Gilpin observer., 1901-02-07

said Stuart
servants We're acting under his ia
Tiers orders. He flushed red and then
turned white at the thought. 1t was
not like Ross Duncan to do such n
thing. And yet he might do it. And
then the rest of the lcttcr-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. 1t
was not because Eric 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 brooding,
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. Stuart?" They shook
hands stifiiy and then sat down on the
rock. Each seemed little shy of the
other.
Stuart was the first to speak. He
knew from experience that Eric would
never say the first word.
II have just been reading your letter.
There Is some mistake about your be-
ing refused admission to the house.
Father would never do such n 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. 1t was
harder TO brea!; over the gap OF years
growth in manhood than he had
thought. Then he burst out with Il
short laugh:
"Oh. l say Eric, what nonsense for
us to be sitting here like fools on this
rock as IL we were afraid of each 9TH
er! In memory of the old days. will
you put your hand on my shoulder and
look me in the face?
ut is not the same. Eric" said Stu
art. with sigh at last. letting his hand
slip from the others shoulder
"A better one, hope. The times
have made me sober and gray"
"IIow is it. Eric? Is there any diff
ference in your feeling toward me?"
mo" 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 mo. But
you are the one to change"
II! What change has there been In
me-" Stuart put the question almost
Indignantly.
"iou have seen the world. What can
l be to you now? More and more rs
the time goes OH the difference must
widen. You are gentleman of wealth
and leisure. and am n workingman."
You don't need to be. Eric. You
could get ahead. You could command
any place in time with your intelligence
and-nnd'-
Stunrt hesltnted for just the word.
but Eric said quietly:
IL have chosen my place. A work
ingman l am. and n workingman I
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 nll this
ground before. DO you not love meY
Indeed. truly do" Eric turned his
his friend.
"And do I not love you?"
"Ycs." replied Eric simply. "But our
lives nrc of necessity widening out far
ther apart. What can prevent that?
In the very nature OF the situation 1t
could not he otherwise. Here am ad-
vlsng thousands OF men to course
which Is directly opposed by your IA
thcr and would be by you II 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. Eric that friendship true
CONTINUED NEXT wEEKJ