Y .
)
tf .
.
- - . . . . , .
- ,
) --to The Chance.
- -
We CAn't return when all Is ended hero
To right the wrongs wo do , to mend
\ mistakes ;
Wo can't return to dry n slnglo tear
Or soothe one heart that for our folly
nches.
We may not carp , nt last , when nil Is
. . done ;
. * - 'Vo may not feel or have regret or Bee :
I The grave , indeed , may be the end , and
none
That die may know whae was or Is to
be.
But If It be not so , It from behind
The curtain that death guard wo may
look out ,
How shall It be with them who wake
to find
The marks of sins that shame them
strewn about ?
how shall it be with them that sell or
make
The things that brutalize or strangle
bride ?
1Iow shall It bo with them that for the
. sake -
. . Ot wrongful gains put all but greed
'I aside ?
Wo can't return to right the wrongs
we do ,
It , waiting yonder , wo may backward
glance ;
There' : : a chance that death ends all ,
. 'th true ,
. ' ioo-- nut can wo well afford to take the
. chance ? I
-So E. Kiser In Chicago Rccorll-eIIrnld.
: , /
IN THE REAL WORLD
By LAWRENCE HENRY
( Copyright. 1904 . b" Dally Story rub. Co. )
The next day was to be a momentous
_ day In the life of Harmon Carlton.
It was to bo New Year's da-a
particular New Year's day that he had
waited five long years to come. As
ho lay back on the soft cushions of
an easy chair In his cozy bachelor
, apartment , before tile blazing fire or ,
a cheery grate , he tried to subdue his
emotions , but with apparent ill success -
- . , , cess , It a spasmodic puffing at a strong
black cigar betokened an'thlng. Out-
side the wind howled and the grab !
( , , J light of a winter's day had faded into
- l darkness. The room wherein Harmon I
sat was lighted only by the erratic
fiiclterlngs of the burning coal which
sputtered and crackled : on the hlRrth. ;
A comfortable place it was on an uncomfortable -
comfortable night , for a chap with
comfortable thoughts , but what chap
could be comfortable with the dread-
ful anxiety , the awful doubt of the
results of a portentous event on the
morrow I
Rising aimlessly and with a discon-
!
s
t I
I '
i
- I !
-
. ' , \ ;
.
_ 4
. ; "What's going to become of me ? "
" i solate shrug the young man wandered
to the sideboard.
"Hang the old man , " he muttered
half aloud , "why couldn't he have done '
'
It like other people ! "
Seizing a decanter he brimmed a
glass with wine , tossed it off and sank i
back again on the cushions. The ;
warmth or the liquor seemed to soften
his emotions for he continued more
lightly.
"Well , anyway , ho was n good old
fellow , after all , and probably had a
right to do as lie pleased "
Then suddenly remembering some
thing , he burst out Yiolently. "Dllt ,
JDY God , I love her ! What's going to
i
- , -
r
become or me iC the thing doesn't
come out right tomorrow , "
With this ho completely relapsed
into motionless , despondent silence ,
broken only b- the merry spit and
crackle at the playful fire on the
hearth , and thus the night worn on
into the morning ot the new 'ear.
. . $ . .
Harmon Carlton might well have
been sleepless , the prey at doubt and
fears. I-lis was a peculiar case. Some-
thing over five years before , his uncle ,
Stephen Carlton died. At that time
Harmon was an orphan , havIng lost
his parents when he was fifteen and
it devolved upon the uncle to take
charge of him. At the time at his
unclo's death , Harmon was twenh'-
two , having been for seven years almost -
most the same as an adopted son of
the old man.
Stephen Carlton was a bachelor , and
though regarded as a trifle eccentric
had been one of the most successful
business men of the day. He amassed
a fortune , reputed to be a million or
more , In the iron trade. This enabled
him , of course , to give his nephew all
the advantages in the way of training ,
social ambitions and the like , and in
no instance was anything done nig-
gardlr. .
Harmon went through a preparatory
school , entered one or the swell east-
ern universities and finally finished
with as little education as the swag-
gerest man In the class. He returned
to his unclo's roof , prepared to take
on a life of case , as befitted his finish
and position as heir to the great
wealth of Stephen Carlton. The old
man had been so busy with his iron
that he had apparently given but
superficial attention to his nephew's
career up to this time and the latter
lead been home several months with-
out receiving more than the usual
pleasant "Good morning , " from his
uncle. One day , however , the old
man announced he wished , to have
a serious consultation with Harmon ,
the following morning.
