The Sword of Damocles: A Story of New York Life
Page 3
II.
A DISCUSSION.
"Young men think old men fools, and old men know young men to be so." RAY'S PROVERBS.
"And you are actually in earnest?"
"I am."
The first speaker, a fine-looking gentleman of some forty years of age,drummed with his fingers on the table before him and eyed the face ofthe young man who had repeated this assent so emphatically, with acertain close scrutiny indicative of surprise.
"It is an unlooked-for move for you to make," he remarked at length."Your success as a pianist has been so decided, I confess I do notunderstand why you should desire to abandon a profession that in fiveyears' time has procured you both competence and a very enviablereputation--for the doubtful prospects of Wall Street, too!" he addedwith a deep and thoughtful frown that gave still further impressivenessto his strongly marked features.
The young man with a sweep of his eye over the luxurious apartment inwhich they sat, shrugged his shoulders with that fine and nonchalantgrace which was one of his chief characteristics.
"With such a pilot as yourself, I ought to be able to steer clear of theshoals," said he, a frank smile illumining a face that was ratherinteresting than handsome.
The elder gentleman did not return the smile. Instead of that heremained gazing at the ample coal-fire that burned in the grate beforehim with a look that to the young musician was simply inexplicable. "Yousee the ship in haven," he murmured at last; "but do not consider whatstorms it has weathered or what perils escaped. It is a voyage I wouldencourage no son of mine to undertake."
"Yet you are not the man to shrink from danger or to hesitate in acourse you had marked out for yourself, because of the struggle itinvolved or the difficulties it presented!" the young man exclaimedalmost involuntarily as his glance lingered with a certain sort offascination on the powerful brow and steady if somewhat melancholy eyeof his companion.
"No; but danger and difficulty should not be sought, only subdued whenencountered. If you were driven into this path, I should say, 'God pityyou!' and hold you out my hand to steady you along its precipices andabove its sudden quicksands. But you are not driven to it. Yourprofession offers you the means of an ample livelihood while your goodheart and fair talents insure you ultimate and honorable success, bothin the social and artistic world. For a man of twenty-five suchprospects are not common and he must be difficult to please not to besatisfied with them."
"Yes," said the other rising with a fitful movement but instantlysitting again; "I have nothing to complain of as the world goes,only--Sir," he exclaimed with a sudden determination that lent a forceto his features they had hitherto lacked, "you speak of being driveninto a certain course; what do you mean by that?"
"I mean," returned the other; "forced by circumstances to enter a lineof business to which many others, if not all others are preferable."
"You speak strongly, speculation evidently has none of your sympathy,notwithstanding the favorable results which have accrued to you from it.But excuse me, by circumstances you mean poverty, I suppose, and thelack of every other opening to wealth and position. You would notconsider the desire to make a large fortune in a short space of time acircumstance of a sufficiently determining nature to reconcile you to myentering Wall Street speculation?"
The elder gentleman rose, not as the other had done with a restlessimpulse quickly subsiding at the first excuse, but forcibly and with afeverish impatience that to appearance was somewhat out of proportion tothe occasion. "A large fortune in a short space of time!" he reiterated,pausing where he had risen with an eagle glance at his companion and aringing tone in his voice that bespoke a deep but hitherto suppressedagitation. "It is the alluring inscription above the pitfall into whichmany a noble youth has fallen; the battle-cry to a struggle that has ledmany a strong man the way of ruin; the guide-post to a life whosefeverish days and sleepless nights offer but poor compensation for thesudden splendors and as sudden reverses attached to it. I had rather youhad accounted for this sudden freak of yours by the strongest aspirationafter power than by this cry of the merely mercenary man who in hisdesire to enjoy wealth, prefers to win it by a stroke of luck ratherthan conquer it by a life of endeavor." He stopped. "I am aware thatthis tirade against the ladder by which I myself have risen so rapidly,must strike you as in ill-taste. But Bertram, I am interested in yourwelfare and am willing to incur some slight charge of inconsistency inorder to insure it," and here he turned upon his companion with thatexpression of extreme gentleness which lent such a peculiar charm to hiscountenance and explained perhaps the almost unlimited power he heldover the hearts and minds of those who came within the circle of hisinfluence.
