Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-12-20


,rowned with success and honor. the
uppermost thought In his mind was of
| Helen Ashton. Il was not only upper
most. but all.pervading. Sweet as
were the anticipatlons Of his parents
pride and joy over his accomplish
ments. even these were secondary 10
the welcome he expected to receive
from his boyhood sweetheart.
To be sure. no formal engagement
existed between them. but II had been
tacitly understood when he went forth
into the worlt that when he attained
sufficient measure OF success he
would return and claim her for bis
own bride.
The struggle had been fierce and
consuming Success had not descend
ed upon him like a gentle dove. II
never does In real life. He had
wrested Il from an unwilling world
by desperate energy. selfabnegating
persistence. tireless persistence: With
no backing OF money or influence the
young engineer had found II very hard
10 ge, foothold in the slippery path
to achievement
II had seemed al first that he never
would be given an opportunity 20
show what he could do. But with
iron determination he had forced him.
self TO be- thorough with the incense
quential things he was set to do and
to wait patiently the opportunity he
fesolutely believed would come 10
him Nor was a moment wasted.
Every leisure hour was devoted TO
perfecting himself In all the branches
OF his profession.
So when the opportunity came he
was thoroughly prepared and able to
avail himself OF H. His performances
had startled the engineering world
and his resources and mastery OF prin.
ciples surprised the older engineers.
Then. OF course. opportunities crowded
upon him and he rose rapidly. until
at last he saw an assured career be-
fore him and felt his feet upon the
rocks OF safety
Thon he turned back 10 the old
town and the friends OF his boyhood.
Then did he feel that he could go
back to Helen and lay his heart and
his achievements at her feet. Then
did he permit himself TO go back and
hear the old father say. well done"
and TO see the light OF pride beam In
his mothers eyes
Now. all this had taken much time.
Ten years had gone by since he left,
a lad OF 20. to do battle with the
world. He had not taken time from
his strenuous work to so much as
visit the old home. Indeed. he had no !
desire TO do so until he could take |
with him the laurel wreath. He had |
with Helen, but not |
very regularly. and had kept out OF
his letters all the tender sentiment he /
'elt. because he felt that she must |
come to him only as the crown OF sue
ress. Nus did he feel justified In pay. |
ing court to her until he had proven
himself worthy. Now he fastened TO |
her with the consciousness OF his de- |
serts and eager for his bliss.
But the absorbed young man mad |
forgotten that the years had brought |
heir changes and their experiences |
10 other people as we'll as TO him. |
What. then. was his surprise and dis
nay to learn before he had fairly ar.
rived at the home town the universal |
gossip that Helen Ashton was about
10 become the bride of Herbert Net
man. the heir TO the Nieman millions.
Az FIRST he was full OF unreasoning |
niger and rushed OF post haste TO
accuse her OF hckleness and reproach
Ter for broken faith. But she recelv.
ID him with such evident cordially |
md pleasure and her clear eyes look.