The weekly examiner., 1901-06-15


 servants were acting under his fa- ther's orders. He flushed red and then turned white at the thought. It was not like Ross Duncan to do such a thing. And yet he might do it. And then the rest of the letter-it was not like the old Eric he had known, and yet the one great love of Stuart had been and still was his love for Eric. It was not because Erie had once saved his life. He would have loved him in any case, but the years had brought changes, the past year particularly.
 He had been reading and breeding, with head bent down, and now, as he raised it, he saw Eric coming up the hill
 The two men met with the common place salutations: "How are you, Eric?" "How are you, StuartY' They shook hands stiffly and then sat down on the rock. Each seemed a little shy of the other.
 Stuart was the first to speak. He knew from experience that Eric would never say the first word.
 q have just been reading your letter. There is some mistake about your be- ing refused admission to the house. Father would never do such a thing, Eric.''
 ''I'm not so sure of that. But don't feel hurt on that account even if he would. Is he better?''
 "Yes." Stuart paused. He did not seem to know what to say. It was harder to break over the gap of a years growth : in manhood than he had thought. Then he burst out with a short laugh:
 ooh, say, Eric, what nonsense for us to be sitting here like fools on this rock as if we were afraid of each oth- CT! In memory of the old days, will you put your hand on my shoulder and look me in the face?
 ''It is not the same. Eric" said Stu art, with a sigh at last, letting his hand slip from the others shoulder. "A better one, I hope. The times have made me sober and gray"
 ''How is it, Eric? Is there any diff ference in your feeling toward me|
 "No." Eric was pushing the gravel with his foot and looking out over the valley Then he looked Stuart frankly in the face and repeated his "No. But you are the one to change"
 q! What change has there been in me?" Stuart put the question almost indignantly.
 You have seen the world. What can be to you now? More and more as the time goes on the difference must widen. You are a gentleman of wealth and leisure, and am a workingman."
 You don't need to be, Eric. You could get ahead. You could command any place in time with your intelligence and-and''-
 Stuart hesitated for just the word, but Eric said quietly:
 'I have chosen my place. A work ingman I am, and a workingman shall be as long as there are wrongs to right and rights to maintain"
 "But what has all this to do with us, Eric? We have been over all this ground before. Do you not love me?'
 Indeed, truly do." Eric turned his large dark eyes affectionately toward his friend.
 "And do not love youT'
 'Yes," replied Eric simply. "But our lives are of necessity widening out far ther apart. What can prevent that? In the very nature of the situation it could not be otherwise. Here I am ad- vising thousands of men to a course which is directly opposed by your fa- ther and would be by you if you were in his place. The time is coming when the clash between your interests and mine will be so fierce that''-
 Stuart jumped to his feet. "Do you mean to say. Erie, that friendship true