Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-10-07
CHAPTER I.


IL John Gilbert's only child has pos.
sessed the capacity of Newton or the
aspirations of a Napoleon, the surgeon
would nevertheless have shut him up
10 compound tincture of rhubarb and
essence of peppermint. Luckily for the
boy, he was only commonplace lad,
with good-looking. rosy face. clear
gray eyes, which stared at you frankly
and n thick stubble of brown hair, part
cd in the middle and waving from the
roots. lie was tall and muscular, n
good runner, tolerably skillful with
pair Of boxing gloves, and a decent shot.
He was very good: and. above all. he
was very good looking. No one had ever
disputed this fact: George Gilbert was
cmincntly good looking. No one had
ever gone 80 far rs to call him hand
some: no one had ever presumed to des-
ignate him 'plain.' lie had those home.
ly. healthy good looks which the prac-
teal mind Involuntary associates with
tenant farming in small way.
George Gilbert took his life as he
found 1t. and had no wish to make 1t
better. To him Graybridge was all the
world. He had been In the city. and
had felt provncials sense Of surprised
delight In the thronged streets, the
clnmor and the hustle: but he had very
soon discovered that the great metropolis
wac a dirty and a disreputable place AZ
compared with Graybridge. where you
might have taken your dinner comfort.
ably off any door step. so far as the
matter Of cleanliness Is concerned. The
young man was more than satisfied with
his life; he was pleased with 1t. He
was pleased to think that he was to be
his fathers partner, and was to live and
marry. and have children, and die ut
last In the familiar rooms In which he
had been born. His nature was very
adhesive, and he loved the things that
he had long known. because they were
old and familiar to him. rather than
for any merit or beauty In the things
themselves.
The Goth Of July was a very great day
for George Gilbert, and indeed for the
town Of Graybridge generally: for on
that day an excursion train left Ware
ham for the city, conveying such rowing
spirits as cared to pay q weeks visit
10 the great metropolis upon very mod.
crate terms. George had weeks holt
day, which he was to spend with an old
school fellow who had turned author.
The surgeon left Graybridge at 8 o'clock
upon that bright summer morning, In
company with Miss Burdock and her sis.
ter Sophronia, who were going on n
visit to m aristocratic aunt, and who
had been confided TO Georges care dur
ing the journey.
Wareham il only n hundred and TWEEN.
~ miles from the city, and the excursion
train, after stopping at every station
on the line, had arrived Mt the ter
s1inus at half past 2 o'clock. 1t was
between 3 and 4 now, and the sun was
shining upon the river. and the flags
were hot under Mr.. Gilbert's feet. lie
was very warm himself. and almost worn
out, when he found at last the name he
Was looking for, painted very high up
In white letters, upon a black door post
Fourth Floor: Mr.. Andrew Morgan
and Mr.. Sigismund Smith,"
1t was In the most obscure corner OF
the dingiest court that George Gilber,
found this name. He climbed very
dirty staircase, humping tho end Of hi,
portmantenu upon every stair as he
went up, until he came to n landing
midway between the third and fourth
stories; here he was obliged to stop fol
sheer want of breath, for he had beer
Juggling the portmanteau about with hin
throughout his wanderings. and goot
many people had been startled by the as
pcct Of well dressed young man carry
ing his own luggage, and staring at tn,
names of the different rows of houses.
A pale.faced young man, with {
smudge Of ink upon the end of his nose
and very dirty wristbands, opened tn,
door.
''Sam!'
GEORGE" cried the two young men
simultaneously, and then began to shak,
hands with effusiOn.
my dear old George"'
my dear old SAM But you cal
yourself Sigismund nowT'
Eyes; Sigismund Smith. 1t sound
well, doesn't It? II a mans evil destin,
makes him Smith, tho least he can d,
IL to take 1t out In his Christian name
No Smith with a grain Of spirit woul,
ever consent to DO q Samuel But come
dear old boy, and put your portmantca,
down; knock those papers off that chat
there, by the window. Don't be fright
ened of making 'em In muddle; the.
can't be In q worse muddle than the.
are now. II you don't mind Just anus
Ing yourself for half an hour or Sc
while finish this chapter of the "Smug
gler's Bride shall be able to strik
work, and do whatever you like; but tn
printers boy IL coming back In half q,
hour for the end Of the chapter"
II won't speak a word" George said
respectfully. The young man with tn
smudgy nose was an author. and Georg
Gilbert had an awful sense Of the sol
emnity Of his friends vocation. "Writ
away, my dear Sam; won't interrup
you"
He drew his chair close to the one
window and looked down into the cour
below, where the paint was slowly bills
tering In the July sun.
CHAPTER II.
There was very little to look at in tn
court below the window, so George eli
bert fell to watching his friend, who's
rapid pen scratched along the paper 4
q GREATNESS way, which indicated
dashing style of literature, rather tina