The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-04-29
By CHARLES KLEIN.

a recluse. The advent of Shirley. there
| fore, into her quiet and uneventful ex-
! istence was as welcome as sunshine
| when it breaks through the clouds aft
| er days Of gloom. Quite a friendship
! 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, 50 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 confded these little domes-
tic troubles to Shirley.
! Jefferson" she said, "is very angry
He is determined not to marry the
girl, and when he and his father do
meet there'll be another scene"
'fWhat objection has your son to
Miss Roberts?" inquired Shirley inno-
! 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
~ 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
was another visit from Mrs. Ryder,
| Ghe did not look up, but cried out pleas
antly:
"Come inv'
John Ryder entered. he smiled cor
! daily and, as If apologiMng for the
Intrusion, said amiably:
ri Thought I:eszun up to see how you
were getting a3ong:''
His coming was so unexpected 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 it the more exasper-
ated she was to think she should be
there a guest under his roof, and it
was only with the greatest difficulty
that she remained civil
! "What is the moral Of your life?"
she demanded bluntly.
! He was quick to note the contemptu-
Gus tone in her voice, and he gave her
keen, searching look as if 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-
lists, celebrated authors, great invent
ors. What have you done7'
The question appeared to stagger
him. The audacity Of any one putting
such ACQUISITION to a man in his own
house was incredible. he squared his
jaws, and his clinched fist descended
heavily on the table.
| what have l done?' 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 am achievement to relate
to future generations?"
Shirley gave a little shrug Of her
shoulders.
Future generations will take no in
terest in you or your smillions,' she
said calmly. "Odr- civilization will
have made such progress by that4time
that people Will merely wonder why
we, in our day.: tolerated men Of your
class SO long, Now tits different. The
world is smoney. mad. You are per
son of, Importance in the eyes Of the
unthinkang multitude, but it. only, en-
vies YOU your fortune; 1T does not ad-
mire you personally. When you die,
people will count your millions, not
| your geod, deeds"
He laughed cynically and drew up a
chair near her desk. As a general
thing, John Ryder never wasted words
on women. He:had,but a poor opinion
of their OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES it be-
meath the dignity offany%$ man to enter
into serious argument with, aswoman.
In fact, 1t was seldom heTcondescend-
ed to argue withtanytone:"f he gave Or
ders and talkedEEito People. >heshad no
patlencetto be talked to. Yetahe .konud
himself listening, with interest ito this
young woman who expressed Sherself
so frankly. It >was;a$d decided tnevelty