Gordon Keith

who knew how to deal with the people to whom they belonged. They could be had almost for the asking. But he added this statement: that the legislative charters would hardly hold, a

the report. "I am much obliged to you for the report on the minerals. The rest of it

es rose

re than that of every rascally politician that has sold

slative charters, gotten through by Mr. J. Quincy Plume and his confrères, which were to turn that region into

es had passed, sure that sometime he should find him a great man, building bridges and cutting tunnels, commanding others and sending them to right or

Mr. Wickersham's treatment of his report. He had worked hard over it. He attributed it in part to Ferdy's

ked Ferdy-a very pretty little piece of work. F

an old grudge, I g

pretty good friends

man's face took

dy, for Ferdy had been bedevilling him about the place. You know old Wickersham owns it. Ferdy's strong poi

as all a

Which l

d of the first round. He'd have been f

f General Keith and of the

ath," said Rhodes. He t

ed up as it rested on the alert, vigorous figure and fresh

member Gordon Keith, the boy whose boat I

remembered an older fight than tha

Wickersham, Ferdy's father, and the old gentleman, General Keith, who used to own it farms it for him. Think of that! It's as if father had to be a bookkeeper in the bank! Rhodes says he's a fine old fellow, and that Gordon is one of the best. He was down t

orth smile

ed a little, as he often d

give his eyes for the chance to go to college. Grinnell Rhodes says that he is ever so fond of me; that Ferdy was blowing once and said something against me, and Gordon jumped right into him--said I was a fri

showed that she too ap

needs it, or would a

our poorest clerks are rich compared with those people. And I'll writ

man fresh from fields where he had won renown, honored by his State, with everythin

ight,

an sat down and

d yet more. It was from Norman Wentworth. He had met an old friend, he said, who had told him about Gordon and about his father's misfortunes. He himself, he said, was at college, and he found himself in a position to be able to

ading the letter there

eman read it through slowly. He sat lost in reflection fo

k him warmly for both of us. I will never

face that that far-off shaft of light

to the wisdom of this action. Just then, ho

d to have," he wrote, "a little pile lying by that he didn't have any particular use for just then, and it had come to

he was glad to borrow enough to send Gordon to college fo

rdon over; he read it and looked him over agai

neral. Investin' in a young man is kind of hazardous; it's like puttin' your money in a harry-d

of his "jedgment." He went on: "But I admit blood counts for s

be tried on any account, he said,

will depend on whether you pay it back or not. I never seen a young man as didn't pay his debts come to any good in my life, and I never seen one as did as didn't. I've seen many a man'd shoo

kled; "but I reckon you'll be a fair substitute for one or two.

t his father had suggeste

tfully, his eyes fixed on Gordon. "My whole edication didn't cost twenty-five

had finished, the old man counted out his bills. Gordon said he would give h

a debt when they'd given their bond. I don't want you to think that. If you're goin' to pay me, you'll do it wi

d a few weeks later was del

ed over. He worked well, for he f

which up to this time had not been overwhelmed with applicants. There was a vacancy at the Ridge College. Finally poor Gunn, after holding out as long as he could, had laid down his arms, as all soldiers must do sooner or later, and Gordon applied for the position. The old

daddy in him he'll stra

became a sc

"than to tell you to govern yourself, and you will be able to govern them. 'He that is slow t

an Wentworth was attending. Indeed, Norman's being there was the main reason that Ferdy was sent there. Mr. Wickersham wished his son to have the best advantages. Mrs. Wickersham desired this too

honors, and as he was universally respected and very popular, he was regarded a

covered that some one else valued it. It was a trait he had inherited from h

ly furnished rooms, his expensive suppers and his acquaintance with dancing-girls were talk

y you can make for him," said one

l have as much pleasure in spending it

ut he offered him large bonuses in case he should secure any of

. Wentworth were recognized as representatives of the old-time gentry. Mrs. Wickersham might have endured the praise of the elegance of the mansion. She had her own ideas as to house-furnishing, and the Wentworth mansion was furnished in a style too quiet and antiquated to suit her more modern tastes. If it was filled with old mahogany and hung with dam

ickersham's dislike of M

y one, and when a very large entertainment was given by her, had invited Mrs. Wickersham to it. But M

s; certainly Norman thought so; but at bottom Ferdy was envious of Norman's position and prestige, and deep in his heart lurked a long-standing grudge

w on him for all the money he wanted. This Ferdy did promptly. He suddenly gave up running away from college, applied himself to cultivating the acquai

elf. Wickersham drew about him many companions, but they were mainly men of light weight, roisterers and loafers, whilst the better class of his fellow-students quickly awoke to a true realization of the case. A new element was being introduced into college politics. The recognition of danger was enough to set the best element in the college to meet it. At the moment when Ferdy Wickersham felt himself vi

she fell into a consuming rage, and then took to her bed. The downfall of her hopes and of her ambition had come through the person she loved best on eart

art. The father, however, had been struck as deeply as the mother. His ambition, if of a different kind, had been quite as great as that of Mrs. Wickersham, and the hard-headed, keen-sighted

ounger, with all his insolence and impervious selfishness. When Aaron Wickersham unlocked his private door and allowed his son and heir to go out, the clerks in the outer office knew

m he had rather despised as foolishly pliable, was unexpectedly his master. He laid before Ferdy, with a power which the latter could not but ackno

knew. And I have spent my life for it. I have grown old before my time. I have gotten so that things have lost their taste to me; I have done things that I never dreamed I would do to accomplish it. I have lost the power to sleep working for it, and when you came I thought I would have my reward in you. I have not only never stinted you, but I have lavished money on you as if I was the richest man in New York. I wanted you to have advantages that I never

pted him. "That is no

laid the palm of his open hand on it. "Not so? I have got the proof of it here." He looked a

She has been talking for ten years of the time when she would go to see you come out at the head of your class. She was going to Paris to get the clothes to wear if you won, and you--" His voice broke--"you won't even graduate! What will you think next summer when Mrs. Wentworth is t

said surlily, "if she

ersham tur

Say what you please about me, but not one word against her. I will take you from college and put you to sweeping the floo

hat blazed in his father's eyes, but even more

ed by the older clerks, it soon appeared that he had found a congenial occupation and one f