Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1912-09-27
By Melville Davisson Post
Copyright by Edward ]. clode

CpnGR VI
# in this life than to escape from the
nsstilIe of Civilization" and dine on
~ bologna and a cake of chocolate
~ the pines of Gevaudan, Where
na' Icons an open house." The av-
w dweller in New York, who could
i@ %5Iv locate Gevaudan with an atlas,
al I think, be found skeptically dis
ting He will cite, rather, the
'omfortable state of one who takes
- stoaming dinner at a good hosiery.
~ the table be set snugly by a win
W. Let the night be dark and rainy,
y onp warm and hungry look out at
\. snlashing street, the bedrabbled
aSsors the huddled cabmen turning
iboir plistening backs to the wind. 1t
! like sitting comfortably in Abra.
bom's bosom with a good view of
Dives!
IN such a night of April, I had the
Iorror table at a. window in the Ores
son looking out in the dripping ave-
mo q good dinner set over a white
plotb a bottle cooling in a tub of ice,
cigar awaiting me on the servants
raw q hunger like a wood-chopper's
md a certainty of exemption from the
Ligor of the elements.
had arrived happily at my coffee
with its thimble of brandy, when a
corrant came to say that a carriage
was waiting for me at the door. / re-
pled that l had ordered no carriage,
and began to cut the end Of my cigar.
The man went away, but almost in
stantly returned, saying that some one
In a carriage wished to see me at
once. l went to the door. and the
porter took me under his umbrella to
the carriage. l had NJ idea who de-
manded thus peremptorily to e me.
and my surprise was not greatly less
ened when Randolph Mason's voice
smoke to me out of the darkness of the
carriage, bidding me accompany him.
/ returned to the hotel, got my coat
and hat and sat down in the carriage
beside him, wondering what could be
bis mission on this uncomfortable
might. 1t must be an unusual, high
|ly important matter to take him up
town in this chilling rain, for 1t was
rare that Randolph Mason would
leave his house to see any man, no
matter of what Importance. His view
IOf men was that attributed academical-
by to the law--an equality ideally ex-
act; if ones affairs presented a suit
able problem, the individual in it was
factor to be estimated and dealt
with, but otherwise not to be consid-
cred. This voyaging in the night then
meant first that the person involved
could not go to Mason. 1t might be
some man behind a lock, some inno-
cent person involved in another'S
~yrongdoing who had been suddenly
seized and must be helped back to
his freedom. or else it IA a woman.
In the meantime the carriage contin-
(ued uptown. Randolph Mason was 81
lently smoking a cigar, lying back in
his corner Of the seat, and | followed
his example. 1t thus happened 1 took
no notice of u route. However, aft
er perhaps an hour, the carriage
stopped and l observed that we were
under the porte-cochere OF one of the
new palaces on Riverside Drive.
The door was thrown open and we
stepped down into the presence Of a
NFeried footman, who led us into the
mouse and removed our coats, and then
look US up a fight of great stairs. On
'ae nrst landing We passed two nur-
ses IN their white caps and aprons.
A moment later we were ushered into
4 sillng-room off a bedchamber. Be-
sue a table a man sat propped up in
Sa invalid chair. He was a huge bulk
u a man. rather oYer six feet, / should
'aihK' with a tremendous, muscular
caest' thin gray hair and a heavy,
puny face. Nature had built him for
Stssntlc labors. Energy, strength. de-
1St'e action sat in his big muscles;
Ot thsy We're dying now, like the
Iaa' Amere loose, cevitalized, pudgy
"ulA remained of what was once a
splendid animal. The eye alone
TeAed living. A brilliant, determined
~OWh eye, burning steady and clear
aAe d ships light. The last, unfailing
ss''snt Of an indomitable spirit max
house.
Tue man nodded to Randolph Ma
~ for a moment he regarded me
r." d curious glance, then he nodded
-. to me. The servant closed
uoor, leaving the three of us alone,
~. we sat down opposite the table be-
~, We sick mar With the light
hi TUG lamp full in his face, / knew
now, from his Autograph on va
D CS pond issues. He was Richard
NuouS' President of the Life Assur-
sh company of North America. His
~ Hy physical condition oppressed
an le was so evidently intended for
sv;s Ie N'aIlties of life and he was SO
MoseHiy dying. looked at Randolph
ro,,st lie sat scrutinizing the in
slan. Iace with the sharp, steady
orol;.s Vi one taking stock of what
les yet remained vital. The help
hoeon mSn awoke no sentiment in the
vi III A0nI2y-N