The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-09-04
By CHARLES KLEIN.

say, when the girt came direct from
her the money was never returned on
the plea that 1t was tainted" She
shared her husbands dislike for enter
tanning and led practically the life Of
a recluse. The advent OF Shirley, there
fore, into her quiet and uneventful ex-
lstence was as welcome as sunshine
when II breaks through the clouds aft
er days OF gloom. Quite a friendship
sprang up between the two women,
and when tired OF writing Shirley
would go into Mrs. Ryder's room and
chat until the financier's wife began to
look forward to these little impromptu
visits, so much she enjoyed them.
Nothing more had been said concern
ing Jefferson and Miss Roberts. The
young man bad not yet seen his father,
but his mother knew he was only wait
Ing an opportunity to demand an expla-
nation Of the engagement announce
ments. Her husband, on the other
hand, desired the match more than
ever, owing to the continued importu-
mites OF Senator Roberts. AS usual
Mrs Ryder confded these little domes-
tic troubles to Shirley.
Jefferson" she said, els very angry.
he is determined not to marry the
girl, and when he and his father do
meet there'u be another scene"
"What objection has your son to
Miss RObertsT' inquired Shirley limo
gently.
ooh, the usual reason" sighed the
mother land I've no doubt he knows
best. He's In love with another girl
Miss Rossmore."
"Oh, yes" answered Shirley simply.
''Mr. Ryder spoke Of her"
Mrs. Ryder was silent, and present
ly she left the girl alone with her
work.
The next afternoon Shirley was in
her room busy writing when there
came a tap at her door Thinking 1t
was another visit from Mrs. Ryder,
she did not look up, but cried out pleas
antly:
"Come inT
John Ryder entered. He smiled cor
daily and, as If apologizing for the
J intrusion, said amiably:
81 thought I'd run up to see how you
were getting along"
His coming was so unexpected that
for a moment Shirley was startled, but
she quickly regaiEed her composure
| and asked him to take a seat. E,e
seemed pleased to find her making such
good progress, and he stopped to an
swer number of questions she put to
him. Shirley tried to be cordial, but
when she looked we'll at him and noted
the keen, hawk-like eyes, the cruel,
vindictive lines about the mouth, the
square set, relentless jaw-Wall street
had gone wrong with the Colossus that
day, and he was still wearing his war
paint-she recalled the wrong this man
had done her father and she felt how
bitterly she hated him. The more her
mind dwelt upon it the more exasper-
ated she was to think she should be
there, a guest under his roof. and 1t
was only with the greatest difficulty
that she remained civil.
What Is the moral OF your lifeT
she demanded bIuntly.
He was quick to note the contemptu-
Gus tone i'm her voice, and he gave her
a keen. searching look as If he were
trying to read her thoughts and fathom
the reason for her very evident hostil-
lty toward him.
What do you mean" he asked.
81 mean what can you show as your
life work? Most men whose lives are
big enough to call for biographies have
done something useful They have
been famous statesmen, eminent scien-
lists, celebrated authors, great Invent
ors. What have you doneT
The question appeared to stagger
him. The audacity of any one putting
such a question to a man In his ow
house was incredible. He squared his
Jaws, and his clinched fist descended
heavily on the table.
What have 1 doneT' he cried. II
have built up the greatest fortune ever
accumulated by one man. My fabu-
lous wealth has caused my name to
spread to the four corners Of the earth.
Is that not an achievement to relate
to future generationsT
Shirley gave a little shrug OF her
shoulders.
Future generations will take no in
terest In you or your Millions" she
said calmly. "Our civilization Will
have made such progress by that time
that people will merely wonder why
we, in our day, tolerated men Of your
class 80 long. Now 1t is different. The
--arid ia nnnav mad You ara n Dar-
Occasional headache, belching, bad