Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-01-31

l watched him closely. There was a
shadow in his face and a strained Loo:
about his eyes, as though his effort to at
tract the waiter had been made at the ex-
pense of q certain amount of nervous
force.
swell Rodney" I said, after a time, II
suppose now that you have achieved
wealth and fame you are perfectly
happy"
He looked ut me and smiled rather
sadly.
mo, my boy, I'm not happy. I once
thought that money and glory were all
that are needed to make a man %contented.
But, it seems, there is always n thing
required to complete our existence. Man
never is, but always to be blest.' The one
thing necessary we never get" He
slipped his liqueur musingly.
"Aad.in your case that one thing is at
present.
"A certain woman"
I was astonished. "You mean-you
mean-that you're in love-" 1 faltered.
Eyes, that's it. I'm in love. God help
me!'
"Well, Rodney, If your recent manifes-
tation of magnetic power finds no obstacle
in sex l am sure I would back your
chances of winning any m in the
world"
That's the very point" he exclaimed.
sex makes no difference to my device.
and SO l find myself undergoing the most
terrible temptation a man ever endured
what do you meanT"
"Just this: When l found last summer
that l could make men and women love
me or hate me as kchose l had no scru-
pies about taking advantage of my power.
1t made no impression upon my conscience
that | could 80 impress a capitalist that
he would invest money in behalf of my
sight for rifles. Was he not to be a gamer
in the end? What did l care that by the
use of my electromagnetic apparatus I
could fascinate a man and make him en-
gage me to run his business? He OBJ
tanned more benefit from the arrange
ment than l did. Why. in short, should l
lose my self. respect if l obtained from
the world that which was my due? l was
simply repairing the defects with which
nature had handicapped me. And SO l
went on from triumph to triumph. making
money, fascinating men, manipulating my
electric current so that it would fill my
pocket. Behold the result! From pow
erty | am raised to afiluence: from an in
significant individual l have become IA ia
nous man. l have my luxurious apart
ments. my horses, M clubs, and l dress
and live as well as though l had never
known the narrow affairs of the east side.
All this is the result of a simple inyen-
ton which enables me to make any man
my friend"
And yet you are not content l sug-
gested as he paused.
NO. Unfortunately my scientific ex-
pertinent has shown M that l have a
conscience. Do you know Margaret
Durand?"
Yes. 1 I'M going to her reception to-
night"
$50 am L. Well, my dear boy, l love
her. l love her with a purity and inten-
sity that no man ever yet showed for a
Why? Because l have it in my
power to fascirate her, to win her, and I
will not give way to the temptation. Do
you follow me-! l could in an instant
place myself above all men in her regard,
but l scorn to take advantage Of my
power. She must love me naturally, not
scientifically. l could make her as docile
to my will as the waiter who came to us
a while ago, but would that be fair to her?
Would such a course result in happiness
to either of u.s."
"Youhave never used the means at your
disposal, then. to win her?'
"As 1 told you-no."
"Do you think that, laying aside the
manipulation of currents, you could at
tract her"
mo"
"What makes you think SOL"
Look at me. Am 1 a man who would
be likely to please such a woman"
you might affect some women" l an
swered, earnestly, but not Margaret
Durand. AS they say in society, you are
mot her STYLE"
"You are right, my boy. Thank you
for replying to me with so much frank
ness. But place yourself for a moment
in my position. l can win her consent to
our marriage by the slightest effort. You
have no conception of the power l now
WELD. If l was a bold. bad man no fam
lily in the city would be safe for an in
slant if l chose to destroy it's peace. Am
I, then to deny myself the only thing in
tai regard for that %threadbare word,
honor"
He arose from his chair md walked up
and down the room in a manner which re-
called to me our last meeting.
But" I said, you know as well as I
do that q union under such circumstances
would not be ultimately happy. Suppose,
for instance, that some day you forgot to
keep with you your device, design, inven-
ton, continuance or whatever you call it.
Where would you be them
He stopped in his walk and looked ut
me earnestly.
THANK you for those words. They
have made a man of me. / love her too
well to take advantage Of her. She shall
love me for myself alone or not at all. I
am willing to tap men with my electro
magnetic apparatus, but l shall not trust
to it for a life companion. Oh, Margaret,
l worship you. If l win you not death
shall be my portion. But ! shall play a
square game. Rest content. Nature
shall always direct your current. I shall
not tamper with t."
I sprang up and grasped his hand.
''There is something in you!" I ex-
claimed; more than pertains to the av-
erage electrical expert. In fact, l be-
lieve you are a man. You are worthy Of
d thousand Margaret Durands."
Rather an oriental idea, isn't itY' he
returned, smiling. But we must be of
If we are going to the reception"
/ shook hands with him ut the corner Of
the street and went home ia dress for the