Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-11-25

bors?''
Il live in Il bachelor apartment house."
replied the young man. Its more con
venlcnt for me, as my fathers house is
closed most of the time. My proplc are
i'll Europe or Newport or somewhere else
eight or ten months in the year"
"Wcll, who are some of the other bach
elorS in this place where you live?" in
quircd the deacon.
Il don't know many of them" answer.
ed Ridley.
Quiet. sober respectable people ?" ask
ed the deacon.
Ridley could not suppress n smile, for
BraStow's Hdjrctivcs were not precisely
those that he would have chosen in de-
scrihng the tenants of the Cecil apart
mcntS
IL really know very little about their
private life" he confessed. we let each
other alone, as Il rule"
"lou don't know them. and they don't
know you," said the deacon "Now,
merely for the sake of the argument
we'll suppose that you wanted to be
burglar or highwayman. Would any
one of them know anything about it?"
Not till they read about it in the news
papers" said Ridley frankly.
''IIow does the man who lives right in
the next room to you spend his even
ings?" qucricd the deacon blandly.
Heaven Knows exclaimed the young
man. 81 haven't seen him in six
months"
''Such a thing couldn't happen here"
said BraStow. Here every one lives in
the sight of his ncighbors, and his repu-
tation is founded upon every act of his
from boyhood up"
''But | also have reputation" re-
sponded Ridley warmly. Enquire of my
business acquaintauces on the street and
see if you can hear of any act of mine
that has not been strictly honorable"
"Therc is young man who keeps a
store across the street." said the deacon.
His name is Sargent, Samuel Sargcnt's
son. | have an idea that he is rather
sweet on Angel and may come some day
to see me, as you have done. Suppose |
knew no more about him than what the
clerk in his store secs between $ o'clock
In the morning and 6 in the evening
Would feel sure that he was a proper
husband for Angcla?"
Ridley felt the pcrspiration starting
out on his forehead. He realized that he
was engaged in struggle where defeat
was not to he 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 inhabitantSY'
"They might marry among them
selves" said the deacon gently. Il don't
mean that to be offensive, but you and l
on such subject as this must say what
we think"
''As for myself" said Ridley, 81 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 | 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
are important. You are very rich man,
and You could do 4 good deal for Angela.
If this were Il matter of business, there
would be only onr answer | 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
inCS, 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.
II don't know" said the deacon slow
ly. "Nou might come down here and
live year or two among u.s.
I'D like nothing BETTER" said Ridley,
"but my business interests
'Thcre il is again" the deacon inter
ruptcd. "ln New York it is all business.
You will live in one 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 week ut their
own tircSidcS? You have no homes there
unless among the poor"
"My parents are happily married.
and
And spend from two to four months
year under their own roof. Where are
they enjoying this day of thanks, if it's
a fair qucStionT'
"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 bust
ness
II don't think Angela would like that
kind of Thanksgiving day. that way of
living" said the deacon
Let us he clear upon one point" de
clarcd the young man-'whatever An
gela likes is Il law of nature, so far as
am concerned. She shall make such Il
home as plcasrs her And as for my
business, let me tell you that affairs in
Wall street will be in condition to
make Black Friday pleasant recollcc-
tion when they take my thoughts away
from her.
''Well," said the deacon douhtfully as
he strokCd his Scanty gray beard, that
sounds encouraging. After this little
talk don't feel quite the same as did
In fact for your sake | rather hope that
Angela will change her mind"
'Will - change - her - mind" echoed
Ridley in Il tome of horror. "You don't
mean to say she has already dccidcd?'
The deacon seemed about to answer
with some real disclosure. Then he
checked the impulse and said:
"IOu'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 ot
l..