The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-07-10

VVASV AAA0 L CuCOO4dkGA u1xu -" Vta1h. ~
appeared that Mark Gerard was most
singular person. He had accumu,
lated large fortune by sucking-l
quote Poindexter-other mems brains;
and this Nampire-like quality endeared
him to few. He was generous as ca
llph II he liked man; but he had no
friends. He was secrctive In his bust
ness methods and sensual in his pleas
ures. Certain stories, George added, in
a whisper, were n1loat in clubland;
stories that limited at double life "a
Hyde and Jekyll existence. Gerard had
been known to disappear for months at
time leaving no clew to his where
abouts. Such persons, according to
George, should be handled with tongs.
The nature of these communications
was not reassuring; but I had no wish
to cancel my dinner engagement. On
the contrary, I cursed the laggard
hours which yawned between appre-
hension and comprehension.
Il WONDER" said George. us we part
ed, IT that old fox chose you because
you're stranger" This hypothesis
had overlooked.
Upon the morrow l duly presented
myself at the Gerard mansion. 1 pos
sessed Il suit of dress-clothes, in which
arrayed myself with lively satisfuc-
ton. hadn't tied white cravat for
over year, and my hand had lost
something of its cunning; but I felt
at home in my sables and-I will not
say a gentleman, for every son of the
Golden West is gentleman, but-a
gentilhomme.
My patron greeted me with keen
glance. He wore, what he had worn
the day before, u plain business suit;
and he received me in the library.
"Cocl<tail?" he asked, abruptly.
] bowed; and the butler brought the
drinks. 50
ITO your very good health" said
Gerard, with his,,Tueer stare.
AT your service, sir"
81 hope So" he replied, with m odd
chuclSle. "You'Yc a fine appetite, ell?
That's right. And I'm going to give
you u dinner worthy of it. Yes, yes;
dinner fit for Il prince"
lie led the way to his dining room,
and we sat DOWN ,tcte-a-tetc. Mr..
Gerard piled me With, questions, and his
servants With meat and drink.
"Know many people on this coast?"
he asked, as he gulped down his soup,
wonderful purge Of chicken, with as
paragus points in it,.
Not q soul, except George Poindex-
ter"
"Ahem!" lie crowned. 'The less
you see Of him tho better. presume
he was at Yale with you. just SO. A
fool! Leave fools alone. I'm afraid of
fools. Knaves l can handle"
lie gobbled up his fish, and he tried a
new tack.
"You amt engaged to be married 2"
he blurted out. mo? Glad to hear
it. And you said you were um orphan
ehY"
II don't think SO; but am an or
phnn."
Good! 1 mean"-he blinkel and
grinned at his slip-"I mean, my boy,
that for the game ahead it's better for
you to be-cr-frec."
you spoke yesterday of slavery"
"Ha, ha! 80 did, so did. Well, well,
we're all slaves, amt we? I'm slave
to my millions; you ought to he u slave
to your appetite nnd-cr-the ext
gencies of youth. You were brought
up in luxury? Your father was rich
mun?"
Eyes"
II know all about that. How does
this Chateau Yqucm suit your palate?"
l became enthusiastic Immediately.
My fathers cellars in Philadelphia were
famous, but he had never owned such
wine as this, and said so. He seemed
pleased.
I'll give you IL bottle of Lafittc after
dinner" he snid, solemnly, (which you
will appreciate. I'm glad you know the
difference between good wine and bad
between dining, as we are dining, and
mere eating. You Like pictures, ch?"
THAT one belonged to u.s." l said,
CHANGING gloomily at a fine Constable.
IN let you have it-wfcn you want
it-at the price gave for it," lie named
considerable sum- "You would like"
lie peered at me from behind his glass
Ito buy back the old acres?"
eyes," I replied, with energy, II
would"
Things ara coming your way, my
boy. Lucky, now, wasn't it, that you
read that little adj? How long, at say,
thirty dollars month, would it take
to buy that picture, or Il dozen caacs
of wine even? Eth? eh?"
Fifty minutes later the dinner Gas no
said, dinner fit, for u prince) came to
al end, and we returned to the library,
where coffee w7,s served in some won
derful Belleek oh ina cups. Then my host
unlocked n grotesquely carved Chinese
cabinet and produced some curious CT
gars, cigars never seen in the market,
long and thin. with outside leaves of
velvety flneness, anil fragrance which
fingers still in my memory. These
we lighted, and Gerard, sitting near me
with his back to the lamp, sighed softly.
confess thnt5I was nervous. The
elaborate dinner, the rare wines, tho
talk, turning as tt had upon the glory
and desirability Of things material, had
stirred my senses, but aroused my sus-
picions. Why, / asked myself. why
this parade of wealth, this worship Of
the Golden Calf? Gerard, watching me
with his shrewd blinking eyes. inter-
preted my thoughts.
Contrast" he said. abruptly, "colors
our lives"
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