HIS FORTUNATE GRACE
His Fortunate Grace
By
Gertrude Atherton
Author of A Whirl Asunder, The Doomswoman,
Patience Sparhawk and Her Times,
Before The Gringo Came, Etc.
New York
D. Appleton and Company
1897
Copyright, 1897,
By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY.
TO
ALEECE VAN BERGEN.
[Pg 1]
HIS FORTUNATE GRACE.
CHAPTER I.
“Are you quite sure?” Mr. Forbes laiddown his newspaper, and looked with slightlyextended mouth at his daughter who leanedforward in an attitude of suppressed energy,her hands clasped on the edge of the breakfast-table.The heiress of many millions was nothandsome: her features were large and hercomplexion dull; but she had the carriage and‘air’ of the New York girl of fashion, andwore a French morning-toilette which wouldhave ameliorated a Gorgon.
“Quite sure, papa.”
“I suppose you have studied the questionexhaustively.”
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“Oh, yes, indeed. I have read Karl Marxand Henry George and a lot of others. Isuppose you have not forgotten that I belongto a club of girls who aspire to be somethingmore than fashionable butterflies, and that weread together?”
“And you are also positive that you wishme to divide my fortune with my fellow-men,and deprive you of the pleasant position ofheiress?”
“Perfectly positive,” firmly. “It is terrible,terrible to think of the starving thousands.I feel it my duty to tell you, papa, that if youdo not do this yourself, I shall—when—when—butI cannot even think of that.”
“No; don’t worry about it. I’m good fortwenty or thirty years yet——”
“You are the handsomest and most distinguished-lookingman in New York.”
“Thanks. To proceed: I should say thatyou are likely to be several things meanwhile.[Pg 3]I don’t know that I shall even take the troubleto alter my will. Still, I may—that is unlessyou convert me. And you are also convincedthat women should have the vote?”
“Yes! Yes! indeed I am. I know allthe arguments for and against. I’ve heardand read everything. You see, if we get thevote we can bring Socialism about quiteeasily.”
“Without the slightest difficulty, I shouldsay, considering the homogeneity of thefeminine mind.”
“You darling sarcastic thing. But can’tyou see what weight such women as we areinteresting in the cause must have? Wehave carefully excluded the nouveau riche;only the very oldest and most notable nameswill be on our petition when we get it up.”
“Oh, you are going to get up a petition?Well, let that pass for the present. Supposeyou fall in love and want to marry?”
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“I shall tell him everything. What Iintend to ma