The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-06
SylyNglg vo.gee,q ,q!gee!ola Observation-Disclosures
s AN UNCONSCIOUS HERO. 8
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crushed the cluster Of fresh American |
beauty roses she held in her clasped i
hands with painful intensity, as " they |
were somehow 10 blame. Il cannot |
marry you, Morris--you are net my |
hero"
Heroes do not exist out OF novels" |
answered Morris Holmes. with that |
perfect infection that good breeding !
gives to its possessor; II cannot fight /
for my lady-love as the medieval |
knights did, nor fly to the wars. in |
these degenerate days"
Then be soldier of peace; there !
are daily wars to be waged that need
disciplined soldiers. BE anything but !
a dawdler on the silken skirts OF so
ciety. You believe that because you
have inherited a fortune that other
men earned for you by the sweat of
their brows. that you are to lie idle
in the lap OF luxury. Shame, Morris
Holmes! When marry ] will choose
my husband from among the ranks of
the people; my hero must do great
deeds, not dream them, all day long
my dear socialist" said Morris with
the familiarity of long acquaintance,
'if you will listen to reason a moment
you will see that with money you can
remedy a great many evils; without it
you are practically helpless.
How many evils have you rem
edied, Morris? Answer me that"
Few as yet l admit. But, Eleanor,
is it my fault that my father left me
a fortune? Listen, dearest. I may call
you so this once Why not help me to
become his amoner? At least l am
not profiigate."
Pardon me-" returned the young
n
"a performance which made the sensi-
tive Morris wince-"I think you are
profligate with time and influence, and
all other good things which you waste
by lavishing them on yourself How
Will you account for wasted opportun-
tiles, and talents folded in a napkin,
when the day of reckoning comes?"
She was very handsome, very attract
I've in her strong young womanhood,
and as a reformer, the fad of the hour.
She belonged to clubs and societies for
the advancement of women, and was
not extensively progressive in her views
and the expression of them. but she
had been brought into contact with
strong natures, full of the sap and wine
of life, and had learned to disdain the
wearer of the purple and fine linen.
The society weakling had lost place in
htl NOIiu. just DIS SOCldl luICllOUS ildu
become inane and intoerably stupid.
after the seamy side of life had shown
her it's rugged attractions.
What would you have me do to
prove myself a hero?' asked Morris
Holmes with a gently patronizing air,
as If he had been speaking to a child,
and which infuriated Eleanor.
"Do?" she repeated with whitening
scorn. "do anything to show the world
that you are man, and at least capa-
BILE of managing your own affairs Life
is full of instructions, but you have
never learned one of it's lessons. You
have not even been a profitable
dreamer"
She was intense and angry and at
last he was aroused. He rose without
his usual dawdling elegance of man.
ner, and said:
You have taught me one lesson,
Eleanor. that I shall not forget. / hope
when you find your hero he will love
you as truly as l have done-as l will
continue to do, if you do not forbid
me. And now goodbye. We part
friends, do we not?"
Before she answered him Eleanor
rose, and in so doing dropped the flow-
ers she had been holding. Morris sprang
to pick them up, when instantly she
placed her small, imperative foot upon
them, crushing them to the floor. He
looked at her shocked and wounded.
You see how hopeless it is that you
should ever understand me-" she said
bitterly. You have more considera-
ton for these hot-house weeds than for
the souls of those around you. You
hurt and wound me by your indiffer-
ence to vital questions, but you are
ea,. h. hx,A
ris!"
mo berths left in the sleeper SIR"
But / tell you must have a berth
! can't sit up all night" and Morris
Holmes shivered at the thought of such
hardship.
"a great many good people do, sir,
said the conductor. There's old Judge
Skinner and his wife: they are both 60
ing to sit up tonight"
But my man telegraphed for a Sec
ton"
"They were all taken then, sir"
1t was strange that at the first mo-
ment that Morris Holmes started out
to become d hero, and learn the seamy
side Of life. he should be reduced to
actual suffering like this. If he had
been dressed in his usual fashionable
and elegant travelling attire the con-
ductor would have suspected that he
had unlimited wealth. and would have
bought out some less important trav-
eler, or sold him a berth already nego-
tiated for, as the all-powerful car mag
nate has the privilege of doing.
But Morris Holmes had donned the
plain dress of the ordinary business
man and wore a hideous gray ulster
that concealed his elegant personality,
and was on his way to the mining dis
trict where mine was located of
which he was part owner; not a gold
mine. but one that brought in gold-a
bituminous coal mine known as the
Little Summit"
Morris had taken little or no notice
or this branch OF his wealth. the man.
asement and details being left TO his
agent. but when he left Eleanor Lands
berg on the occasion of her second and
final refusal of his offer of marriage
he suddenly determined to take a trir
TO the mining country and try his hand
at heroism, in the way of improvins
the condition of the men who worked
in underground chambers, a work tc
him, the embodiment Of hardship and
with the feeling of one who is about
to perform a long-neglected duty.
The beginning was not auspicious
Morris hated contact with the un,
washed stranger. and the day cal
turned into a rendezvous for the nigh
seemed full of him.