Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-07-26


was probable that at the same time he
would make an effort to secure the let
ters. Meantime she must be patient.
/, Too much hurry might spoil every
thing.
So the days passed, Shirley devotlng
almost all her time to the history she
had undertaken. She saw nothing of
Ryder senior, but good deal of his
wife, to whom she soon became much
attached. She found her an amiable,
good natured woman, entirely free
from that offensive arrogance and pat
ronizing condescension which usually
mark the parvenu as distinct from
the thoroughbred. Mrs. Ryder had no
claims to distinguished lineage; on the
contrary, she was the daughter of a
country grocer when the then rising oil
man married her, and Of educational
advantages she had had little or none
1t was purely by accident that she was
the wife of the richest man In the
world, and, while she enjoyed the pres
tige her husbands prominence gave
her, she never allowed it to turn her
head. She gave away large sums for
charitable purposes and, strange to
say, when the gift 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
recluse The advent of Shirley, there
| fore, into her quiet and uneTentful ex-
istence was as welcome as sunshine
when it 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 had 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 confided these little domes-
tic troubles to Shirley.
Jefferson" she said, sis very angry.
He is determined not to marry the
girl. and when he and his father do
meet there'll be another scene"
What objection has your son to
Miss Roberts?" inquired Shirley limo
Gently
'Oh, 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 tap at her door. Thinking it
vas another visit from Mrs. Ryder,
she did not look up, but cried out pleas
antly:
''Come inv'
John Ryder entered. He smiled cor
daily and, as II apologiz!ng for the
Intrusion. said amiably:
II thought I'd run up to see how you
were getting along"
His coming was so unexpecteA that
for moment Shirley was startled, but
she quickly regained her composure
and asked him to take a seat. He
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 well 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 1t 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 IifeT'
she demanded bluntly.
He was quick to note the contemptu-
GUS tone in her voice, and he gave her
keen, searching look as II he were
trying to read her thoughts and fathom
the reason for her very evident hostil.
ity toward him.
what do you mean?" he asked.
II 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-
fists, celebrated authors, great invent
ors. What have you doneT'
The question appeared to stagger
him. The audacity of any one putting
such question to a man in his own
house was incredible. He squared his
jaws. and his clinched fst descended
heavily on the table.
What have 1 doner' he crisd. 'T
have built up the greatest fortune ever