Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-07-27

II hope SO" he replied, with an odd
chuclsle. you've fine appetite, eh?
That's right. And I'm going to give
you q dinner worthy of it. Yes, yes;
a dinner fit for prince"
He led the way to his dining room,
and we sat down tete-a-tete. 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 puree of chicken, with as
paragus points in it.
'Not soul, except George Poindex-
ter"
"Ahem!" He frowned. "The less
you see of him the better. presume
he was at Yale with you. Just so. A
fool! Leave fools alone. I'm afraid of
fools. Knavcs can handle"
He gobbled up his fish, and he tried a
new tack.
you amt engaged to be married?"
he blurted out. "No? Glad to hear
it. And you said you were an orphan
ELI ?"
81 don't think so; but am an or
phan.'
Good! I mean"-he blinked and
grinned at his slip-"I mean, my boy,
that for the game ahead it's better for
you to he-er-free."
"You spoke yesterday of slavery"
Ella, ha! so did, so did. Well, well,
we're all slaves, amt we? I'm q slave
to my millions; you ought to be slave
to your appetite and-er-the ext
gencies of youth. You We're brought
up i'll luxury? Your father was rich
MANI"
EYES,"
II know all about that. How does
this Chateau 9quem suit your palate?"
became enthusiastic Immediately.
My fathers cellars in Philadelphia We're
famous, but he had never owned such
wine as this, and 1 said so. He seemed
pleased.
I'll give you a bottle of Laftte after
dinner" he said, solemnly, (which you
will appreciate. I'm glad you know the
difference between good wine and bad
between dining, Us we are dining, and
mere eating. You like pictures, Ell ?"
THAT one belonged to u.s." I said,
glancing gloomily at fine Constable.
III let you have it-when you want
it-at the price gave for it," He named
considerable sum. you would like"
he peered at me from behind his glass
ito buy back the old acres?"
YES" l replied, with energy, 81
would"
Things are coming your way, my
boy. Lucky, now, wasn't it, that YOU
read that little 'ad'? How long, at, say,
thirty dollars a month, would it take
to buy that picture, or dozen cases
of wine even? Eth? eh?"
Fifty minutes later the dinner (as he
said, dinner fit for a prince) came to
an end, and we returned to the library,
where coffee was served in some Won
derful Belleell china cups. Then my host
unlocked grotesquely carved Chinese
cabinet and produced some curious ci-
CARS, cigars never seen in the market,
long and thin, with outside leaves Of
velvety tineness, and a fragrance which
fingers still in my memory. These
we lighted, and Gerard, sitting near me
with his back to the lamp, sighed softly.
confess that l was nervous. The
elaborate dinner, the rare wines. the
talk, turning as it had upon the glory
and desirability of things material, had
stirred my senses, but aroused my sus-
picions. Why, l 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"
"And the jade" l returned, seems
to paint blindfold; all the pigments on
her palette lavished upon one fellow,
while his brother man, more deserving
possibly, must content himself with a
daub of neutral gray
Your colorless man." snapped my
host, SIS not contentcd; and, take nv
word for it, the under dog in the fight
who seems to have your sympathy
generally deserves to be bitten. I have
tried tonight, my lad. to emphasize
the difference between the rich man
and the poor man. Ihave done Itch 2"
The sharp "eh?" provoked me.
Yes" answered, calmly, though my
pulse was running riot; "you have
made me realize, in way I could scarce
ly have believed possible, all that I've
lost"
"And all, my young friend, that may
be found again"
EYES," I returned, bitterly, "but the
cost, sir?-the moral and physical price
which must be paid?"
"Tm coming to that. Yesterday, as
soon as you had left the bank, wired
the president of Yale, and received his
answer before shutdown. 1t was more
| than satisfactory. I'm proud to enter
tain SO distinguished a guest. And now,
as my time is valuable, to business! ]
must confide in you. That confidence,
no matter what happens, must never be
| abused"
"Not by me" answered, firmly.
I'm willing to pay you," he said,
slowly, never taking his piercing eyes
from my face, 1.-THE large salary OF
$4,000 year if you will take upon
yourself the duties and responsibilities
of being"-he paused, and the pitch OF
his voice dropped, "of being tutor and
guardian to my only son."
"Your son?" stammered. IT under
stood you had no son."
"Hush! I have son, q. pretty lad,'
his harsh tones Standardization ]
love well-too well for my peace OF
mind or body"
"But where is hep" exclaimed.
He ignored my question and contin.