The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-09-13

zine. American Milionaires No. ",
Samuel Wolverton.' Had she been mis-
taken? And then she read: The be-
ginning Of this ordinary fortune
was in &c. in Red Gulch. California. Mel
vile and Wolverton were store keepers
who exchanged a supposedly bad debt
for the now-famed Bulfinch mine. Vol
yerton bought out his partner
For a minute the room seemed to
swim.
20. if mama were only here, the
girl said m~oaningly.
IT'S true~true. This is all his. and
not mine. every penny Of il. And he
knew when he told me; he knew
And She stole down to her father.
She went toward him. the magazine
in hand. and held il before him. Vol
verton started. He had never seen her
like this; and her pallor frightened him.
And then he saw to what she pointed.
WAS the story he told me true
= hat if it WERE"
What if it were:' she said hooking
ly. You can't understand. what if it
we're"
But the father said quietly. with !
mastery of himself:
If it were true. that Melville couldn't
nave succeeded. He hadn't it in him,
He would have failed at anything. |
cut loose from him"
"Rut YOU haven't told me whether the
story is true"
won't acknowledge nor deny it" he
said at last. What Of it? You ought
not to find fault. My money has made
YOU a position as fine as any o EN-"
Good night" said the girl.
At the door he called to her:
Nell. you haven't kissed me good
night
4 can't-tonieht.'
And She was zone.
"A woman can't understand business.
She'll get over it But he failed 10
sleep we'll that night. She was not at
breakfast. He went to her room. She
was sleeping with a look that frightened
him. On his way down town be stoppAd
at his DOCTORS. 4 am troubled with
that insomnia
Mr.. Wolverton.' said the practitioner,
Il nave told YOU again and again that
YOU must let UP on work and worry
Il know. l know" said the great man.
BY the way, [ wish YOU would see
Nell. | am worried about her"
He kept himself busted down town I'M
til about 3. and then drove through the
park in the parade, a tired-faced man
people pointed out.
AS he entered the house he heard
Nells voice. He paused in the hall and
listened.
am glad to see you, Nj. MELVILLE"
she was saying.
Il had your note, and came here
promptly, I think"
Yes, promptly"
Il have passed YOU several times. but
| don't believe you saw me- Melville
SAID rather bitterly.
He was thinking how charming she
appeared here in her own house. He was
blaming himself for all that he had
thought of her: when her world. Of
which he had that brief glimpse, had
been shut out.
q sent for YOU Nell went on. 10
ask you why you told me that story
when-when you knew that your faith
er's partner then-was-my father
The listener started, and moved to-
ward the door, and drew back.
At last he heard:
Miss Wolverton-yes. it was so. it
is so. and [ was a coward to tell YOU"
Il am glad YOU told me-" Nell said
| hnrnbly. for this was no longer the
proud Miss Wolverton. she wondered at
herself, tears were in her eyes, and
se~lf-control was far away.
4 don't know what made me tell you.
and yet / do know. l nave lied; | do
h1ON HOW Ut Sttlllth ~ 1dI u vi
my reach. and / wanted YOU to be in
| my reach. Do you underestimate
4 don't know that / UNDERESTIMATE the
girl said. Il can't seem to under
stand"
"And-O, you are crying. l nave hurt
you. I wouldn't hurt YOU for this
world
Don't she said, "please don't
But he was SAYING
Il know the reason now. | was
don't YOU see-didn't you see:'
After a moment the listener heard
Nell s voice.
Its best so. If you do, it rights it
self. And-I see it clearly. | know now
why I didn't want you to be of BERTHE
TOwnley's class. You are a man who
does things-and well-a man for Il
woman to be proud of. and-yes-it's
all clear to mel thought | was just
flirting with you. But since that night
! know it was more
Presently the ~portierc was pushed
aside.
Wolycrton was possessed of a certain
grim humor, and instinct for the man
agement of the quick crises was the
measure of his success in affairs.
L am Samuel Wolverton. and you are
Burke Melville" he said. Il listened to
your conversation. | won't apologize,
| am glad | did it. 1t seems to me. Mr..
Melville, that your fathers son has it
back at me now. 1t seems to me that
YOU hold the marked cards. He stopped
and looked at the two, and then went on.
Mr.. Melville, what's it the ministers
say? / am not much at going to church.
But don't they say that when a man
has wronged another the best amends
he can make is confession of his fault?'
But although Il moment after the
young man extended his hand, Wolver-
ton was conscious that his daughter.
whom he held his dearest possession.
never would be the same to him, that
distrust lay between them: that. at the
hight of his success. Melville's son had
turned the marked cards against him.
$1OO-REWARD-S1OO.