The Holly chieftain., 1903-01-09
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By SEWARD W. HOPKINS,
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CHATTER I


CHAPTER !.
Hello. Dick. old Gloomy face! I'll
bet cigarette you haven't laughed
since breakfast"
What breakfast! 1 haven't seen
smile on his face in = week"
The scene was the Lotus club. New
York city. and I, Richard Wilbertson.
just entering, was the old G1oomy-face
alluded to. The facetious person who
SO alluded to my impassive face was
Dlkins, the dude, and youthful mem.
Der OF our coterie. The second speak
er was Major Simmons, who, besides
keing \ hrst.rate companion. . man
1Of middle age or more. was Park Com
missioner Of New York.
There was. unknown to the major.
and Dilkins. good reason for the ab.'
sence OF smiles. was desperately in
love with Edith Broughton. and Edith
was In love with me. Sd far 80 good.
But in an evil hour rival came upon
the scene, and though he did not. sue
coed in winning Edith's heart, he did
succeed In 80 far winning the father
and the mother Of Edith as to prevail
upon them to espouse his cause; and
In the effort to compel Edith to ac-
cept him, they had absolutely forbid
den me the entrance to their house,
and had no restricted all the move
ments Of Edith that all Intercourse be-
tween US was impossible.
The cause Of this was plain enough.
While l had comfortable income,
my rival. Ralph aGraviscourt, was
millionaire, lived in magnificent style,
drove splendid horses, spent money
lavishly, and Notwithstanding, his
forty odd years, was the greatest
catch of the season In New York.
The conversation turned on Grayis-
court, and the major became reminis-
cent.
He was called the lucky uncle,'"
said the major whose years gave him
deep knowledge of the past. "He
had an elder brother, Charles Gravis-
court. who was successful stock
operator, and who amassed . fortune
Of over a million dollars. Charles had
q wife and one child. His wife died
when the child was only six months
old. One year afteYward Charles
died, leaving the child, q girl, sole
heiress Of his fortune, and Ralph
Graviscourt. next Of kin, his. executor
and guardian Of the child. Six months
after Charles died. his daughter died.
and Graviscourt inherited the fortune.
That is why he was called the lucky.
uncle"
When the major had finished, sat
moodily engaged with my thoughts,
which were unpleasant enough.
'.Pshaw:" said he. Don't get blue.
Let's go to the circus tonight. What
do you say" s
After little chaff about the pro.
gram, we both accepted the majors
invitation. and a few hours later we
found ourselves At Madison Square
Garden. eIbowing our way with the
rest of the throng In through the en-.
trance and into comfortable seats pro-
vided by the major.
7 As one circus Is like another, 30 the
gaudily uniformed band was like every
other circus band, and blared out cir.
Gus music until the throng was
seated.
Then came the clown. and after him
. herd Of trained elephants. We
watched them Attentively, and were
rather aorry when the great, clumsy,
sagacious brutes moved out Of the
Z ring.
st! Here's sight! !" said Dilkins,
digging ne In the ribs.
1t was sight. indeed!
The next occupant of the ring was
MRubikeck, the Lion-T4mer!
He WAs not particularly tall-not
more - than myself, but Of such mas
sive mssculsrity that l gaxed At him
with unAisgVissd admiration. I had,
in my csllegs days. been something
Of an athlete myself, and had an
honest admiration for the strength and
iron-like tmbf Of the man before us.
He was clad only in tights. md
through them The swelling muscles Of
his thighs seemed about to burst
About his waist he wore q bejeweied
girdle. the bangles Of which seemed
to be Ds1A and silver; coin.
From his waist up he wore nothing
His skia was white and through It
his ircn nuscIes rolled and swelled
like those u some giaut oe the past,
whose deeds. as written. now seem
grounaless legends. In which there
can be NO probability oI truth.
. ~,