The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-06-10

|
i in the stirrups and would mount and
ride to success when obtaining the con-
tract to decorate the ballroom panels
and arched gallery of the white marble
house on Fifth avenue.
Il was the very ordinary slip between
the raised goblet and the thirsty lips
eagerly pressed forward to its brim, the
old tale running through the woof
and warp of life, and which made up
it's deceptions and tragedies.
Van Styver had completed his prelim-
inary work, had received his first pay
ment, had eagerly dispatched it home,
when stricken down.
| Two months of constant fever in a
hospital, however skillful the nursing.
even if man comes out alive, leaves
him pretty sad wreck of his former
self.
Add the shabbiness inevitable to gar
ments worn unremittingly summer and
winter, which, however carefully tend
ed, must get dilapidated, worn and
thread bare; the broken and patched
shoes, and weather beaten hat, and the
disguise is quite complete between a
man in easy circumstances, to whom
success comes naturally, and a poor
devil on whom the world looks askance,
and shows neither mercy nor favor.
Going to ascertain, Van Styver found
his place taken on the newspaper, and
the mural decorations of the white mar
BILE house all completed, not with the
! n md hn on111H have mt in fn
them, but the owner was anxious to oc-
cupy his dwelling, SO how could he
wait on the convenience of a GONZALES
sent artist any more than the manage
ment of big daily could?
Van Styver's old Dutch blood arose in
arms and asserted itself in his veins.
A dogged determination seized hold of
him to recuperate quickly, and get an
| inning in the game, and his anger at the
kicks and cuffs Of fate gave him re-
vivified pugnacity of intimate value to
him just then.
To get into the cold air outside was
bracing, and John felt strength and en-
ergy coming back to usurp the langor
and depression of illness.
| u N1hOltill. III lliC way VI SOliC
trating to be done hurriedly, gave him
the check he inserted in the letter he
dropped in the post office box before
going to see if there was nothing to be
had in the way of extra work at the Of
| flee of the Herald.
There was nothing that day, and he
went slowly back, to the shabby dark
ballroom, in a shabby and poor board
ing house, where he had cot to sleep
in and a chair to st on, and few photo
graphs placed where the poor light
could get at them, to cheer him.
| One was of beautiful young woman,
whose eyes were the color of violets,
whose hair was wavy and nutbrown,
and whose wistful face and tender
mouth were constant entreaty to Van
Styver to come back to the home under
the glorious California sky. The other,
adimpled, laughing, rosy child, brought
cheer to his heart, for there was no sign
of suffering there.
Aletter had been brought by the post
man during his absence, and was thrust
under the door.
Tearing it open, Van Styver read an
agitated entreaty that he come back as
fast as steam could take him. Their
rosebud and joy lay ill-ill unto death,
and her one cry was for him.
"Oh, John, John, dearest, come if you
would save her! Come, come, come! or
she will die! Her life is waning, and
she means for you'll"
| ho l.
and Van Styver groaned aloud as he
staggered to a chair and buried his face
in his folded arms on the table.
| One hour sooner, and he could have
used the money for his passage back to
his dying child.
The manager of one of the depart
ments of an enormous trunk line, road
having ramifcations all over the union,
sat in his Office in a dissatisfied brown
study.
Palmer Davidson had great response
bilities resting on him, which his big
salary could not cover.
I Few outsiders dream of the immense
amount of advertising done by the
great railroad companies of this coun-
try, nor of its value, variety and scope
| Conducted by an extensive and thor
cughly-equipped bureau, to them and
10 their efforts and methods is due a
vast development of whole sections of
country which would otherwise remain
wilds, forest or jungle lands, and to
| the untiring and sagacious supervision
of men of marked ability may be traced
the influx of trade and commerce which
ensues on the springing up of villages,
| lumber mills and factories whose To-
cation has been the result of their
showing advantages and opportunities
which otherwise would have remained
undiscovered.
Davidson was at the head of such de-
! pGrtment.
On the wide desk before which he sa:
| lay a confusion of sketches, showing in
more or less elaborate form and hack
neyed style the route of the main line,
from east to west, to be used as adver-
tising cards by the road.
Some were ornate, some simple. They
were of all sizes, shapes and forms,
hut none suited the fancy of the man,
who, looking with critical intentness
on each in turn, had thrown them down
with an air of complete and annoyed
disappointment.
Here, Dick, chuck these things in the
fire, will you? They are not worth the
pasteboard they are drawn on. Not one
OF 'em will do" said Davidson, instant
| ly turning to young clerk who was
| checking I'm some hooES across the