The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-25

was hesi0 Qo4 fte coulu HOt tflleoss NS Sou'e
not go forward.
In fact he did nothing. He even forgot his
dinner and went TO bed late 10 toss from
side 10 side end argue with himself. Next
DAY ne avoided the hotel lobby and did not
20 out 10 take the walk which since mis-
recovery had been daily comfort and source
Of reinvigoraticn. What was going on in his
mind made him feel the need OF absolute
Isolation and, so TO speak, insulation.
In spite of himself a sense OF guilt how
cred close 10 every thought, and from this,
had ae been older, he might have foretoic
the outcome of his moral fernent. But he
as young, ard youth is as o5tuse and gE-
certain as IT is agile and flexible.
Over and over he said, 1T is question
of privilege" And then he leaped up, shak-
ing his head Ike young lion. Love is free
He wins VINO cant be cried. His own voice
made him recoil.
XIII.
After the funeral of Rosalynde's grand
father 1t was announced in the newspapers
that Dr. Roger Banderet, with his wife and
daughther, had arrived from New Orleans
and would spend some time at the home OF
his brother, the late General Lucien Ban
deret The prl lie was further Informed that,
BY the generals will, Miss Rosalynde was
made the sole successor TO her grandfather
estate. and that as soon as the proper Tor
malities of a legal settlement were over she
would go with her relatives TO live In New
Orleans.
Brevten read this. and felt a sudden fear
that should he delay longer Rosalynde might
be gone away before he could see her. even
to say good-by. But could he trust himself
to say good-by? Could he say it?
The next day he was called to Indianapolis
upon business which to most men would
have proved very exciting. His lawyer had
hastened from New York with paper for him
to sign in connection with a vast estate sud
denly falling to him from an eccentric oaeh-
elor uncle just dead.
But few additional millions really meant
little to him, nor did his uncle's death dis
turb him, for he had never seen that some
what disreputable and very miseFly kinsman,
nor had he head the least good or him
from any source whatever He did not az
once try to realize what the doubling of his
income stood for in the way of personal in
huenee and material power, and his aecep-
tanee of the estate was perfunctory in the last
degree.
From Indianapolis he had to go TO Chicago
and Milwaukee and Minneapolis, where tedi-
GUS processes of court transfers OF large real
estate interests occupied him for several
weeks At times he felt that the play was
not worth the candle Why should ne waste
all this precious time obeying the beck and
call of that sordid god. business? 1t were
petter to lose all the old miser's grimy treas
ure than 10 miss one accent Of
But here he always broke off, for there was
something IN him that reeoiled.
Matters dragged; the careful and plodding
lawyer insisted upon patience and orderly
attention 10 every detail as it came up for
consideration: and so September was hang
ing a new moon in her dusky evenings sky
when Rreyten once more reached Hawford
Bv this time he had settled the question as
to what he would do, and he meant TO do IT,
Rosalynde and Alfred Ray were lovers and
engaged to be married. To interfere, or try
to interfere, would be wrong. His duty was
clear He would be a man, in short, and
face the inevitable with a grim eountenanee-
All he had TO do was very simple; ne would
call upon Miss Banderet-he sternly thought
of her now as Miss Banderet-ssy good-by,
and be off about his pleasure. He was in
such haste to carry out this simple plan OF
action that when he reached the hotel he
could scarcely be reasonable and wait until
4 o'clock. which, somehow, he had learned
was the hour for evening calls in Hawford.
A pile of letters, accumulated during his
| long absence from the hotel, lay on his table,
but he did not open them, or even look them
over They could wait few hours longer;
in the morning would be time enough.
The streets were empty when he went out;
| listen to a speech by the candidate for gov
ernor In passing an alley .Breyten looked
! up the forlorn stairway leading TO Rayle S
| studio. The electric light from the saloon
| opposite shone upon the grimy ladder. 1t
was not a pleasant moment in which to
recall Rayles position as master OF fate, and
| unconsciously Breyten hastened his steps.
When he reached the Banderet homestead
there was no CLEAN in the windows. He
!
while hearing only a screech-owl and a
gentle soughing in the trees.
He listened, and queer sense of isolation
and defeat came upon him; then he banged
| the heavy koncker until growing echoes and
| elanking responses seemed to return from
] every room within. The house was unten-
| anted, as the very atmosphere declared, and
J Breyten felt as empty as if life itself had
| gone from him on a visit He erammed his
! hands deep into his pockets and stood scowl-
| ing at the surrounding gloom. There was
| nothing to do but go back to the hotel and
! wait until he could find out whittier the Ban
derets had flown. Then he reflected that it
certainly was none of his business to be
hunting on the track Of people who cared
| nothing for him. So he strode straightway
TO his rooms with his head high, doughty
| smiling to think how strong he was.
Among the letters on his table lay one from
| Rayle. He knew it as soon as he spied il,
! although he never before had seen the man S
| ehirography. It may have been the Paris
/ postmsrk that conveyed the impression OF
it may have been intuitive grasp of proba-
! blliies; at all events he tore open the en-
velop and unfolded the letter with no kindly
feeling for the writer, not anticipating any
| thing worth reading, and yet greediy scan
/ ming the lines. Somehow the mans name
1 was a burden to Breyten now the memory
| OF him a shadow in his mind. As for the
! letter, 1t surprised him. He read it twice:
Dear MIR Breyten When you receive this
letter, I shall be in the hands of surgeon
/ specialist who is TO make my leg straight.
He's great doctor; maybe you've heard OF
him. DIR. Jules de Montragin. He says that
! am 10 be perfect physical man in a few
| weeks. He guarantees it. You know what
| this means 10 me, and 10 Rosalynde. II
means more than art fame Or fortune
! am not letting Rosaiynde know that | am
doing this. She would worry and imagine
I dire results; and. besides, 1 want 20 come
| home and surprise her.
/ Now. I've get TO tell you more, which you
VIII keep sacredly secret. / have abandoned
| art. ! can't see how / ever began with II.
The masters here showed me quickly that
| I've not the least call 10 painting not even
! sign painting This has made be willing to
! undergo the terrible ordeal OF the hospital.
| II ! come out all right. I'll go at the law OF
medicine or real estate or anything. II ]
die. it's all over.
To be blunt and honest with you, must
| tell you that I think you are ihe one who
gave NE my chance in life. If / am wrong,
ynun not care; II | an right. words are no
evidence Of the obligation and thankfulness
| feel. Rosalynde writes me often about
| you; she thinks you a wonderful man. and
| so do !. If / come ont of this with perfect
limbs. I'll be wonderful man, too.
! / felt bound to tell you all this, which may
not interest you in the least. The thought
that probably you furnished the money to
pay my way seemed to make Il right for me
/ TO let you know what / am doing At all
events you have my. secret now, and i'm