The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-06-02

assured, my friend, that the prospect
of spending the night with Mr.. Burling-
ton does not scare me at all. | don't
think he could move if he tried. And
in my case, I'm stronger than he"
'Yes," he answered, quietly, scanning
me from head to heel, you are power.
full young man; but in a fight the vic
tory does not always rest with the
strongest. wish, sir, you could trust
me. My friendship is worth having
Give me your word, Mr.. Livingston, that
you will not smirch my character. and
make me your friend for life"
The oily smoothness of his tones dis
gusted me, and answered, roughly:
"Your friendship, Demetrius, has nc
value in my eyes. And tell you frank.
ly that one night will make no breach
standing here / shall tell Mr.. Gerard the
truth the very first thing tomorrow
morning"
$50 be it," he answered, sullenly.
watched him as he strobe to the boat
a stately figure, but a personality that
aroused in me nothing but distrust and
aversion. He united the painter, pushed
off from the shore, pulled across the
narrow channel, made fast the boat to
the post, and entered the house. Then
swung upon my heel and walked
rapidly away.
Mark Gerard, found, had not left the
dining-room. He had sat there smok
ing cigar after cigar, and the air was
heavy with the fumes of his strong per
fectos. The contrast between the salt
breeze from the ocean and the overpow-
ering atmosphere of that close dining
room was no more salient, perhaps, than
the difference between the Hugo Living
ston of a week ago and the tired, distrac
ed individual of to-day. | accepted a
cigar, in self-defense, and chair.
'Well. my friend, you've seen Deme.
trius?"
"Yes."
Hes not quite the coward you
thought, eh? told you-didn't I?-
that l was coward myself, and can
recognize the symptoms in others
Demetrius does not know the meaning
of the word fear"
THAT remains to be proved"
Just so. Will you give him the
chance, and take my people to Europe!
Place as many miles between this devil
and Mark as you can. | should think
you'd jump at such an opportunity"
"You are very generous, SIR"
"Of course am. like you, Hugo. !
recognize in you the qualities which
lack myself-strength, courage, intlexi.
bility. So it's settled, eh?"
I'm at your service, Mr.. Gerard"
"And | can use you to the best of ad.
vantage. ! like to use men. And pay
them handsomely. There is Demetrius.
'Ile must have grown rich in your
service; and yet
"Speak out. And yet-what?"
''He has brains" said, land he might
have aspired to be something more than
your mere servant"
''He aspired, once, to be my partner
Lucky for him that chose another
man."
waited, and the explanation came
between puffs of smoke:
81 educated Demetrius to assist me in
my business. l was not 30 when
found him running barefoot in New
York; but | recognized at once in him
those qualities and faculties which
properly trained, bring a man to the
front. But Demetrius proved too smart
much to my disappointment, and had
tn show him hiS llaoa Mo ~
Black Gulch then; and was engaged in
the most extensive mining operations
Demetrius was my right bower. but he
continually overstepped instructions.
He thought he knew it all-eh? Well
l had to have partner; man whom
could talk to and control; conserva.
tive man, who would furnish the motive
power, the running here and there, and
let me do the planning in peace. Such
fellow was right to my hand-poor
Ferdinand Perkins. 1t must have been
heavy disappointment to Demetrius,
but he stood it like Trojan. Then came
the murder of Perkins, and what fol-
lowed. Demetrius himself applied for
his present post, which he has kept. As
SOo say hC a 1iSA man. Lie litio LII
kick coming"
l glanced at my watch and rose.
81 sit with Burlington tonight, Mr.
Gerard"
"Yes, yes" He WINGED at the mans
name. 81 don't envy you. Well, I'll
go to bed. Tomorrow l shall spend
with Mark"
His softened tones as he finished the
sentence provoked the eXclamation:
you're devoted father, Mr.. Gerard ,
He sighed.
81 live again, Hugo, in the person OF
my child. I've had hard life-plenty
of shadow, lad, and little sunshine. I've
peeped into most things and found them
hollow. Even my love for Mark, us you
know, has been my greatest JOY and my
greatest misery. Good night"
l pitied him profoundly as I walked
upstairs. Community of suffering, ac-
cording to George Eliot, is the root OF
pity; and. smarting beneath the knowl'
edge that Nancy could never be mine
realizing that life without her would
prove saltless and sterile, could put
myself in the place of Mark Gerard and
say with him, all is vanity.
What n paradox the man wasl What
n bundle of contrastl He possessed in
many material respects mind of the
largest scope-and also of the smallest
"a mind at once of the finest and
coarsest texture. His financial combin-
ations had gained him an international
reputation. He was known as one oi