The Dugdale Millions — page 33: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE FIRST STEP. 23 yer was immediately adjoining the grounds of Mr. Hetlow above Dobbs Ferry. ‘To make the trip seemed necessary, and he concluded to do it forthwith. It was a delightful afternoon when he arrived at Dobbs Ferry—one of those soft, balmy days not un- frequent in this climate in the latter part of September and the early part of October, when the air is heavy with languor, and a deep, rich haze settles upon the distant hills. Dick procured a conveyance to carry him to the residence of the old lawyer. As he was borne swiftly over the hard smooth road that ran along the top of the hill, and from which occa- sional glimpses of the river smiling under the sun could be seen, he wondered if after his interview with the old lawyer he could not find an excuse to call upon his employer. Dick was too frank to deceive himself with the idea that a call was necessary, but he thought that under such excuse he might be able to see Bessie. He was in that frame of mind, when he condemned himself for an idiot for fluttering like a moth about the candle flame, but he thought that if he was singe- ing his wings, after all he was getting a good deal of pleasure out of the pursuit, even if it was accompanied with the pain of the uncertainty as to whether or not his ardency was returned. The young gentleman had a very fair appreciation of his own graces of person and mind, and his self- esteem was not of such modest dimensions as permite ted him to admit that he was not a goodly mate for any beauty, but he was, withal, clear-headed and worldly wise, and he knew very well he was not in- cluded in the category of eligible young men, and he feared that however much pleasure Bessie might derive from surreptitious flirtations with him, she still had been trained in the idea that in the serious affairs of the heart she must direct her eyes to one who would bring more wealth and position than he eould, at al} Comicloee® S C@ 3}