Mr. Crewe's Career, Book I.

s later. On the letter-head was printed "The United Northeastern Railroads," and Mr. Austen Vane was informed that, by direction of the president, the enclosed was sent

he following inscription:-"It is understood that th

ear sir, I beg to return the annual pass over the Northeastern Railroads with which you have so kindly honoured me"-when he suddenly changed his min

is Mr. Flint up at h

able Hilar

sterday on the

s son answered, holding up the red piece of ca

tried to look unconc

now as I'd bother him personally, Austen.

an be responsible for it," said Austen. "The favour must

his son for an instant. Austen w

asn't got much to do wi

oing-er-better t

mind saying that I would rather have your approbati

at a game of which he was a master. Under the excuse of looking up some precedents, he locked his doors to all comers for two hours, and paced his room. At one moment he reproached himself for not having been frank; for not having told Austen roundly that this squeamishness about a pass was unworthy of a strong man of affairs

in the hills, and he was easily the finest animal in Ripton: so good, in fact, that Mr. Humphrey Crewe (who believed he had an eye for horses) had peremptorily hailed Austen from a motorcar and de

ho knew only the master hand on the reins; the reality that the wood roads were climbing great hills the horse did not seem to feel. Pepper knew every lane and by-path within twenty miles of Ripton, and exhibited such surprise as a well-bred horse may when he was slowed down at length and turned into a hard, blue-stone driveway under a strange granite arch with the word "Fairview" cut in Gothic letters above it, and two great lam

having always been there, and yet somehow looked expensive. At the top of the ravine was a sharp curve; and Austen, drawing breath, found himself swung, as it were, into space, l

ise! These gradual insinuations into his revery at length made him turn. A straight avenue of pear-shaped, fifteen-year-old maples led to the house, a massive colonial structure of wood that stretched across the shelf; and he had tightened the reins and started courageously up the avenue when he perceived that it ended in a circ

admired, and he arched his neck and lifted his feet and danced in the sheer exhilaration of it. A smooth-faced, red-cheeked gentleman in gra

hasn't he?-that's rare in trotters around here. Tried to buy h

ay hair was dressed to perfection, her figure all that Parisian art could make it, and she was regar

rful memory for faces. I don't see how he does it, do you, Alice?" she demanded of

know," sa

lse, Mrs. Pomfret," answered Mr. Crewe, not very g

" said

red Mr. Crewe, with the admirab

at him for t

hold my horse," he

miled at Austen's answer. Mrs. Flint, with a "Who is it?" arose to repel a social intrusion. She wa

to the stables?" suggested M

erstanding start in his eyes. An answering gleam was in Victoria's, who had at that moment, by a singular coincidence, come out of the house.

ne?" she said. "I am s

ush the stable b

Mrs. Flint supposed he had come to sell Victoria the horse; while Mrs. Pomfret, who ha

r for a few moments-on bu

e to his with a se

you to him,

t, cool hallway, and through two darkened rooms, bewilderingly furnished and laden with the scent of flowers, into a narrow passage beyond. She

e street. The other things in the room were letter-files, a safe, a long-distance telephone, and a thin private secretary with a bend in his bac

what is it n

shold. Mr. Flint rose. His eyes were deep-set in a square, hard head, and he appeared to be taking Austen in wit

e had the pleasure of seeing you, although your father

ver got there, where there were no franchises to be had. Would he suspect them of designs upon his hard won harp and halo? Austen did not dislike Mr. Flint; the man's rise, his achievements, his affection for his daughter, he reme

o bother you lon

for him has increased with every year. It is to men of his type that the prosperity, the greatness, of this nation is largely due,-conservative, upright, able, content to confine himself to the difficult work for which he is so eminently fitted, without spectacular meddling in things in which he can have no concern. Therefore I welcome the opportunity to know you, sir, for I under

ntinued to flit about

k. Austen had found it i

gage in a duel with the

lro

a pipe,

d loaf and drink and smoke, and talk a lot of nonsense about games and automobiles and clubs, and cumber the earth generally. There's a young man named Crewe over at Leith, for instance-y

ten saw his opening grow

ash for it, it would s

morning, Mr. Flint, encl

an oversight that he did not, Mr. Vane. We try to extend the courtesies of the road to persons

racious to return a gift so graciously given, a gift of no inconsiderable intrinsic value. Moreover, Mr. Flint had ingeniously contrived almost to make

t seemed to me that, considering your relations with my father, the prope

filing, and remained motionless w

e?" said the railroad president.

