The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-02

rangements for some money What
would you like to do this year?"
She raised her head and looked at
him with clear bright gaze. If he could
so easily raise the money why had he
rot done so before? He knew how
much she wanted it. Her happiness
did not count Only when his quixotic
ideas of family honor were attacked
did he bestir himself.
81 am going to Uncle Amos she
replied distintly.
"What?" asked Thorpe incredulous-
ly.
For answer she pointed to a letter
lying open on the table. Thorpe took
it and read:
My dear Niece:
Both Mrs. Thorpe and myself more
than rejoice that time and reflection
have removed that, 1 must confess,
natural prejudice which the unfortu-
nate family affair, to which 1 will not
allude, raised in your mind against u.s.
AS we said long ago, our home is your
when you may wish to make it so. You
state your present readiness to come
Immediately. Unless you wire to the
contrary, we shall expect you next
Tuesday evening on the 4:40 train.
shall be at the Central Station myself
to meet you. If your brother is now
with you, l should be pleased to see
him also, and will be most happy to
give him a position with the firm.
"Aff. your uncle,
Amos Thorpe.
New York, June 6, 1881
On finishing the last paragraph the
reader crumpled the letter and threw
it into the CRATE.
ST am sorry that you did that, Hell
en-" said he but I don't blame you,
and it can't be helped. We won't need
to take advantage of his kind offer
now"
''I intend to do so, however" replied
the girl coldly.
What do you mean?"
mean," she cried, that am sick
of waiting on your good pleasure.
waited, and shaved, and stood unbear-
able things for two years. I did it
cheerfully. And in return I don't get
a civil word, not a decent explanation,
not even a-caress," she fairly sobbed
out the last word. 81 can't stand it
any longer. 1 have tried and tried and
tried, and then when I've come to you
for the littlest word of encouragement,
you have told me l was young and
ought to finish my educationl You
haven't a cent when it is a question of
what I want but you raise money
quick enough when your old family is
| insulted. Isn't it my family, too? And
then you blame me because, after wait
ing in vain two years for you to do
something, I start out to do the best 1
can for myself I'm not of age; but
you're not my GUARDIAN"
During this long speech Thorpe had
stood motionlesS, growing paler and
paler. Like most noble natures, when
absolutely in the right, he was inca
pable of defending himself against mis-
| understandings.
You know that is not true, Helen"
he replied, almost sternly.
at is true!" she asseVerated, land
I'm through"
tits little hardl" said Thorpe pass
ing his hand YEARLY before his eyes,
ito work hard this way for years, and
then"
She laughed with hard little note
of scorn.
Helen" said Thorpe with new en-
ergy, 81 forbid you to have anything
to do with Amos Thorpe l think he
is a scoundrel and a sneak"
81 shall do as I please she replied,
crossing her hands behind her.
Thorpe's eyes darkened.
1--WE have talked this over a great
many times" he warned, land you've
always agreed with me. Remember,
you owe something to the family"
Most of the family seem to owe
something" she replied with a f1ippant
laugh. I'm sure I didn't choose the
family. If l had, I'd have picked out
better one!''
You may take your choice, Helen, :"
he said formally. eff you go into the
household of Amos Thorpe. if you de-
liberately prefer your comfort to your
honor, we will have nothing more in
common
They faced each other with the cool,
deadly glance of the race, so similar
in appearance but so unlike in nature.
Il, too, offer you home, such as it
is" repeated the man. "Choose!'
At the mention of the home for
which means were so quickly forthcom-
ing when Thorpe, not she, considered it
needful, the girls eyes flashed. She
stopped and dragged violently from
beneath the bed a fiat steamer trunk,
the lid of which she threw open. A
dress lay on the bed. With fine ges-
ture she folded the garment and laid
it in the bottom of the trunk Then
she knelt. and without another glance
at her brother standing rigid at the
door, began feverishly to arrange the
folds.
The choice was made. He turned
and went out
(rNo ha Continued ~ Nj