Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-29
CHAPTER TX.
After Several Months.

CHAPTER TX.
After Several Months.
The months in America that followed
were to Mr.. Strong, according to his fell
low-men and neighbors, both fruitful and
propitious Old ventures expanded: new
ones prospered. self-contained man. he
was no less taciturn than formerly: Of q
solitary disposition, he confined himself to
well-settled routine: His offlce-his club
his house-these were the places he fire.
quented.
The last-named specific resort, the home
bought just before his marriage had be-
come an unending topic of conversation to
the nelghbors. 1t was so aggressive1y large:
SO unreasonably silent; SO unreservedly iso-
lated and retiring, even In that square
where peace and quiet reigned! Like its
master, 1t seemed to stand uncompromis-
ingiy apart; and gossip albeit somewhat
supdued IN that chosen corner of the busy
city, was. nevertheless, rife with conjecture
and reasons.
But unconscious of the interest he ex-
cited In the breasts of others. Richard
strong continued to go his own way. Sum-
mer and autumn found him daily at his
desk during and after Wall street hours,
and winter brought no change in the stress
OF his exertions So the seasons passed;
Christmas came and went, and the year
grew old and waned. The new year. too
promised but a repetition of the labors of
the old, for on that day commonly regarded
as period for rest and mutual felicita-
lions Tim Taplin, repairing to the office,
found his employer already there and at
his desk.
The chief clerk somewhat ruefully greeted
Mr.. Strong with the compliments of the
day. Excuse me, SIR, he then ventured,
but you're not going to work today?'
The other did not answer. and Mr.. Tap
lin, exercising a privilege that came from
long service, went on: IF you don't mind
M -iYypr I<y,bt IL 49,, -
good it does one to take day off occa-
sionally."
Then why are you here?" said Mr.
Strong.
.WeIl, r'-apologetically-" to tell YOU
the truth, 1 rather suspected you might
come down. and thought if you did you
would. need some one
But his employer had already turned to
his desk; indeed. was absorbed in q dia-
gram before him. the drawings of one of
those simple inventions which, like the air
brake, or the car-coupler, made possible
the growth and spread of great railroad
Strorg did not apply himself to the
study Of the device with that interest it's
merits seemed to warrant. and, that in die
tating his letters, he paused several times
to correct himself Finally he pushed back
his chair
The street is too quiet for good work.
Tim! We might as well STOP.
After the clerk had taken his departure
AeiNiaio kotlciiS dlSO dTOSe. foTndpS truly
the silence was oppressive and he missed
the activity with which he was usually sur
rounded At any rate, the environment be-
came distasteful to him; his imagnat ton
refused TO respond to the appeal Of patents.
labor-savfng devices or even the considera-
ton or sundry prospective corpora tons.
Work! work! work! What did it all profit
man? A few more railroads.; a few more
mlnes-What did they matter to him? The
Whole scheme of strife in that moment OF
depression seemed only a child's game
Money.-power-nen but fettered them
selves to golden thrones; then yatnIy
clanked their chains.
Impati ently he checked this train of fancy
and, walking to the window looked ont 4
white fog overhung the city; embraced the
little isle with Its obscuring mantle. At in
tervais he could hear the sound of fog
horns affair." and-so still was the frosty air
almost fancied he could detect the beat
ing and putting of boats
, VIII be difficult for steamers to enter
the harbor today" he thought, as he turned
TO the crate and stirred the Goals
In fancy spectral ships continued TO pass
ana repass. He must have fallen into a
haif doZe when shutting of feet in the
passage aroused him: the door was pushed
open and a thin. small face looked in
Paper. sir? New Years address. L saw
you in the window"
Mr strong surveyed the mite; took the
paper and handed him a coin The lad
shuff1ed out: the footsteps ceased
The man at the fire laid aside the coIored
souvenir; spread the newspaper on his knee.
When the steamship arrivals caught his
glance. AIS
Among the passengers-on the Madrid
Mrs. EDWIN RoSsiter-Mrs. Elinor Rossiter
Strong A'o""i'er
He ceased to read During the sever
months intervening since he had left paris
die NAG heard from her but once; letter
VI oniy rev lines. sad and reserved an
nounclng the sudden but peaceful death ~
her father. He recalled its contents now.
MS own answer; that subsequent long ne
a a,ou ~, oa silence; Only indirectly had he
ever learned or her; he had not even known
she was coming home Again he eIancad
at the newspaper; looked at hts watch.
then rising. drew on his coat and gloves
and left the building s'o'e'
Upon The street the air w,s oo,a
trating; the fog so thick the fa m pue :
church steeple lost itself somewhere habind
the milky cloud. Now no sound hroka
;ne stsiih ness except the monotonous crunch
ing Oh ms boots in the snow but as he
MADE his way uptown a Jingle of sleigh
peiis grew ever nearer and louder All the
oeaux and dandies were out. "makinr
calls with joyous and Democratic freedom
ehe countenances OF some of them as thew
swung into view bearing Enthusiastically the
ruplcund signs of the hour Even at his
Gi!up-usually a staid and quiet place
Richard Strong found evidences OF the emf
curean aspect of the day in a great nunch
bowl, garlanded with flowers and a ger
erous repast Of tempting variety spread
upon the long tables in Mace Of the arS+ :
while sober literature
But he did not long remain there
Going so soon? called out some one
of course!" said another. Didn't his
wife come home yesterday?'
once more on the street, however he
hesitated. A long, purposeIess day stared
him in the face. How should he spend 4?
His horses? Yes; he might take them
out But where? Since that night of the
Eclipse dance. the road, his faverite drive
had lost its attractions. He had told HIM
self this was merely an unrea sonable preju-
dice-a road was only road to be driven
on! But in spite of all reasoning, he con-
tinued to experience a distinct disinclina-
ton for the popular thoroughfare.
He felt 1t today, stronger than ever What
then? A sense of impatience stirred him as
he turned into the square and approached
his home; his welI-ordered mind reyolted
against vacillation and uncertainty Nor
was the appearance of his house calculated
to allay that feeling On every hand lights
shone from the parlors of other dwellings,
one mansion alone was dark, forbidding
With shutters closed in many windows It
appeared almost tenantless.
Once Richard Strong had sat In the little
park before it and wondered how 1t would
look when she would be mistress there;
when her presence would lend life and light
to the great place. The old memory in
tr,uIed itself Their the flowers had hloomed