The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-10-03
A Chase for
Millions ~
BY GISELLE D'UNGER


4 HE editorial rooms OF the DAILY
Pencilings presented a scene of
activity Men of brains and energy
contributed their best efforts TO gain
the favor of the public, and were amp
~ rewarded by the encomiums passed
upon the broad platform established
some 20 years. Vigorous and concise
were the summaries of volumes OF sta
tistics, reducing them to condensa-
ton that practically benefited the
the reader.
Two young men were holding con-
YerSation in a remote corner where
the desks were not so thickly placed
One was tall and of serious manner,
while the other was typical Bohe-
milan, careless, happy-go-luclly, art
istic, clever and a dare devil as to ad-
venture in assignments. He was dis
GUESSING the latest sensation, the re-
ported engagement of a prominent SC
cial woman to a titled grandee.
BLAKE, all women are conquered by
the glitter of gold. It's a case of if
yo' amt got no money, you needn't
come round Grace Ward knows
which side her breads buttered on"
he remarked in contemptuous tone
''You are all wrong. Johnson" re
turned Blake, wincing under the 9th
er's careless words "Miss Ward was
not dazzled by the glitter of gold. OPP
portunity is like a diamond in {he
rough; it is spurned by man in its
crude state, but covered when it illum-
mates the ieweled gates of Happiness
and Content in the land of Successful
Attainment Miss Ward appreciates
opportunity, and, furthermore. the no.
bleman has intellectually and man
Good to recommend him"
''Where did Miss Ward live before
the Fairbanks took her up?" queried
johnson.
"She came from Kings Kettle, near
Ladybank, Fifeshire, Scotland, when
quite young-but the time flies, John
son, and I must finish this was the
reply of Blake.
"All right, Ned, I must be going
too. That last edition of yesterday
lacked romance: l am going out to
find one-in the sums"
Frank Johnson nodded to the older
man, buttoned his ulster against the
winter blasts and stepped off, whist
ling softly the latest popular air,
Zone man hit iii that quarter once
I believe-accounts for the precise
knowledge of her former home. Well!
she's a beauty and Lord Alfred will
have no cause to sigh over good
figure-head for his household. That's
hardly fair to the lady-but the way
the dear Four Hundred tighten their
grasp upon a poverty-stricken noble
man with a bedimmed title reminds
me of nothing more than the LAGOON
1 declare, young, innocent girls are
trained, taught to this exchange of
their charming youth for the palsied
hand of age, and its attendant serpen-
tine coils of title, decayed ruin of
a chateau or castle. and they submit
so tenderly. 1t is beyond me, for these
proud, fearless American girls endure
fortunes known only to themselves"
Thus ran the thoughts of johnson
as he marched along he thoroughfare
but h; was no nearer TO solving the
mystery than before. Meanwhile Ned
Blake was not SO mindful of copy"
Is he had intimated to Johnson. Mem
DRY had reminded him of the DAYS
when the letters Of Grace Ward had
flown to him like a flock of tiny blue
birds breathing love and affection and
a happy future. Now all was changed.
A misunderstanding, coldness. silence.
the advent of Lord Alfred Bruce, i'm
portunities of friends and-the en-
gagement
johnson is bright, breezy fellow"
reflected Blake, as he leaned his weary
head against the chair, land as sharp
as a steel trap. He would make an
excellent correspondent of an explor-
ing expedition, as he enjoys adventure
I'll speak to Henderson about him.
He is too contemptuous Of the follies
and foibes of humanity to sue
coed here. He spoils a good story
by having a sympathetic or antagon-
istic chord relative to it. BY Jove! |
must get out of here and have some
air and quiet"
Blake had been working at terrible
pace for months and he was even now
straining every nerve to accomplish
more than was expected of him,
through the feverish restless striving
from thoughts of himself. Work was
the panacea. What mattered it if he
did lie awake night after night con-
scious of gradual loss of strength for
the days labor, if at the close of the
conflict for sleep he fell into a com
atose state, neither awake nor sleep
ing, wherein a delicious, restful lam
guor predominated, granting him float
ing visions of the woman he loved.
Upon his brow he felt the gentle
touch of her cool fingers; he heard her
murmur words of pity and tenderness,
in low, sweet tones, and for a few mo-
ments his soul seemed to leave the
body and float with hers, as did Fran
cesca and Paola, through space.
1t was worth the hard grind of the
wearisome day to welcome night, the
old struggle and once more this de-
Hicious and dreamy languor Surely
Paradise could confer no more ex-
S1nIsite sensation than was granted
him in thiS bOnr of he a 81 Il ,lo,,.,