Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-12-19

return FROM the hospitals to dress At
half past their dinner was cold aud
he had not come II WAS : O'Clock be
fore his familiar footstep echoed
through the hail
He ate hasty meat. dressed In
thirty minutes and III 9 O'clock led
Harriet 10 the side entrance of Rivens
great house ON the drive
He was in tine spirits He reioiced
again that he had made up his mind
TO live the life Of faith and good fcl.
lowship with all men. including the
little swarthy master Of the palace he
was about to enter And So with
light heart he stepped through the
door which the soft white hand OF
death opened How could he GuowY
AS Stuart dressed for Mans party he
brooded over his new relation to his
old sweetheart With jncrCaSiuS pleas.
ure. Never had RivenS offer seemed
more generous and wonderful His
pulse beat with Quickeued stroke as
he felt the new sense of power with
which he would look ont on the world
as a possible millionaire
He gazed over the old square WITH
feeling OF regret at the thought OF
leaving it. lie had grown to love the
place in the past years VI loneliness.
but was deciding too soon. perhaps
There were some features OF Rivrns
business he must understand more
clearly before he could give up ms
freedom and devote himself body and
soul to the task OF money making as
his associate
He Went across the square to take
a cab at the Breyoort His mood was
buoyant. He was looking ont ON life
once more through rose tinted glasses
At Eighth street he met nj right angles
the swarmug thousands hurryius
across town from their work heavy
looking meE who tramped with tired
step, striking the pavemeuts duly witt
their nailed shoes, tired. anxious WON
en-, frowzy headed little girls. sad eyed
boys, half awake all hurrying, the
fear of want and the horror of charity
in their silent faces And yet the sight
touched no responsive chord OF sym
pathy in Stuart's heart as 1t often mad
AS he drove uptown the avenue flash
ed with swift, silent automobiles and
blooded horses These uptown crowds
through whose rushing streams ne
passed We're all wen dressed and car.
ried bundles OF candy. flowers and
toys
Stuart felt the contagious enthusi-
asm Of thousands OF prosperous men
and women whose lives at the moment
flowed about and enveloped his own.
What was il that made the difference
between the squaIid atmosphere below
Fourth street and the glowing flash
ing, radiant iewpled world uptown?
Money 1t meant purple and fine
linen. dclicacies of food and drink
puIsing machines that could make
a mile n minute the mountain and
the sea, freedom from care, fear
drudgery and slavery
After all In this modern passion for
money might there not be something
deeper than mere greed. perhaps the
regenerating power of the spirit press
ing man upward? Certainly be could
see only the brig side of it tonight.
AS his cab swung into riverside
drive from Seventy second street the
sight which greeted him was one OF
startling splendor Rivens' yacht lay
at anchor in the river Just in front Of
his house. She was festooned with
electric lights from the water line to
the top of her towering steel masts.
The Illumination of the exterior OF
the Bivens house was remarkable
The stone and iron fence surround
ing the block which had been built at
a cost of a hundred thousand dollars
was literally ablaze with lights The
house was illnmined from its founda
tons to the top of each towering
minaret with ruby coIored lights.
Stuart passed up the grand stairs
through n row Of gorgeous dunkies
and greeted his hostess
Nan grasped his hand with a smile
of JOY
you are to lead me in to dinner
Jim, at the stroke of ="
'I'Il not forget" Stuart answered.
his face flushing with surprise ut the
unexpected honor.
Gal wishes to see you at once. You
will find him in the library"
Bivens met him at the door.
AN. there YOU are he cried cor
daily. Come back downstairs with
me. want you to see some people
as they come in tonight I've tot
of funny things to tell you about
them"
The house was crowded with an
army Of servants. attendants. must
clans, singers. entertainers and re
pOrters
The doctor had been recognized by
one Of the buffers whom he had be
friendcd on his arrival from the Old
World The grateful fellow had gone
out Of the way to make him at home.
and in his enthusiasm bad put an al
cove which opened off the ball room
L. t.,fBa a a.,