The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-11-30


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81 don't know many of them," answer
ed Ridley.
Quiet, sober, respectable people?' ask
ed the deacon
Ridley could not suppress smile, for
Brastow's adjectives We're not precisely
those that he would have chosen in de-
scribins the tenants of the Cecil apart
ments.
Il really know very little about their
private life he confessed. I'VE let each
other alone, rule
You don't know them, and they don't
know you" said the deacon Now,
merely for the sake OF the argument,
Well suppose that you wanted to be
burglar Or Iighwayman. Would any
one OF them know anything about it?'
Not till they read about it in the news
papers," said Ridley frankly.
How does the man who lives right in
the next room to you spend bis even
ings?" queried the deacon iiatdly
"Heaven knows"' exclaimed the Young
man. 81 haven't seen him ia six
months"
"Such a thing couldn't happen here
said Brastow. Here every one lives in
the sight of his neighbors, and his repu-
tation is founded upon every act Of his
from boyhood up"
But l also have a reputation" re-
sponded Ridley warmly. enquire Of my
business acquaintances on the street and
see if you can hear of any act Of mine
that has not been strictly honorable"
There is a young man who keeps a
store across the street. said the deacon.
His name is Sargent Samuel Sargpnt's
| hay i,i.. hn i> tior
sweet on Angela and may come some day
to see me, as you have done. Suppose l
knew no more about him thar what the
clerk in his store sees between S O'Clock
In the morning and & in the evening;
Would | feel snit that he was d proper
husband for -Angela?''
Ridley felt the perSpiration starting
out on his forehead. He realized that he
was engaged in Il struggle where defeat
was not to be thought Of He had
passing vision of Angela. and it helped
him.
81 did not make New York" said he,
NOR ask to be born there. Would you
deny marriage to all its inhabitan;s?'
'They might marry among them
selves" said the deacon gently. Il don't
mean that to be offensive. but you and l
on such a subject as this must say what
we think"
Gas for myself" said Ridley. II can
not do the impossible, but if you will
come to New York | will give you every
opportunity to look me up. Here and
now l can only say that have no skele-
tons in my closet and that | love your
daughter. might speak of certain ma
| terial advantages, but
why not?" asked Brastow They
n, inn, TO q oh
and you could do a good deal for Angela
If this were matter Of business. there
| would be only one answer l could make.
| But it isn't. My daughter has never
lacked food or shelter. and while | am
spared she never shall. Neither has she
lacked good. healthy, moral surround
ings. and while | have any voice in
choosing them she never shall
"Amen." said Ridley heartily, and then
there was Il pause while the two men
faced each other in the gathering shad-
ows.
deacon Brastow." said Ridley at last
what shall do to convince you that
am the right sort of man"
81 don't know said the deacon slow
u. You might come down here and
live d year or two among u.s."
{ I'D like nothing better" said Ridley.
but my business interests
There it is again" the deacon inter
rupted. I'm New York it is all business
You will live in world and your wife
in another. How many men in New
, York go home to break bread with their
families i'll the middle of the day? How
many pass two evenings Il week at their
own fresides? You have no homes there
unless among the poor"
h.,>,
and
And spend from two to four months
Il year under their own roof. Where are
they enjoying this day of thanks, if it's
fair question:
MY mother and my younger sister are
in Italy or on their way across" said
Ridley. my other sister has gone to
Smith college. and my father is in San
Antonio. Tex, ON little matter of busi-
ness"
Il don't think Angela would like that
kind of Thanksgiving day, that way Of
living" said the deacon.
Let us be clear upon one point" de-
clared the young man-"whatever An
gela likes is law Of nature, so far as l
am concerned. She shall make such a
home as pleases her. And as for my
! business, let me tell you that affairs in
Wall street will be in a condition to
/ make Black Friday a pleasant recollec-
! tion when they take my thoughts away
| from her"
! well" said the deacon doubtfully as
he stroked his scanty gray beard, that
sounds encouraging. After this little
talk l don't feel quite the same as l did.
In fact, for your sake rather hope that
Angela will change her mind"
! "Will - change - her - mind" echoed
Ridley in tone of horror. ''You don't
mean to say she has already decided?'
The deacon seemed about to answer
with some real disclosure. Then he
checked the impulse and said:
You'd better talk with her"
Ridley seized his hat, which had fallen
on the floor in the course Of this inter
view, and jamming it down hard upon
his head, he rushed away in search OF
Angela. She was not at home. She was
not in half a dozen other places where be
. expected to find her. He sought her Sc
earnestly that a rumor arose that Angela
Brastow had mysteriously disappeared.
Finally he got around to the deacon's
house again and found the object of his
quest quietly busy with hot biscuits and
tea and cold turkey. The young man
was invited to partake Of these and other
refreshments, and when the supper was
over he was presently alone with Angela
in the sitting room.
angela" he said, Il am here tonight
with a purpose. 1t has taken such com
plete possession Of me that l can think
and speak of nothing else. II you don,
know what it Is. you are alone in that
The air knows it, Every object in this
room is aware OF it The very chairs