Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1900-01-19

Don't talk nonsense, Nan" he con-
tinued br0oking no interruption "Do
you think I can allow myself to be
made the laughing stock Of the town.
Why, the fellow hasn't a cent in the
world He's a regular fortune hunter
IA spendthrlft and Of questionable
morals. tell you the thing is not to
be thought Of It's preposterous and
entirely out of the question, and Ill
stop lido you understand,-Ill stop
Ill rll-I'll--"
"Thomasi" "Thomasii"
When the servant appeared he was
sent, forthwith. to the Club, bearing a
message from his master for Mr.. Rich-
ard Dana, requesting an interview at
once.
An invitation to attend levee OF
the Prince of Wales could not have
caused Dick greater surprise and yet
you would not have known, from his
manner, that 1t was anything more
than an invitation to a dinner. He
leisurely finished a game of pool, win
ming It, of course, and Just as leisurely
passed up and into the great, white
pillared mansion, prepared for trouble
and curious to know Just what form
it was going to take.
When Dick stepped into the library
he was received In a manner which
rather nonplussed him, and from
which he very mistakenly took heart.
The stormy anger and sharp tongue Of
the older man had, apparently, been
overcome in some way, and in their
place, little courtesy and voice
less harsh, was great relief. A man
of experience would have quickly de-
tected the danger signal in the smooth
manner of the financier and promoter,
but not Dick He had had very little
experience with promoters.
81 have taken the liberty to send for
you tonight, Mr. Dana, because I want
to talk with yod on a subject which
ought to interest you very much. 1t
is a thing which has been very much
on my mind since our last-our last
well. confess, rather unpleasant meet
ing"
Dick looked intently at the older
man, who was carelessly toying with
a pair Of eyeglasses, and remained si-
lent.
'It is a subject on which, very like
ly, / have no business to intrude, and
yet, it continually suggests itself to
me after-well, after what has passed
between us, and let me say now,--
now that l have had time to consider
everything, that in all your relations
with my family, you have conducted
yourself most honorably and gentle
manly"
Dick was beginning to feel a little
uncomfortable and nervOusly pulled at
his watch chain, but the older man
was quick to continue.
What / want to talk to you about is
yourself and your future"
u.
there was an interval Of silence. Dick
was trying to figure out just what had
happened or was about to happen The
hope that the father was going to with
draw his objections to his suit no soon
er occurred to him than 1t was dis
missed. Dick knew him too well to
believe that he would change his mind
in that respect.
After a pause. adroitiy drawn out
to allow of the desired impression, the
financier continued.
Nov, Richard, to get right down 70
the subject, 1 want to make you an
offer. You have always had an eye
for architecture and | am convinced
that with careful study of the subject
you can make a success of it. / am
told that the suggestions you made
when they were building the Parish
House we're most valuable and that led
me to think the matter over--you see
/ have taken greater interest in you
than you thought-and | have evolved
this proposition which | want you to
consider: | will furnish you with
funds to the amount of six thousand
dollars provided you will go 10 Paris
and Rome and devote yourself faith
fully to the study Of architecture for
two years. Upon your return / will
probably be able to give you sufficient
work to enable you to pay me back the
money advanced, and l am convinced
that with your brains and ability you
can return to this country and be in
reality-well architect of your own for
tune. Now, what do you think of it?"
Dick was thinking very hard. On
its face it was a magnificent PROPOSE
tion, and just such plan of which he
had often dreamed but there was
closely associated with that dream the
recollection of a girls face What
would Grace say? and was this, after
all, just a scheme to get rid of him?
Mr.. Dixon was the first to break the
silence; by saying, just as though it
was a small matter which had for the
moment skipped his memory
And, by-the-bye, Richard, of course
that absurd engagement with Grace
must be terminated. Grace is only a
school girl, you know, and has been
reared in luxury and all that OF
course you understand how impossible
II would be for you to support her. l
don't really believe there is any neces-
sity to bring up that subject now, ex-
cept that / would like to have it under
stood. Women are queer, you know,
and Grace has large ideas of loyalty.
and love. and all that nonsense, per-
fectly ridiculous, l know, but you un-
derstand how it is with them"
Dick was standing now. His face
was just a little flushed and there was
a great brightness in his eyes. He
was amazed at his own perfect self
control and his manner was taken for
eagerness by a pair of crafty eyes
which peeped over gold trimmed spec
tacles just as they had, on many other
occasions, when the golden bait had
been put out When the younger man
spoke, there was a perceptible tremb-
ling of his voice, but his manner was
decisive and to the point
Il think you are right about the en-
gagement," he said, lit should have
been ended before this. ! think | un-
derstand you, however, but to make
matters palmer, If you will allow me,
l will put them in writing"
Dick sat down at the deck and after
writing few moments submitted the
following;
For. and in consideration OF, the
sum of six thousand dollars, paid 10 me
this day by Arthur Dixon, Esq, to be
spent in studying architecture in Eu-
rope, hereby agree to put an end for
ever to the matrimonial engagement