Gilpin observer., 1910-08-04

JlcIc lOO ne lOuIu lib SSCIeldIy Will
sheaf of letters wanting replies. es-
pecially a lengthy communication
from Carboy, Passavant & Cozine be-
seeching his personal attention to
sundry matters connected with his
vast properties. Despite hts lavish ex
penditure, he had not disbursed half
his income; consequently there was
always a surplus of cash on hand de-
manding investment. Mr.. Passavant
had evidently seen his name among
the arrivals and lost no time in try
ing to get at him.
Tell old Passavant to go to the
devil!" exclaimed Stennis irritably.
"Or-no-Pll go there myself mean,
I'll run downtown in the morning.
Write and tell him so, please. l want
to be alone this evening"
Thus left to himself, he extin-
guished the lights and went to the
balconied open window commanding
view of the Riverside drive and
the silver Hudson. Here he sat smo-
king and taking stock" of himself un-
til the night was far spent.
| The inventory was not very satis-
factory one from any point of view.
| Where were his former roseate
dreams of serene and supreme hap
piness which were to become con-
crete realities with the possession of
boundless wealth? True, he had
achieved many things which none but
spoiled darling of fortune could
| have accomplished. He had quaffed
the cup of pleasure to the dregs; he
had seen and tasted-merely tasted
gilded vice; there his innate clean
ness of nature and clarity of mind
had kept him from any great damage
to health or reputation. But that
sort of thing was only negative virtue,
and he knew it.
If he had wrought no serious harm
| to others or to himself, he had. of an
equal surety. accomplished no good.
There must be something in life for
him beyond mere spending. eating.
drinking, and wearing fine clothes.
But where and how to find it? Not
among the fashionable and frivolous
folk with whom he had cast his lot
hitherto. nor among women of the
type of Clara Passavant-though she
was not by any means the worst
product of her guild. Indeed, come
to think of it, she was the best of
the bunch" Her influence. on the
whole. had made for good; looking
backward, he could see how much he
really owed her; she had nodded him
and made man of him in those early
days of Ais new-found riches, when,
without her aid, or in the hands of a
woman of commoner clay, he might
have gone to perdition.
Yes. he had every reason to think
kindly Of Clara Passavant. He might
have married her-he could now il
he chose to say the word. Perhaps
that would be the best thing that
could happen to him! Eunice had
cast him off-unjustly. of course
weakly ready, in his chagrin, to blame
| someone else for his own short-sight-
edness.
He had said that he did not love
Clara, which was perfectly true. Was
there in the world any such thing as
love-real, pure, disinterested love?
Once upon a time he had thought So
but now?
Too late he discerned that in let
ting Eunice Trevecca slip through his
fingers he had lost what might have
proved sheet-anchor for happiness.
With her by his side as guide. coun-
selor. friend. and wife, what might
he not have accomplished! Was it
too late? 1t looked that way.
Nevertheless. the next night found
him in Greenwich village again. This
time old John Trevecca was at home.
and the evening passed in recounting
his adventures and in going over
some choice photographs he had
gathered together for Eunice. But
not for an instant did she permit her.
self to be alone with him; and al
though he called again and again, on
many successive days and nights. he
never succeeded in seeing her tete-a-
tete.
How was he to establish himself
anew in her good graces. how win
back the footing he had spurned. II
she never gave him the chance? And
so. for want of anything better. and
to stihe regret. he took up the gay
round and routine of social diversion
and fashionable fribble where he had
left them off two years before.
One other thing he did. however.
On a beautiful site. near what is now
called Cathedral Heights. he began
the erection of a dwelling which
would embody all his old ideals OF
what such place should be. enriched
with the newer ideas picked up dur
ing his travels.
And to Clara Passavant and her
friends 1t began to seem as If, after
ALL she might. at some day not far
distant. become the mistress OF this
worthy addition to the millionaire
houses of New York.