His Sombre Rivals | Page 3

as mere assumption. They
accepted the materialistic view. To them each generation was a link in
an endless chain, and man himself wholly the product of an evolution
which had no relations to a creative mind, for they had no belief in the
existence of such a mind. They held that one had only to live wisely
and well, and thus transmit the principle of life, not only unvitiated, but
strengthened and enlarged. Sins against body and mind were sins
against the race, and it was their creed that the stronger, fuller and more
nearly complete they made their lives the richer and fuller would be the
life that succeeded them. They scouted as utterly unproved and

irrational the idea that they could live after death, excepting as the plant
lives by adding to the material life and well-being of other plants. But
at that time the spring and vigor of youth were in their heart and brain,
and it seemed to them a glorious thing to live and do their part in the
advancement of the race toward a stage of perfection not dreamed of by
the unthinking masses.
Alas for their visions of future achievement! An avalanche of wealth
had overwhelmed Hilland. His letters to his friend had grown more and
more infrequent, and they contained many traces of the business cares
and the distractions inseparable from his possessions and new relations.
And now for causes just the reverse Graham also was forsaking his
studies. His modest inheritance, invested chiefly in real estate, had so
far depreciated that apparently it could not much longer provide for
even his frugal life abroad.
"I must give up my chosen career for a life of bread-winning," he had
concluded sadly, and he was ready to avail himself of any good
opening that offered. Therefore he knew not where his lot would be
cast on the broad continent beyond the revolving light that loomed
every moment more distinctly in the west.
A few days later found him at the residence of Mrs. Mayburn, a pretty
cottage in a suburb of an eastern city. This lady was his aunt by
marriage, and had long been a widow. She had never manifested much
interest in her nephew, but since she was his nearest relative he felt that
he could not do less than call upon her. To his agreeable surprise he
found that time had mellowed her spirit and softened her angularities.
After the death of her husband she had developed unusual ability to
take care of herself, and had shown little disposition to take care of any
one else. Her thrift and economy had greatly enhanced her resources,
and her investments had been profitable, while the sense of increasing
abundance had had a happy effect on her character. Within the past
year she had purchased the dwelling in which she now resided, and to
which she welcomed Graham with unexpected warmth. So far from
permitting him to make simply a formal call, she insisted on an
extended visit, and he, divorced from his studies and therefore feeling

his isolation more keenly than ever before, assented.
"My home is accessible," she said, "and from this point you can make
inquiries and look around for business opportunities quite as well as
from a city hotel."
She was so cordial, so perfectly sincere, that for the first time in his life
he felt what it was to have kindred and a place in the world that was not
purchased.
He had found his financial affairs in a much better condition than he
had expected. Some improvements were on foot which promised to
advance the value of his real estate so largely as to make him
independent, and he was much inclined to return to Germany and
resume his studies.
"I will rest and vegetate for a time," he concluded. "I will wait till my
friend Hilland returns from the West, and then, when the impulse of
work takes possession of me again, I will decide upon my course."
He had come over the ocean to meet his fate, and not the faintest
shadow of a presentiment of this truth crossed his mind as he looked
tranquilly from his aunt's parlor window at the beautiful May sunset.
The cherry blossoms were on the wane, and the light puffs of wind
brought the white petals down like flurries of snow; the plum-trees
looked as if the snow had clung to every branch and spray, and they
were as white as they could have been after some breathless, large-
flaked December storm; but the great apple-tree that stood well down
the path was the crowning product of May. A more exquisite bloom of
pink and white against an emerald foil of tender young leaves could not
have existed even in Eden,