ed cardboard from his pocket and turned it over. "On the back of this is printed, in sma

s would save an active young lawyer in a year? Is three hundred dollars too much? Three hundre

oked at M

ese passes to the young lawyers of the State the moment they begin to give signs of ability. This past would prevent me from serving clients who might have righteous claims

retained by the rail

cquire sufficient eminence to be sought as counsel for a railroad, I should make my own terms with it. I should not allow its manag

drummed on

mean by that?

to fight the political battles of a railroad, or under

aned forward

I have the honour to be president pay a heavy tag in this and other States. We would pay a much heavier one if we didn't take precautions to protect ourselves. But I do not intend to quarrel wi

great question with Mr. Flint, but he wondered whether the president actually thought

ed my visit was not a contentious one. I cannot accept

ause he had looked only for the scapegrace. Mr. Flint ardently desired to treat the matter in the trifling aspect in which he believed he saw it, to carry it off genially. Bu

experience in the world, to remark that intolerance is a characteristic of youth. I had it in the days of Mr. Isaac D. Worthington, whom you do not remember. I am not addicted to flattery, but I hope and believe you have a career before you. Talk to your father. Study the question on both si

was the true presentment of the soul of the woman whose body was his. It was not-as Hilary Vane thought it-a contempt for the practice of thanking one's Maker for daily bread, but a contempt for cant of one who sees the humour in cant. A masculine version of that look Mr. Flint now

aid; "Mr. Freeman will hel

tepped out on a close-cropped lawn flooded with afternoon sunlight. In the passage Austen perceived a chair, and in the chair was se

id, "since when have y

Mr. Freeman's face as he led the way silently out of a side entrance and around the house. The circle of the drive was empty, the tea-party had gone-and Victoria. Aus

es. As Austen took the reins the secretary looked up at him, his mi

ongratulate

ten, taking the hand

aid the secretary, and he tu

teep, forest-covered side hill, when his attention was distracted by the sight of a straight figure in white descending amidst the foliage ahead. His instinctive action was to pull Pepper down to a walk, scarcely a

he Rose of Sharon, with all her beauty, would have had no attraction for Austen Vane. Victoria had much of her mother's good looks, the figure of a Diana, and her clothes were of a severity and correctness in keeping with her style

en doing to my fa

xclaimed

e put him in it. It can't be possible that you came all the way u

to quarrel with

trouble?" as

estion was too much f

a little, but there was

she demanded, "or mus

ly, "that you must get it out of

been disturbed quite a good deal when he's cross as a bear to me. He really oughtn't to be upset like that, Mr. Vane, when he comes u

was non

ldn't be fair to your father if I gave you my version of

e and her chin in her hand, and looked at him thoughtfully. He knew well enough that

oria, "I have an idea yo

ad

Mea

ed him, and how you went to see him in the hosp

ou!" excla

's fault, that the train didn't whistle or r

e say?" asked A

d must happen occasionally. And he told me if Zeb didn't make

tell Zeb?"

dmitted, "but I'm

did Ze

and gave a more or less exact though k

But the worst of it was," added Victoria, with some distress, "he won't accept any more fruit. Isn't he silly? He won't get it into hi

was trouble about grade crossings, and Mr. Meader's mishap and the manner of his rescue by the son of the corporation counsel had given the accident a deplorable publicity. Moreover, if it had dawned on August

Victoria. "It isn't at all polite to

usten, with a smile. How could he

mollified, "you haven't

h que

and with feminine art made the k

s it because you're a lawyer, or because you've been out

nough interest in him to pronounce him a riddle. But he instantly

mes," he said. "As it happens, I have never shot

took it, nor was he the first to relinquish the hold; and a c

n to offend y

ed quickly. "I merely wished you

ria s

much too solemn. I have to go now,

ide. Twice he glanced back, after he had started, and once surpri