The searchlight., 1910-09-02

pected to have everything in order
Here too he found his secretary with
sheaf Of letters wanting replies. e.
pecially a lengthy communication
from Carboy. Passavant & Cozine be
seeching his personal attention to
sundry matters connected with his
vast properties. Despite his lavish ex.
penditure. he had not disbursed half
his income; consequently there was
always 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 60 to the
devili" exclaimed S,ennis irritably.
"Or-no-fll go there myself mean,
I'll run downtown in the morning.
Write and tell him so. please. want
to be alone this evening"
Thus left to himself. he extin.
guished the lights and went to the
balconied open window commanding
a 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 salts.
factory one from any point OF view.
Where were his former roseats
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 QuafYed
the cup of pleasure to the dregs; he
mad seen and tasted-merely tasted
giided 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
II 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 1t. 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 his new-found riches. when,
without her aid. or In the hands of q
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 II
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 lover |
Once upon time he had thought So
but now?
Too late he discerned that in let
ting Eunice Treyecca slip through his
fingers he had lost what might have
proved sheet-anchor for happiness.
With her by his side az guide, coun-
selor. friend. and wife. what might
he not have accomplished, Was IL
too late? II 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
bis 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
Il
back the footing he had spurneA, II
she never gave him the chance! And
10. for want of anything better, and
% stife regret. he took up the gay
'ound and routine OF social diversion
md fashionable fribble where he had
eft them on two years before.
One other thing he did. however.
IN beautiful site. near what Is now
,alled Cathedral Heights. he began
he erection of a dwelling which
would embody all his old ideals OF
shat such place should be. enriched
With the newer ideas picked up dur.
ng his travels.
And to Clara Passayant and her
riends II began to seem as II, after
II, she might. at some day not far
istant. become the mistress of this
iorthy addition to the millionaire
ouses of New York
CrO BE CONTINUED,