That night Stephen Carlton died as I
a result oC a sudden attack of heart
trouble.
When the will was read four days
later there was great general surprise
for the public and overwhelming disappointment -
appointment for Harmon at tile con-
tents. Old Stephen seemed to have
left everything in the air , as it were.
The testament first provided a few
inconsequential bequests , then left an
annuity of $5,000 a year for five years
to his "beloved nephew , Harmon , " the
same to cease at the expiration of that
period. The balance , which meant
practically the whole of his vast es-
tate , was placed in the hands of trus-
tees to be delivered by them as pro-
vided in a sealed document placed in
the hands of his attorney , coincident
with the making of the wUl. It fur-
ther conditioned that the sealed docu-
ment should not be opened until New
Year's day , five years from the first
of January , succeeding the date of his
death. On that day , at 10 o'clock
in the morning , it was to be opened
and read In the presence of his
nephew , Harmon.
There was nothing to do as far as
Harmon was concerned. He swallowed -
ed his dIsappointment as a bitter
gulp , but decided to make the best of
It. Ho could do very well for five
years on $5,000 a year , or course not
cut a dash , but at the end of that
period it would be all right , for surely
It must be that bis late uncle's inten-
lions were to do the handsome thing
and he would receive the bulk or the
estate.
Ho proceeded to Ihe on this theory.
lIe had his attractive cozy bachelor's
apartments , occasional delectable lit-
tle bohemian dinners , was able to ap-
pear decently at functions-all these
things the $5,000 per took care oC very
nicely. But nevertheless , be realized
ho was subject to many handicaps.
One at the hardest was the way ho
was treated by ambitious mothers
with marriageable daughters , or ambitious -
tious marriageable daughters , who bad
no mothers , in the social set. The ele-
ment of doubt In his financial pros-
Ilects made him a quandary to them.
They tolerated , often encouraged him , I
-
I
but It was only up to n certain point.
When an amlahlo friendship with a
young lady threatened anything more
serious on his part there was a sadden -
den scampering of tiny feet , possibly
because of stern mamma's appear-
anco upon the scene , possibly because
of the maiden's own Intuitive sense of
practical thIngs.
Not that Harmon wasn't an attractive -
tivo chap , for ho was one oC the hand-
some young men about town , nor was
he stupid , either , as his small talk was
as clover as the best , but the thing
was , what did that sealed document
say that lay in the old law'er's vault.
Until this was known Harmon was
too much of 11. speculation. And so ,
decent , average well-meaning fellow
that ho waR , his lIfo grew into one
aimless suspense , spending his income
amid waiting-waiting for the Now
- .
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I
I
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,
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76-/- 1
"What ? " she gasped , excitedly.
Year's day to come that would malte
him really a factor in the set in
which ho lived , or cast him out alto-
gether.
This : waiting became more and more
intolerable , nothing else seemed to been
on his mind , until at a friend's house
one evening , he met a girl , 11. girl that
seemed to arouse another interest
than he had known before.
: Margaret Ba'ne was not exactly a
girl-sho was twen1y-three , and she
was different , so different , he thought
than the frivolous butterflies '
everywhere -
where about him. She was as pretty ,
too , as the butterflies , but there was
something more In the clear cut arch-
ed lips , the great , serious blue eyes
that the others had not got. She
seemed to tRIte a fancy to Harmon
at once , and he felt something strange
going on In his heart when she first
spoke to him.
As she said , sweetly : "Oh , yes ,
: Mr. Carlton , I know all about you , "
after his name was presented , be
was a trifle disconcerted , but snc-
ceeded in passing a delightful evening -
ing with her On his departure she
Invited him to call.
That night he slept little , he even
forgot the provisions of his uncle's
wHl. Two big , serious blue eyes hov-
ered over him continually In the darl-
ness. When he arose in the morning
he knew what was the maller-he was
in love.
After a little Inquiry ho found out
more about : Margaret Ba'ne. She was
alone in the world like himself , but
had a well.todo aunt , with whom she
made her home. Money she possessed
but little , just enough to keep ] her
from being dependent. Her connec-
tions were all the proper thing , and
her lineage of the best , but still she
was regarded different from the rest
of the girls , not eccentric , and how
different , no one just seemed to Imow.
