Omaha daily bee., 1900-11-25

guidance, with Lanes own son for chum and
companion. Belleview had been left to the
care of the overseer and his family, to
Harkless and q host of triners. With
graver face. yet with hopeful spirit. Nor
man Holt had begun his work. The dreams
OF squiredom and luxurious ease In which
the fond old father had INDUCED we're all
dispelled. In sad confidence he had con-
fessed to his sons that more than half his
means had been swept away and that their
allowances would be stinted. Henry was
for turning over all to Norman. Even his
small interest In the business would be
enough for him. but Norman would not
listen. They took rooms and board to-
gether In a quiet section OF the city, and,
keeping their own counsel as to the es-
tate. went sturdily to work
But with his twenty first birthday close
at hand Norman Holt was facing more
than one most serious problem. When first
he looked into the face Of Daisy Lane he
had every reason to believe that from his
mothers fortune alone there would come to
him enough to make him Independent His
father had so assured him when he insisted
upon his withdrawal from West Point. II
was then most assiduousiy watched and
cared for by Judge Mcintyre, as II had
been for many long year. Now as the
winter began to wane Norman realized that
the fortune was gone and that his fathers
wealth was mainly in negroes, horses, dogs
and Belleview, property that consumed far
more than It produced. 1t fell upon him
with almost brutal force that besides an
honored name he would have next to moth
Ing to offer the girl he loved. and love
Daisy Lane he knew he did with all the
strength Of his heart, now torn with Jealous
N M ~
fered through his partners ill-starred ven
lures, and 1t had made him silent, reserved,
even at times morose. There was something
more than mere mismansg cement behind II
all. was Henry's reluctant admission. Nc
Intyre, In the height of fame and fortune
had taken Lane by the hand, lifted him
from the bottom rung OF the ladder we'll
up toward the top, and through the latter's
fall had only been a few fest II counted
more with Lane against his broken bene-
factor than the contemplation OF the bcne-
nts he had received at his hands. Indeed,
II Lane had not long begun to think that II
was his own brains and energy that made
the reputation OF the Arm, he was q rank
exception to the rule. He loved money. He
had known what It was to be poor and
struggling. He liked the doctors lads and
liked them well. but that was before II
dawned upon him that the frm must open
Its doors to both, and not as clients or
contributors, He was good husband, a
iond father. square" man and citizen, a
genial friend and companion, too, when
there was no especial tax on that friend
ship, but Lane was one Of the last men In
his line Of business whom those keen stu
dents OF human nature. the would be bor-
rowers. would think to ask for aid He
had watched with Jealous dread the grow
ing ascendency over his senior OF that up
start Malloy. He only vaguely dreamed how
deeply Mcintyre was enmeshed. He never
dreamed at all that Holts fortune could
be involved and. disliking young MalIoy,
even while impressed and Influenced by his
fathers wealth, he had seen with secret
approval the dawn OF Norman Hollis regard
Tor his precious child, had shown him espe-
cial confidence and cordiality during the few
brief days at Belleview, and now felt II
necessary TO be correspondingly distant II
not, indeed, could at times and even repel.
liant. This was the more difficult because
Theodore, his frstborn, had become frankly
enthusiastic about Norman and was
forever talking OF him at table
and would have had him perpetually
IN the house, where indeed Norman's incli-
nations would perpetually have led him, but
unerringly the latter noted the fathers
change OF manner, and although hurt and
almost Indignant. he was an interpretive,
sensitive fellow for his years, given to self
examination and 10 studying both sides OF a
question. He knew'that having as yet Of
fered nothing and having now nothing 20
offer he should not stand between her and
those who might come laden with love and
gifts. Moreover, II was next to impossible
to go there In the evening and not find NAL