Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-10-10
hNTHO is the distinguished look
wv ing man who came in then

Inc person 10 whom Tue quSSllOn
was addressed glanced across the re-
ception hall and replied;
Robert Gordon. He is the fellow
about whom the newspapers are say
ing so much-the lobbyist from New
York who has succeeded in getting the
Consolidated Telephone ordinances
through the council. Handsome, isn't
hep"
Remarkably so. Still, on closer
view his expression is not entirely
pleasant, and l should say that he
bears marks of dissipation-not gross
ly, but there is something that sug-
gests wine, women and song at unholy
hours-or am mistaken? Is that
pallor natural?"
A woman standing near bent keen
glance at the man as his name was
mentioned, and the slightest sugges-
ton of a flush appeared on her cheeks.
1t was the first time she had laid eyes
on him since the night she had Tilted
him for Frederick Markham. That was
10 years ago. They were both young
about 1S-and had been sweethearts
from childhood. He was still in COL
lege, brilliant boy and career pre-
dicted for him. But the career was
long ways off and Gordon had little
other than expectations.
Frederick Markham was rich and
well-connected and ten years her
senior. He offered her all the things
so dear to the girl just budding into So
ciety, and she had accepted him and
thrown Gordon over. She had not an
ticipated such a scene, however, as fol-
lowed when she told him that she was
to marry Markham. He accused her
bitterly of heartlessnesS and of delib-
erately leading him on for the sake of
amusement. He swore that she had
ruined his life and for the wreck that
would follow she was responsible by
every law of God and of man. He told
her that he would never again believe
in the sincerity of human creature.
He would live, he declared, solely to
crafty his senses, and he wished her
much Joy in the sale she had made OF
herself. 1t was the speech of a hot
headed, high-spirited, disappointed
boy. 1t all came up before her this
night many years later with startling
vividness as she looked at him across
the reception hall.
And it had eventuated much as he
had predicted. He had finished his col
lege course and studied law, while
plunging into extreme dissipations.
His great natural abilities had carried
him through and he had settled in New
York, where, instead of devoting him
self to his profession, he had used his
brilliant qualities to forward all sorts
of questionable schemes. He had be-
come a very successful lobbyist.
He had never visited the home city
since his interview with the woman
until this time, when he had come to
force through the city council the most
audacious and notorious measure that
had ever been attempted in the city.
And he had succeeded and it was whis-
pered that he had secured a small for
tune for his work.
She was surprised at the great
change In the man, and still more sur
prised at the unchanged resemblance
to the ingenious enthusiastic youth
she had known. He looked scarcely
older, excepting for the prematurely
gray hair, although the face had lost
its roundnesS and the cheeks were
white with pallor.
While all this flashed through her
mind Robert Gordon and Mr.. Campbell
were surrounded by a merry party of
ladies and gentlemen, to whom the
former was being presented. When
Mrs. Markham glanced toward the
party, Gordon was being presented to
her daughter, tall, handsome, viva
cious girl of 10. The mother noted the
look of startled recognition in his eyes
(the girl was perfect prototype of her
mother at the same age), and noted
also the slight flush in his pale cheek.
The mask of indifference had vanished
from his face and he entered at once
into an animated conversation with
the girl. An expression Of anxiety
came into the face of Mrs. Markham
and the shadow of great apprehen-
sion crossed her heart. Then she
Strengthened herself haughtily and
muttered to herself:
"What an idea. must be going into
second childhood"
During the entire evening Gordon
monopolized Miss Markham's atten-
ton, and at the close handed her to
the carriage-all to the considerable
discontinue of her mother.
Robert Gordon did not return at once
to New York as he had announced pre-
viously. The weeks faded into months
and still he occupied the handsomest
suite at the Royal and hung over the
dainty hand of the young heiress of
the Markham fortune. Mrs. Markham
fretted and stewed, but her expostula-
tons fell on unheeding ears. The girl
felt the strong attraction toward the
HduOSOAnC man VI INC NOllQ ever lSlt
by daughters toward the men who
have been the unsuccessful suitors for
their mothers hands; and as for Mark
ham, he was charmed by the dominant
personality of the New Yorker.
The mothers apprehensions were
not unfounded, however, and one day
the father awoke to the situation
and there was a most serious talk
between Clare's parents. 1t was fully
evident that the girl was madly i'll
love with the brilliant lobbyist, and
when the matter was talked over
Frederick Markham saw at once that
it. was not proper match for the
daughter. Then there was a serious
interview with the girl, who was told
plainly the character of the man,
She resented it passionately, and the
result was that a few days later
Robert Gordon formally proposed to
Markham for the hand of his daugh-
ter. In reply to the indignant re-
fusal of the father Gordon coolly in
/ 10 L. o1- 1xv hnI ha