Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1916-10-19
and stammering an assurance that h,

up so suddenly. OF course, the COM
pany ought to put a tunnel under the
track here, and I've wrote to 'em
several times about it, but bless you,
they don't pay no attention. An me
a stakeholder, tool"
John saw at once that he would do
well to express astonshment at this
last somewhat remarkable statement.
Yes, sir" went on the old man. ME
an Marthy's saved and scraped all
our lives SOS we could buy stock in
our railroad. Now we got ten shares
all paid for, too. Thank We,
kindly" because John had taken his
arm, seeing that he was limping. II
help me inter the house and have your
young man wind up the gates I'll be
much obleeged."
| On reaching the cottage John saw
through the open door an elderly wom-
an seated near lamp. She was sew
ing and evidently had not the least
idea Of anything untoward having oc-
Cured outside. The appearance of
her husband, supported by stranger,
alarmed her greatly, and though she
Gained herself sufficiently to search at
once for arnica and a bandage, it was
clear that any evil which befell either
of these two people affected the other
in even greater measure.
! While John was helping the old
man into chair and rolling up u
trOuser leg to lay bare the bruise, he
ascertained that the two had been mar
ried fifty years.
They had actually grown alike in
voice and features. They might have
been brother and sister rather than
husband and wife. The same tastes,
the same simple interests, the COM
plete devotion of each for the other,
had compressed their minds and bodies
within the same mold. John was al
most terrified to think what the out
come would have been had the fine old
gateman been killed. To keep him.
self from dwelling on possibility now
happily vanished he reverted to the
more pleasing topic of frugality
which enabled people in such humble
circumstances to become stockholders
in an important railway. This appealed
to both of them. The gateman said,
with an air of real pride:
eyes, sir, them stocks are cinched
to Marthy and me. Old man Howell
votes our stock for us. an it pays a
good seven per cent. faint much, but
enough to keep us from starvin' when
I amt able to work no longer"
John entered the car. AS he whirled
away he lifted his hat to "Marthy,"
who waved farewell from the door.
More shaken than he cared to admit,
he was glad of the peace and serenity
Of Mr.. Branton's sitting room. He
told of the accident, and then be-
thought himself of letter in his
pocket.
"By the way" he said, this reached
me just before leaving home"
And he handed the engraved card
to his host. 1t read:
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Howell request
the honor of your company at n dance to
be given at their home. No. q Magnolia
avenue. on Tuesday evening, May 90 on
the occasion OF the coming of age of their
daughter Marjorie Dancing ten to two.
r. s. v. p.
II wonder If this Mr.. Howell is presi-
dent of the C. o. & p. railway?" he
commented.
Branton smiled and handed back the
card.
'"The same man." he said. 'You are
getting to be swell now, John.
Recognition by Mrs. Howell is the To-
cal hallmark of society. That invita-
ton Is the direct outcome Of the para
graph in this mornings newspaper"
''Then I'll turn it down." said John,
determinedly.
mo, don't do that" came the kind
ly admonition. you'll find more scope
for observation among the newly rich
than in the circles either above or be-
meath them. Among real aristocrats
the principle of noblesse oblige is po-
tent for good. The virtues and vices
Of the poor are simple. Things be-
come complex only when poverty gains
wealth."
So the tenth marquis Of Casteton
went to the Howells' reception and,
although he sent in his name as plain
Mr.. John Burton, loud-volced man.
servant previously instructed toward
that end announced him by his title.
II nm determined to meet you, Lord
Castleton," said Mrs. Howell with out
stretched hand and Il charming smile.
1T was too bad of your lordship to
come and live among us incognlto, es-
pecially as had the pleasure Of max
ing the acquaintance Of the dowager
marchioness three years ago ut Monte
Carlo"
All voices were stilled and necks
were craned SO that not syllable of
Johns answer might be missed. He
was not In the least degree nervous.
ITO tell the truth, Mrs. Howell" he
said, II know very little about either
nv title or nv relatives Somehow or