The Delta independent., 1897-01-27


petence even in that city of mil
lionaires. The will gave Philip half,
end the irlssomeness of its possession
had not made itself felt until after his
postgraduate course in the law had
left him q squire of DANES. and lack
ing the spur Of necessity which might
have made him successful in his pro-
fession. Up to the moment when he
stood waiting for the next ascend
ing elevator which should lift him to
the altitude of DIR. Perevin's chambers,
his life had been as uneventful as his
mothers solicitude could make it,.
There had been no invigorating heights
to scale and no nerve-trying depths to
explore. In his college course, and in
the choice Of Q profession, he had fol
lowed in the footsteps of his father, TAX
ing the one and choosing the other for
no better reason than that both were
selected for him by his parents. Summed
up, the young man who waited for the
elevator was very fair example of
the neutralizing effect OF prearrnnge-
ment in domestic affairs; n logical
product of n cut-and-dried system Of
home training which makes no allow
feet.
And if Thorndyke had been given no
voice in the matter of his bringing
up, he had had quite as little to say
about his engagement to Helen Nor
risson. She was the only daughter Of
his fathers law partner, and the al
lance of the two families in the persons
Of their respective heirs was treaty
which had been discussed, ratified, en-
crossed, docketed, and filed among the
partnership archives Long before the
persons most nearly concerned were old
enough to be consulted. Contrary to oil
precedent, the young people made no
difficulties. On the part of the young
girl. the loyal friendship Of childhood
had grown with her stature into a very
real and earnest love for the man who
was her betrothed. And il Philips ac-
ceptance Of the part assigned to him
was not sufficiently demonstrative to
please his mother. It was due quite as
much to the fact that the two had
grown up together as to any underlined
inclination on the part of the young man
TO rebel against the conditions which
had forestalled the growth of his in
dividuality. In tranquil and dispas-
sionate way Philip was devoted TO the
young woman OF his mothers choice;
but his love for Helen was rather the
outgrowth of an obedient sense Of the
fitness of things, urged on by . just
appreciation of Hclen's beauty and
goodness, than the spontaneous and
compelling passion which is no more
smenable to reason than it is subordi-
nate to a sense of duty.
From passive Indifference to active
discontent - but q step in life from
which the objects Of legitimate ambi-
tion had bern removed. The dead level
OF an existence in which the trivialities
OF the daily social round are the only
mile-stones stretches away before fhe
weary pilgrim into limitless and arid
region whose aandy wastes forbid the
growth Of any sturdy tree of effort.
Thorndyke had been journeying
through some such desert of boredom
on tn. day of his WHIT to DIR. Pcrcvin,
and one of the ,agrant thoughts which
followed him TO tho doctors door
turned upon the well-worn question
~ TO whether. after all, life were real
ly worth tho effort. The answer was
tinctly negative. An hour later, when
he stood before the latticed door Of the
same elevator waiting to be shot down
20 the level Of the street, tbr point of
view had veered no suddenly as TO leave
him garping like an exhausted swimmer
under whose feet there had lately been
the dscks Of the stanchest Of vessels.
For the first time in his experience
with elevators. the swirl rush down the
shsft made him dizzy. and he had to
cit down At the cigar stand In the vesti-
bule . minute before going out into
the street A line Of periodicals. WINS
pinned to a string in front Of the cigar
vendors counter, and Philip saw the
word "Allacoochee" in staring capitals
on the title pare Of one Of them. He
bought . copy Of the paper and read
the advertisement.
ALLACooCHEE.
The Future Commercial and Industrial
Capital of the Nov SOUTH The most Equa-
bIe climate In Alabama Fine Natural
Medicinal sprinss. Charming and Pictur-
esque Scenery. IneHhaustIb.e Beds Of Coal
and Iron; A Limitisss Field for Improve
ment-
A carefully prepared prospectus Of Ala
eoochee may be found at the banking house
Of Mes.rs. Tompkyns 4 Ryder. where the
subscription books Of the AIlacoochee Land.
Manufacturing Improvement company
~iIl be opened for the sale Of q limited num-
der OF share. on the 9Th inst.
An acquaintance looked over his
shoulder a. he read. Hello. Thorn
dyke he said; going south TO make
fortune7-
Philip folded the paper and put IL
into his pocket Il hadn't thought