But I am suddenly confronted by business embarrassments that force me temporarily to adopt a different policy.
Truly, Ridge, we are threatened with such serious losses that I am making every possible sacrifice to try and stem the tide.

I have even placed our summer home on the Long Island coast in an agent's hands, and am deeply grieved that you should have thrown up a position, promising at least self-support, upon such slight provocation." "But he ordered me about as though I were a servant, instead of requesting me to do things in a gentlemanly way." "And were you not a servant ?" "No, sir, I was not--at least, not in the sense of being amenable to brutal commands.

I was not, nor will I ever be, anybody's slave." "Oh well, my boy!" replied the elder, with a deep sigh, "I fear you will live to discover by sad experience that pride is the most expensive of earthly luxuries, and that one must consent to obey orders long before he can hope to issue commands.

But we will discuss your affairs later, for now I must look over my letters." While Mr.Norris was thus engaged, Ridge opened the morning paper, and glanced carelessly at its headlines.

Suddenly he sprang to his feet with a shout, his dark face glowing and his eyes blazing with excitement.
"By heavens, father!" he cried, "the United States battle-ship _Maine_ has been blown up in Havana Harbor with a loss of two hundred and sixty of her crew.