The weekly examiner., 1901-08-24
to her aunt. But Louise was the

natural thing for her to con1de at once in her aunt, being sure in this instance of her perfect sympathy.
 "Yes, do object" replied Stuart firmly. He looked straight into his aunt's face.
 'On what grounds?'
 "The character of the man," answer ed Stuart quietly.
 "His character! Do you know that the Vasplaines have held the very highest position in the best society for several generations? Has not young yasplaine been received everywhere in society. where you and Louise have beenY'
 Ut is possible that society may have more regard for wealth and family name than for the little consideration of character and morals. I have heard sometimes that that is the case," said Stuart, with sad smile.
 "Why have you allowed the Vas plaines to come into the house, then, if they are such dreadful people" asked Louise as she sat in one of the deep easy chairs, with her feet out toward the fire.
 Stuart did not reply. He was dis tracted by the events of the evening. He realized that his home life was dis turbed by the conflicting factors which necessarily entered 1t with all his new CT ideas and definitions of life. Noth- ing could be more certain than the fact that henceforth the lives of his sister and Aunt Royal lay in directly oppo- site ways from his. He felt the need less irritation of the present discussion and longed to escape from 1t.
 Louise, however, had no intention of letting Stuart go without suffering from blow she knew so we'll how to inflict. Aunt, told Stuart he ought not to object to my choice If didn't object to his. don't think, though, that we shall be disgraced by a Salva- ton Army alliance in the family. Miss Dwight was presented to Una and her escort this evening, and by the appear ance of her face it was easy to see she thought them a very handsome cou- ple."
 Stuart clinched his hands tightly as he stood with his back to the fire. The old passion rose in him to its highest point, and nothing but the grace of God kept 1t from bursting out into . torrent such as in the other days had more than once terrified Louise, reck- less as she was in provoking 1t.
 There was a deep silence in the heavily perfumed room. Stuart drew long breath. Then he looked fear lessly into Aunt Royals eyes, and close by his sister.
 Louise" he said, and at first his voice was calm, even loving, "you do not know how you hurt me. I expect to ask Miss Dwight to be my wife, but I will never subject her to the humilia- tion of living under the roof of a house where"-
 He broke off abruptly and went out of the room. He felt. unable to finish calmly. Aunt Royal and Louise sat up quite late talking over the whole mat ter. It is not necessary to enter into it. The whole situation was becoming un- bearable so far as Stuart was concern ed, so the two women agreed.
 What if Stuart marries her and brings her home here?' Aunt Royal would say.
 ""Then I shall leave the house, but I don't believe Rhena Dwight will ever marry him." Louise would reply. And there the matter rested for the time be- ing, ill the thought of the women.
 The next morning Stuart did not ap- pear at breakfast. He left word that he had very important business at the office and could not wait for the late meal to which Aunt Royal and Louise were ill the habit of sitting down.
 TT H. ings where he felt the necessity of tell ing Rhena all. What Louise had said about that chance meeting at the hall disturbed him seriously. But the great question with him now was to know the truth from Rhena herself.
 He spent the forenoon at the office. There was plenty to do. The fever and the want on the part of the miners families were grim factors now in all Champion. The ether ranges were fast feeling the effects of the double scourge of sickness and suffering. Scores of the miners children were dy ing daily To meet the emergency Stuart used his money lavishly. Ev- erythine in the way of medicines and nurses supplies went out of the office in large quantities. He took a melan- choly pleasure in spending his money this way. He could at least relieve some pain, lessen some anguish. It was a drop only in the great ocean of the misery, but he had some satisfac- ton in contributing that much.
 A little after noon word came to him that the child in the cabin at the end of Cornishtown was dying. Stuart had no particular reason for going up there more than to any other cabin where other children were dying, but somehow he felt drawn in that direc- tion, and about o'clock he drove up the narrow wagon road and left his horse and cutter at the same place where he had stopped the night he had found Rhena.