Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-08-11
Won by w aiting.
EDNA LYALL.
Continued.

but | could not dream of accepting
such a sum. Thank you a thousan
times for the thought, however"
you insist on turning into 6
waiter!" asked Claude, laughingly
'"Then I shall make point of dining
every day at your restaurant, and tip
ping you with threepenny bits"
"Gaspard laughed, but resolutely
pushed back the envelope, Claude
then began more seriously.
But, De Mabillon, why will you
not accept this? Surely we are suf-
fciently intimate to be Of some use
to each other. Why not let me have
this pleasure?"
you are very good, but 1 can not
accept it. What claim have 1 on
your"
Claim? stuff and nonsense; every
one, only the world is so eaten up
with selfishness and pride that it
won't see it,
1T may be pride in a measure"
said Gaspard, "but I can not think it
is right to sacrifice ones indepen-
dence, therefore 1 must decline your
Kindness
You aristocrats are terrible peO-
pie to deal with. Are we not fellow
men? Why should you be hard UP
for fifty pounds, and yet refuse to re-
lieve me of it when l have no use for
it? The early Christians got on
very we'll that way, why not you and
II"
You believe in socialism, and 1 do
not; | heard too much of it from Lee
mercier at Paris"
Il don't understand anything about
that nonsense" said Claude, half i'm
patiently. "All | know is that things
must be very wrong indeed if one
friend can't help another. What's the
use of a friend if, directly trouble
comes, one must draw back into ones
shell Of pride, AMI refuse to take the
hand that's offered?"
Gaspard paced up and down the
room thinking. Claudes arguments
did not at all coinci > with the die
tates of his pride of dependence.
you see," he began, after a pause,
''it is not as if this were a matter of
might be right to accept it; but I can
live as I lived; there is no immedi-
ate
Excuse me-" said Claude, break
in; "if I may speak very plainly with
you, I think you will own that this
mode of living is really killing you
by inches. Now | maintain that a
man has no more right to do that
than to commit suicide outright-when
he has the chance of avoiding it, that
is. Besides, you are not independent,
you have your sister to think Of For
her sake, at least, if not for your
own, you will take this help now, will
you not? What right have you to
sadden her life by wilfully starving
yourself and throwing away this
first-rate opportunity in Ceylon?'"
Gaspard took four or FIVE turns I'D
and down the room, then stopped
abruptly before Claude, his decision
made.
You are right, Magnay; I must
think OF her How to thank you
for your generosity I dc not know.
You will not think me ungrateful
because I have withstood it so long?
You understand, I am sure, how it
was, and ? 10 not now yield as to
the duty of independence, only, as
you say, I believe I am beginning to
fail, and I must live to free Esper-
ance. OF course l take this fifty
pounds as loan"
mo, no." interposed Claude "I'll
have no hand in lending and borrow
ing; loan is a bad thing to begin
life with but If you like, we will
make it a bargain. that when you are
a thriving coffee-planter and I a
spendthrift artist with popularity on
the wane, | may throw my self on
you mercy, and you will not turn
your back on me. Trust me to ask
you for a favor when I want it. IN
the meantime I shall study socialism:
think it would agree with me-"
Gaspard laughed. SCI wish you
could feel the weight you have taken
off my shoulders.
Charitable wish, certainly" said
Gaspard. II must see Mr.. Seymour
this very day, and find out about the
passage, or I shall not feel that this
is really true"
Let me know when you sail. and
come when you can to my rooms, -
said Claude, rising to go, and hurry
ing himself rather more than usual
as Gaspard began to retiterate his
thanks
The two parted at the door, Gas
pard making all speed to Mr.. Sey-
mour's rooms in Portland Place,
Claude returning te his studio, mus
ing on the specimen of independent
pride he had met with, and congratu-
1ating himself on his conquest.
He was not yet cult Of the subject,
however, fer he had scarcely been
home an hour when there was a
hasty ring at his door, ard Gaspard,
flushed and breathIess, was shown up
TO his room.
de Mabillon! why this hot pur-
suit?" asked Claude, with a gesture of
feigned despair as he caught sight oil
his blue envelope. eff you change
your mind again about that ridicu-
lous thing. you are only fit for Colney
Hatch!"
mo, not about Ceylon," painted
Gaspard. But the most extraordi
nary Thing has happened. I went tt
Mr.. Seymour to make arrangements
and, to my establishment, he has tolC
me that my passage is taken-take1