The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-01-25
IAN UNCONSCIOUS HERO.
BY MRS. NJ. l.. RAYNE.

'.No," Eleanor Landsberg said, as she
crushed the cluster of fresh American
Beauty roses she held in her clasped
hands with painful intensity, as if they
were somehow to blame, 81 cannot
marry you, Morris-you are not my
hero"
Heroes do not exist out of novels"
answered Morris Holmes, with that per-
feet infection that good breeding gives
to its possessor; 81 cannot fight for my
ladylove as the medieval knights did,
nor fly to the wars in these degenerate
days"
"Then be soldier of peace; there
are daily wars to be waged that need
disciplined soldiers. De anything but
ciety You believe that because you have
inherited fortune that other men
earned for you by the sweat of their
brows, you are to lie idle in the
lap of luxury. Shame, Morris Holmes!
When marry will choose my husband
from among the ranks Of the people;
my hero must do great deeds, not dream
them all day long
"My dear socialist" said Morris, with
the familiarity of long acquaintance, 'if
YOU will listen to reason a moment you
will see that with money you car rem
edy great many evils; without it you
are practically helpless"
'IIow many evils have you rem
edied, Morris? Answer me that"
Few as yet, admit. But, Eleanor,
is it my fault that my father left me
n fortune? Listen, dearest. / will
call you so this once. Why not help me
become his almoner? At least l am
not n profigate."
Pardon me-" returned the young
woman, tearing the heart from a rose
"a performance which made the sensi-
tive Morris wince-"I think you are
prehigate with time and influence,
and all the other good things which you
waste by lavishing them on yourself.
How will you account for wasted OPP
portunities and talents folded in nap
Kin when the day of reckoning comes? p
what would you have me do to
prove myself hero?" asked Morris
Holmes, with a gently patronizing air,
as if he had been speaking to a child,
and which Infatuated Eleanor.
"Do?" she repeated, with whitening
scorn; do anything to show the world
that you are man, and at least capable
of managing your own affairs! Life
is full of instruction, but you have
never learned one of its lessons. You
have not even been a profitable dream
err"
She was intense and angry, and at
his usual dawdling elegance OF man
ner and said:
"You have taught me one lesson
Eleanor, that shall not forget. Ihope
when you find your hero he will love
you as truly as have done-as / will
continue to do, if you do not forbid
me. And now, good-by. We part
friends, do we not?'
Before she answered him Eleanor
rose and in so doing dropped the flow
ers she had been holding. Morri.
sprang to pick them up, when instantly
she placed her small, imperative foo
upon them, crushing them to the floor
He looked at her, shocked and wounded
''You see how hopeless it is that yot
should ever understand me-" she said
bitterly. "You have more considera
ton for these dollhouse weeds than To-
the souls of those around you. Yo'
hurt and wound me by your indiffer
ence to vital questions, but you ar
sorry for the roses! Good-by, Norris!
"No berths left In the sleeper, sir"
"But. tell you, must have a berth
] can't sit up all night" and MORN
Holmes shivered at the thought OF sucl
q hardship.
"a great many good people do, sir,
said the conductor. There's old Judg
Skinner and his wife, they are bot
going to sit up tonight"
"But my man telegraphed for sec
ton"
"Tbey were all taken then, sir"
It was strange that at the first mo
ment Morris Holmes started out to De
come a hero and learn the seamy side o
life he should be reduced to actual sui
fer;np like this. If he had bee
dressed in his usual fashionable an
elegant travelling attire the conducto
would have suspected that he had IN
limited wealth and would have bough
out some less important traveller Q
sold him a berth already negotiate
for. as the all-powerful car magnaf
has the privilege of doing.
But Morris Holmes had donned tn
Main dress of the ordinary bushes
NAH. and wore a hideous gray ulste
that concealed his elegant personaIlt.
and was on his way to the mining di'
tr;ct. where a mine was located ofwhi
he was part owner; not q gold MINI
but one that brought in gold bit.
minous coal mine, known as the Litti
Summit.
Morris had taken little or no motto
of this branch of his wealth. the maj
apement and details being left to n
agent. but when he left Eleanor Land
berg on the occasion Of her second an
final refusal of his offer OF marriag
he suddenly determined to take tn
to the mining country and try his han
at heroism, in the way OF improving u
condition of the men who worked In Il
,bau,lerc a work to hll