Of course Harmon called at the first
opportunit What did a man of his
temperament care , after all , whether
she had money or not when his heart
was affected ? She received him most
graciously , and bo came away more
profound } smitten than before.
Everything else was now forgotten ,
and ho laid siege to her heart with
all the fervor that heretofore had
_ . . _ M. . . . . . _ . _ - ' . ' _ .
_ . _ . _ . _ _ _ . . _ _ . _ . . . . " _ . .
1
1I I
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lain sleeping In his being. Ho apparently -
ently got on fn.mously. While not encouraging -
couraging him , she could not help but
respond In many instances to the
ardency of his omotionR. Ho detected
the warmth in her heart , felt sure that
she more than lilted him and one
night ho proposed
When she refused him he was stun-
ned.
ned.Ho
Ho returned to bits lodgings overwhelmed .
whelmed , her soft , but earnest words
stinging In his ears : "I must have a
man who is 11. part oC the real world "
In his anguish he cried out : "Sho'
only another heartless coquette ! " but
then ho remembered bier eyes and
they gave the thought the lie. Suddenly -
homily he saw it all. 1I0 was yet poor. I
Nothing sure , no position , no wealth.
She was like the rest. She wanted i
position , wealth. It was only human , L
na1ural. Why had ho not thought at
it before.
"I win have her yet ! I will ! have
her yet ! " Ho rose exultant. "Uncle Is r
going to make tOod. "
$ . . .
Now Year's day dawned crisp and
clear , the most portentous day In
the life of Harmon Carlton. At 10
o'clock he sat In the dingy office at
Lawyer Calhoun. Intense suppressed
anxiety was stamped upon his taco.
For hope and despair ho was a play-
thing. No miser ever viewed the prospects -
pects of wealth or ruin with greater
tension. But it was not gold , it was
l\fargaret-only Margaret , the stake
now to bo decided for Harmon
A side door opened and the old
lawyer entered , tearing open an envelope -
velope containing a legal looking docu-
ment. Spreading It out before him In
n slow , monbtonows voice ho com-
menced to read :
"I , Stephen Carlton , being at sound
mind , declare thfs to bo the ultimate
disposal of my estate. If my nephew ,
Harmon Carlton , can prove at the
time this paper is read , that he Is possessed '
sessed of in his own right $12,500- a
1. e. , one-half of the entire annuity
received by him from me , the same
to have been the result of his pru'
dcnco and foresIght , thun my entire
estate is to bo given to him as his
own. Per contra , iC the said Harmon ,
Carlton cannot meet this condition
my entire estate Is to go to trustee !
for the establishment of a home for
aged men. "
Then followed wordy specific pro
visions as to how this was to be ac
compllshed.
Long before the lawyer ceased read.
ing Harmon had escaped to the open
air. It was all over for him. The
numbness of despondency tOok possession '
session of him. He wandered almles&
ly about , not knowing or caring where
ho went. A perversity unaccountable
brought him before the door at the
house where Margaret lived. He had
not been there since his rejection ,
Now ho went up and rang the bell , .
he did not know why.
In the drawing room he saw Mar ,
gareL Pausing stupidly , ho slowly
exclaimed :
"Tho old man throw me down. "
"What ? " she gasped , oxcitedly.
"Unclo's money all goes for a ham
for something or other-old mea I
believe , " ho continued doggedly.
With a cry of joy she clasped him
in her arms and kissed him passion.
atelr.
"Oh , I'm so glad , glad ! Harmon
darling , now I will marry you ! "
Ho thought ho was dreaming-nOt
she was explaining between kisses.
"Oh , the nasty money ! Now you
can be a man , now you will have pur
pose , now you will live in the real
world , where they live and work , and
I will live and work with you !
Ho comprohended. Ho was loved
by a noble woman. HIs soul vibrated
with a now born zeal. Pressing her
to his heart , his voice trembled with
passion and earnestness , as be an-
swerecI : "Yes , love , live and work iq
the real world. "
Poultry Prizes for Queen.
Queen Alexandra exhibited eight
bantams at a poultry show and 1'0-
ceived ten prizes for them from the
flattered judges.
