New-York tribune., 1906-09-23

fht child. the value OF tuc estate bclIE t'll-
siderablv over a million sterling
The requisite investigation of the sources of
his wealth cleared up a good deal that was
previously obscure. Undoubtedly, he had
been helped in his early career. that OF a musl-
elan. bv Mrs. Strauss widow Of California
merchant She educated him. and, yielding
to a foolish passion offered % make hlm her
heir If he married her and assumed the name
of Strauss. she having already attained some
notorietv IN Continental circles under that
designation. She was a UfIi,I1F tJiIgtHItTs, m
the sense that she would seldom reside more
than a few weeks in any one place. while she
positively detested both England and Amerca.
He was kind % her and she was devoted 20
him. but unlimited wealth clOyed when 10
involved constant obedience 20 her whlms
Yet rather than lose him altogether she
agreed 10 his occasional visits % England
during the season. and when hunting was
toward. Eager 10 shake of the thraldOm OF
the Strauss regime, ne then invariably passed
under his real name of van Hupteldt-
Hence when ne fell in love with Cfwendolinc.
and resolved 10 make her his in defiance of AL
social law he was Obliged 10 tell her that he
was also Johann Strauss. and under an Obhga-
ton 70 the Mrs. Strauss who had adopted him.
GwendolIne'S diary. which, with the certln-
Gates. found in bureau, became clear
enough when annotated with these facts Van
pers the letter accompanying the VIII merely
setting forth his wishes and announcing that
he desired 20 marry Violet as an act of repara-
tiOn 10 the memory OF her sister This had
become a mania with him. The unhappy
man thought that, this way, he could win
forgiveness.
And then the bright world became Valley
of Despair for David Harcourt. During many
bitter hour he lamented van Hupteldt S
death Alive he was "a rival o. be fought and
conquered, dead. he had interposed that IN
surmountable barrier of great wealth between
Violet and one who was sick for love ot her
Poor David He sought refuge IN work. and
found his way UP some rungS OF the literary
| ladder, but he could neither forget his Violet
nor follow her To- Dale Manor. the inaccessible,
fenced IN now by a wall of GOLD
Once, he was m a hanson on the way 20
EuSton. telling himself he was going o. Rigs
worth u give the gamekeeper that promised
| licking; but he stopped the cab and returned,
/ saving: Why am / trying % fool myselts
/ That Is not the David of my acquaintance.
| so he went back calling IN at florist and
| buying a huge bowlful of violets. thinking To
reach Nirvdna by their scent, and thereby
| humbugTng himself SO egregOusly that he
was IN deSpOndent mood when he sat down t.
/ It lonely tea IN his fiat. He had not seen or
| heayd of Violet IN three long months. not since
/ he took Mr.. Noridunt and her % the tram
| for WarwickShire and, walking aftcrward with
| Dibbin from the station. he learned the fateful
news of her intolerable inheritance.
| He had promised To write. but he had not
written. What was he % say, That he still
| loved her although She was rich. Perhaps he
| dreamed that she would write 20 him But
no silence was the steady scheme of things
/ and work fourteen hours a ddV work as the
solatium. until his bronzrd face began 90 take
ON the student east. and he wondered n he
/ had ever caught and saddled a bronco, OF slept
/ under the stars. CDR was IL all a dream,
| Wanting some bread and being alone. the
char woman having believed his statement
/ that he would be away until next midday. he
went INTO the kitchen IL was now high sum
mer. hot with the stable-Eke heat of London.
/ and the kitchen window was widc open. Some
impulse prompted him % look out and exam
me the service lift by way of which van Hup-
/ feldt had twice quilted the flat once when
| driven 10y mad fear of being held guilty of
Cfwendolines death. and again o. save his
/ life from Dlvid'S revolver
Given "a steady brain and some little ath-