Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-04-17
SUpERFhUOUS
~ CASH ~
BY E. E. oHRNETT.

I Win AAE NAAaH AatAAN VI ~
sheets came startled exclamation and
coffee and steak at many tables grew
cold. Neale and Company had failed.
| For Neale himself the readers did not
concern themselves; he had many
| irons in the fire and the falling of one
was a bagatelle, but Company was
a different story. Phil Graham's all
was vested i'm that title, and the
town loved Phil. Moreover, the town
had advised him as to the unlucky
venture, so responsibility weighted its
sympathy.
Something must be DONE" said
Maj. Anderson, taking gulp from
his chilled cup.
But what?" asked pretty Nell
Then there was a pause, with a family
of wrinkled brows.
"You see," said Miss Benton, who
was the majors ward, there is moth.
! ing a man is more fastidious about
than the way he is helped"
The Andersons all looked at her
and then took demurely to their
breakfasts. They had suddenly re.
called the fact that this subject was
of more Importance to her than to
anyone else except Company" him.
self, and they found comfort in the
| thought of her income.
True" and the major smiled as he
Endorsed her remark, land the greater
his need the more pigheaded Phil win
get"
so, if l might suggest" coloring
daintily.
"Yes?" The major bent his hand.
some gray head in gracious defer
enee.
II should let him alone"
"oh," said Nell, aghast, mot even
sympathize?"
Doesn't sympathy in such a case
carry a bit of humiliation? As if one
were not equal to emergencies"
The major laughed. "of course"
he said, "a young lady with three
thousand a year in her own right
knows about the way to fight emer-
gencies."
At this point a note came in for
Miss Benton, which she excused her
self to read. She grew white over it.
The Andersons after furtive glance
apiece kept their eyes politely to
their plates and talked as fast as pos
sible on foreign subjects. All stood
up finally with breaths of relief Miss
Benton followed the major to his
study and closed the door after her. |
Il knew his courage" she said, alb
ruptly, "but l forgot the weak side
Of his pride"
"Ah,' said the major, gently put
ting her into a chair, she releases
your"
(Which is absurd" with a wan
smile, ''what shall l do?"
"Well," walking up and down and
frowning, "as I've said, he's pig |
headed; but" a sudden smile flash
ing out, "a beautiful girl'-and he |
made a little courtly sweep of hands |
to show the helplessness of the world |
before her will.
NO." flushing, "he has gone away"
Yes, he had gone promptly away.
A vision of Miss Benton's eyes with
tears among the lashes went along,
but he frowned it all down, rejecting
upon the two or three households of
his acquaintance where the wife held
the purse. A pretty position for a
man Of honor and brains and muscle
to call on his wife to pay his butcherl
So he hurried west, well from the
sight of Miss Benton and did book
keeping at $1,000 a year.
But a woman's will is not so easily
dismissed. Some three months later
there came a letter from the one
friend Of the old town to whom he
had confided his address, and it had
this paragraph: You have heard Of
Miss Benton's trouble? 1t is rumored
that she has lost absolutely every
thing, and l judge there can be no
for she has sold her ponies,
dismissed her maid and is advertis-
ing, poor girl, for a position as gov
eruess."
That day Phil spent studying do
nestle economy and the possibilities
of twelve hundred a year. The next
found him with a fortnight's leave of
absence and a seat in an east-bound
train.
Il ought TO send you away" said
Miss Benton, with a sigh and a pout
and a furtive glance of alteration,
but I cannot"
Perhaps" laughed Phil, "you may
do that later; but" with a look in
hnitely satisfactory to Miss Benton,
money is not everything"
Some two years had passed when
the major happened in Chicago and
called on his late ward. The street
was not a fashionable one, and the
house, though coy and artistic. was
small and plain.
you don't mean to saw" gasped ,
the major, staring from the late Miss
Bentou's simple dress to the very II
plain furniture of her sitting-room. ;
''you don't mean to say"