The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-28

/! luxury, both i'll and out of season, should
be served up to his guests.
| The evening set for this dinner was
Friday April n, at s O'Clock, as the
Van Dorans sailed on the Campania
the following day at noon.
The invitations were limited to six
old and intimate friends of the host.
There was his lawyer, Mr.. Smithe
Brown, man about Van Doran's own
age, and Il shining luminary in the legal
world of New York. For many years
he had transacted all the legal business
of the Van Doran banking house, and
was consequently on terms of great in
| timacy with its head.
Another of the guests was DR.. Bloom
| field Hunter, who had long had the
privilege of exercising his curative pow
err in the Van Doran household, where
he was treated as a fried and trusted
| friend.
Then there was Rev. Arthur darcy
pastor of st. Sebastian's Catholic church,
of which Mr.. Van Doran was an honored
member and generous benefactor.
| Twenty years have elapsed since that
hot August night when we first made
FIR dArcy's acquaintance, and in their
|
age trace on the countenance of this re-
lmarkable man.
Thong still in the prime of manhood
| his hair was almost silver white But
| this popularity only served as an adj
mirable foil to the dark gray eyes with
| their heavy black brows and lashes
These eyes were like two heavily charged
magnetic batteries, which flashed pow
al Nov nod
But it was only ON rare occasions that
| their owner turned on the full flow of
| their magnetism, and then he swayed
mems souls as the wind sways fields Of
corn.
| Mem said FIR darcy looked a disap-
| pointed man. Women said he looked
! interesting, which was certainly true.
Twice every Sunday, they lbcked to
| his church and sat enthralled beneath
| the influence of an intense personality
and Il superb delivery, as the fearless
man of God proclaimed from the pulpit
his views on all matters pertaining to
! church and State.
These views, il at times declared UNI
orthodox by narrower minds, rang tEue
as they touched the target of the hear
ers mind with the steel bright arrow of
conviction.
| 1t had been rumored at times that tr
d Arcy was not as popular as might be
with the higher powers of his cloth,
owing to the extreme liberality of his
views and the fearless candor with
which he gave voice to them.
There are certain characters thai in
spire intense feelings in all who come i'll
contact with them. Owing to an indie
Unable something in their nature, one
must either hate or love them. They
permit none of that mawkish middle
feeling. which we SO generously bestow
on mankind at large. and which. during
| the penitential season. actuates benevo-
lent sewing societies to make chest pro-
tectors for the Iulus.
| FIR darcy was one of these lucky or
unlucky individuals. He had bitter enc
mics and staunch friends.
People always spoke enthusiastically
of him--one way or the other.
The remaining gentlemen, who were
invited to Mr.. Van Dorans dinner d'au
revoir, were all old and intimate
friends whom he had known for years.
At o'clock one the evening appointed
the six guests assembled in the private
room at Delmonicos, where dinner was
to be served. Their host was not there
! to receive them, but. as he was going