ffair in matters more important.

Mr. Harley, when emancipated from the thraldom of Storri, was as
dollarless so far as immediate cash was concerned as was the stripped
Storri himself. But in the rebound of spirit which followed, Mr.
Harley's genius regained its old-time elasticity. A member of the House
with whom he was in touch, being one of that speculative party who
opened the New Year at Chamberlin's with cards, was so conveniently
good-natured as to offer a measure putting coal on the free list. This,
if passed, would be a woundy blow to the Harley mines; also to that
railway whereof Mr. Harley was a director, since it hauled the Harley
coal to the seaboard. With coal on the free list, Nova Scotia could
undersell the Harley mines in every Atlantic port; likewise the Harley
road would lose two millions in annual freight. Under these threatening
conditions, Mr. Harley was instantly given one hundred thousand dollars
by the mines and the railroad to kill the iniquitous bill, and convert
to a right opinion any and all who talked of coal and free lists in one
and the same breath. Those one hundred thousand dollars relieved the
pressing needs of Mr. Harley, and the bill that threatened coal and
railroads was heard of no more.

When, following Mr. Harley's gracious words concerning Richard and Mrs.
Hanway-Harley's disconsolate departure for her own room, Dorothy danced
across to Bess, the yellow-haired sorceress rose grandly to the
opportunity. She sent Mr. Fopling to find Richard; and since Mr.
Fopling's weakness was not of the legs--he being a very Mercury, with
feet as fleet as his wits were slow--Dorothy and Bess had no more than
finished giving and receiving congratulations, _i. e._, kisses, when
Richard appeared and took Bess's labor of congratulation off her
hands--or should one say her lips? Bess was of those excellent folk
whose fine friendships know when to go as well as when to stay, and,
Richard arriving, she conveyed Mr. Fopling and Ajax from the room,
leaving the restored lovers to themselves.

Of what worth now to tell you those sweetheart things that Richard and
his angel said and did? How would it advantage a world to hear that he
took her in his arms and held her close? You, who have loved and have
been loved, who were lost and have been found again, well know the
blissful routine. Richard said that no woman was ever loved as he loved
Dorothy. Dorothy the beloved replied that no man was ever loved as