Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-07-29
M|SREPR[SENTED
BY
HOWARD FIELDING
Copyright, 1893, by Charles w. Hooke

osS~O~]~|SS~S S~S|s0S)SOSOeOe
TIME name l. John Lynde (as the
gentleman always writes IT. has
a regal look. 1t suggests the old
proclamations signed IL, the
king" And, indeed, history is Uttered
with kings who had not half his pow
er or sphere of influence. He is the
head of gigantic enterprises.
Edward Shoreham was not beggar,
but he felt himself to be failure He
was nearing the age Of forty. He had
made money. though not very much,
and had lost it. At the date of this
narrative he held minor executive po-
sition In corporation 80 conservative
that promotion therein was very slow.
This corporation was closely allied with
some of the big Lynde companies, but
Shoreham felt that his own work was
of microscopic size In the broad field
of the great mans vision. Therefore
when he walked one morning to find a
personal communication from |. John
Lynde waiting for him he was In
clined to believe that he had not walked
at all; that the incident belonged with
the visions Of the night.
The note was brief: please call at
my Office tomorrow "wednesday morn
Ing at o'clock"
At Q o'clock Shoreham presented him
self at the potentates Office with an
uplifted heart, but at fifteen minutes
past 8 he was the most disappointed,
perplexed and tormented man between
the two oceans.
The ways Of l. John are sudden as a
hawks. Everybody knows that. He
| selects men to serve him or dismisses
the unworthy with Napoleonic fash
of decision. Therefore Shoreham was
amazed beyond measure to discover
that l. John had not made up his mind
81 have an unknown friend as well
as an unknown enemy" Shoreham
said to himself as he left the Office
Somebody has spoken well Of me
some one has spoken ill Of me. must
thank the first and defeat the other"
Upon the matter Of thanks he wai
not greatly In doubt. Though Shore
ham had never met Lynde before ht
had the great good fortune to be &C
quainted with the mighty potentate's
niece Miss Alice Lynde. This young
lady dwelt with her widowed mother
In style Of great simplicity. Shore
ham entertained for her a gloomy, Sc
cret despairing affection, and 1t wal
sweet for him to fancy that she hat
brought this good fortune within his
reach. He called In the evening to ex
press his gratitude.
In the parlor of Mrs. Lynde's house
he was distressed to find a gaunt, veal
kneed, silly looking and not altogether
reputable young man named Luciu'
Trevor, a distant cousin of thu
Lyndes.
Shoreham had met Trevor severa
times and had paid no particular at
tention to him. Upon this occasion
however, it seemed that the fellow
looked at him in a peculiar manner
Trevor soon took his leave.
As soon as Shoreham was alone witt
Alice he offered her his thanks for tn
event of the day, but she would no
receive them.
II have never spoken Of you to IN!
uncle except once, and then he askes
me a few questions about you. Why
1t was last evening" exclaimed tn
girl. II had forgotten"
"Did he mention WilmOt, Shorehan
& Co. ?" inquired Shoreham.
This was the firm whose brief bu
eventful career In Galveston, Tex, hat
cost the Junior partner all his money.
HE did, replied Alice. And wa
very glad that you had told me al