Ever After

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER FIVE Dana was awakened early the next morning by a new and joyful consciousness. It had lain, an elusive brightness, along the edge of his dreams all night, as it had touched his waking thoughts with indirect pleasantness for the past two days; but, until this morning, the definite, powerful, delightful reality that he was a rich man had been an abstract idea rather than a concrete force. Had he awakened with a pair of stout wings on his shoulders, he could scarcely have been more suddenly initiated into a new state. The fun of it, the amazing fun! Brilliant plans, little and big, raced across his excited vision: to give, to help, to have, to do--the dizzying freedom took a dozen aspects a minute, and a plan of a white marble concert hall was interrupted by the thought that he could have a new sweater without a hint of incongruity. He knew that a stream of money from Lucy's abundant resources flowed into a reservoir, that they might both dip freely into it; and the desire--romantic rather than vulgar--to go forth and spend set his heart pounding in his side. The only flaw in his happiness was that Lucy could not share it with him. She was so used to being rich, poor girl! Excitement made staying still an impossibility. He stole out, and presently stood in the cool October brightness of the early morning, choosing his direction. He had brought his new check book as well as a pocketful of money, but the shops would not be open for two hours yet, and, after a cup of coffee, he was free to wander. He had come flying back to his city in the time of her great disaster and had worked for her until his scanty resources were used up, so he was spared now the fresh pain of her loss: it was the inspired courage of her uprising that gripped him and made him l...