Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-01-15

general resurrection in the last day and
tic appearing of the Lord jesus Christ
John Gordun. with his sister and
their aunt, Mrs. Hester Wayland, RAJ
fUs GordOns only sister, stood on the
other side Of the grave. Mary was
heavily dressed in mourning aud chung
e. John Gnrdon's arm SobbinG. Fal-
mouth offered brief prayer, pro-
nuuncod the bencdicton and then came
proupd TO the three and shook hands
silently. Tho crowd of acQuaintances
.lat had known the distinguished tinan-
ccv dcpal ted discussing as they went
th" future of the business involved by
the death, and its relation to the son.
who WAS Il stranger to most of tie men
= 81 The city. except as they had read Of
lis eccentric career at Hope House.
strange how 4 man Of Gordon's oX-
net methods can neglect such n thing.
] remombrr now there was Judge
Lewis OF the circuit court neglected"
rtc.
Gordon isn't the first man to put off
aitendin" to Il matter of that sort
suppose the estate gees in absence Of
a Will to his SON. one of the visiting
friends OF the broker questioned.
"YoS, and the son is crank. I'm
told; been living in the slums for a
fad" The speaker got into his auto
mobile and he and his friends We're
soon speeding toward the city at the
rate Of thirty miles an hour Cor
Gnn's fad was a Stun. The brokers'
fadS and fads.
Il think | could give a guess at Cor
don's failure 10 make a WILL" quietly
remarked another financicr, who had
been present at the funeral.
Ills companion gave him Il question
ing look.
"lIe didn't have much of anything to
Will" was the answer.
FLOWS that:' The exclamation OK
pressed great surprise. "Gordon was
one Of the solid men of the city,
1T may he, But. mark my prophecy,
tho Old man lost bis cunning along to-
ward the last. Those who watched
him closest saw signs Of breaking
IlOWn in him more than year ago.
lie went too heavily into J.. and il.
stock, Conways deal last spring
turned out bad for Gordon. No one
knows how hard he was hit at the
time, hut-you watch Developments If
TIC son gots the house ana lots out Of
what's loft. he viii do we'll"
He was not
"lhe old man was strictly honorable
IN his relation to all trusts. All lie
lost WAS lis own, so far as that goes.
Rut am oluch mistaken if he did not
lose just about cyerything."
During :he week that followed Rufus
Gordon's affairs gradually became
common material for gossip on the
street. Ton days after the body Of
the wealthy banker had been put in
III" ground the business world knew
that, with the exception Of his home
and small annuity belonging TO his
daughter, the wealth Of Rufus Gordon
had vanished, disSipaicd in that kind
of speculation which borders on gam
bling so closely that the most conscion-
tlouS business mon cannot always de-
eide whore legitimate business ends
and the gamblers luck begins,
Down at Hope House Paul Falmouth.
who had come in 10 consult with Miss
Andrews about some work his people
had volunteered for her was talking
over John Gordou'S affairs when lie
came into the library. Miss Andrews
was called ont, and the two men were
left together. Since Barton's death
Gordon had felt drawn toward Fal-
mouth. There was something very
Wholesome and helpful about the man
when one came to know the real man
beneath the scholarly, refined, deeply
sensitive nature.
"Thcn Your fathers death win really
make little difference with your fu-
turc;"
VERY little if any" Gordon answered
Rraycly, MARY is going abroad for a
year with Aunt Hester, Poor Mary.
She is just about broken down with all
that has happened.'
Then you will keep on heroF'
eyes There is nothing else for me to
do. Fathers business passes into the
receivers hands. Practically all he
had, or all we supposed he had, is gone.
Aunt Hester will take Mary into he:
home when they return"
Falmouth was silent moment Then
he leaned over ana put a hand OF John
Cord0n's arm.
DO you know ! have had a great