about. Harr,
Trent. il spite of his proved and prac
tic;,l business sagacity. has lively imag
inatiou; and, as the miser steals off t.
count his money, or tho lover to serenad
his lady love, SO had Harry become in
f,tT7nte:l with tl,a idea Of sDendiDp n,