"You are very good, sir," murmured his young friend, who to explainmatters at once was in reality the nephew of this Wall Street magnate,though from the fact of his having taken another name on entering themusical profession, was not generally known as such. "No one, not evenmy father himself, could have been more considerate and kind; but I donot think you understand me, or rather I should say I do not think Ihave made myself perfectly intelligible to you. It is not for the sakeof wealth itself or the eclat attending its possession that I desire animmediate fortune, but that by means of it I may attain another objectdearer than wealth, and more precious than my career."
The elder gentleman turned quickly, evidently much surprised, and cast asudden inquiring glance at his nephew, who blushed with a modestingenuousness pleasing to see in one so well accustomed to the criticalgaze of his fellow-men.
"Yes," said he, as if in answer to that look, "I am in love."
A deep silence for a moment pervaded the apartment, a sombre silencealmost startling to young Mandeville, who had expected some audibleexpression to follow this announcement if only the good-natured "Pooh!pooh!" of the matured man of the world in the presence of ardentyouthful enthusiasm. What could it mean? Looking up he encountered hisuncle's eye fixed upon him with the last expression he could haveanticipated seeing there, namely that of actual and unmistakable alarm.
"You are displeased," Mandeville exclaimed. "You have thought me proofagainst such a passion, or perhaps you do not believe in the passionitself!" Then with a sudden remembrance of the notable if somewhatindolent loveliness of his uncle's wife, blushed again at his unusualwant of tact, while his eye with an involuntary impulse sought the largepanel at their right where, in the full bloom of her first youth, thelady of the house smiled upon all beholders.
"I do not believe in that passion influencing a man's career," his unclereplied with no apparent attention to the other's embarrassment. "Awoman needs be possessed of uncommon excellences to justify a man inleaving a path where success is certain, for one where it is not onlydoubtful but if attained must bring many a regret and heart-ache in itstrain. Beauty is not sufficient," he went on with sterner and sternersignificance, "though it were of an angelic order. There must be worth."And here his mind's eye if not that of his bodily sense, certainlyfollowed the glance of his companion.
"I believe there is worth," the young man replied; "certainly, it is nother beauty that charms me. I do not even know if she _is_ beautiful," hecontinued.
"And you believe you love!" the elder exclaimed after another shortpause.
There was so much of bitterness in the tone in which this was uttered,that Mandeville forgot its incredulity. "I think I must," returned hewith a certain masculine naivete not out of keeping with his generalstyle of face and manner, "else I should not be here. Three weeks ago Iwas satisfied with my profession, if not enthusiastic over it; to-day Iask nothing but to be allowed to enter upon some business that in threeyears' time at least will place me where I can be the fit mate of anywoman in this land, that is not worth her millions."
"The woman for whom you have conceived this violent attachment is, then,above you in social position?"
"Yes, sir, or so considered, which amounts to the same thing, as far asI am concerned."
"Bertram, I have lived longer than you and have se
en much of both socialand domestic life, and I tell you no woman is worth such a sacrifice onthe part of a man as you propose. No woman of to-day, I should say; ourmothers were different. The very fact that this young lady of whom youspeak, obliges you to change your whole course of life in order toobtain her, ought to be sufficient to prove to you--" He stoppedsuddenly, arrested by the young man's lifted hand. "She does not obligeyou, then?"
"Not on her own account, sir. This lily," lifting a vase of blossoms athis elbow, "could not be more innocent of the necessities that governthe social circle it adorns, than the pure, single-minded girl to whom Ihave dedicated what is best and noblest in my manhood. It is herfather--"
"Ah, her father!"
"Yes, sir," the young man pursued, more and more astonished at theother's tone. "He is a man who has a right to expect both wealth andposition in a son-in-law. But I see I shall have to tell you my story,sir. It is an uncommon one and I never meant that it should pass mylips, but if by its relation I can win your sympathy for a pure andnoble passion, I shall consider the sacred seal of secrecy broken in agood cause. But," said he, seeing his uncle cast a short and uneasyglance at the door, "perhaps I am interrupting you. You expect someone!"
"No," said his uncle, "my wife is at church; I am ready to listen."
The young man gave a hurried sigh, cast one look at his companion'simmovable face, as if to assure himself that the narrative wasnecessary, then leaned back and in a steady business-like tone thatsoftened, however, as he proceeded, began to relate as follows: