The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-12-11

that had kept Ridgeley from speaking
out. In the old days Ridgeley had bad
nothing beyond the promise of bis very
moderate wits. His uncle. who had
educator him, could barely tolerate
him until his own son died and left
poor Ridgeley alone to rrtrrit the mil
lions. That was a month after Mays
marriage. She had not been dead sI1
months when Ridgeley was In posses.
sion of the big estate.
If those two had married. Trenwick
dashed hand across his eyes He
was incoming there, with life itself at
stake. Ridgeley was his last hope,
and Ridgeley had failed him. He had
humbled himself to supplication. He
could not do it again. He was learn
ing that there are things very much
earder than death. All that remained
now for him was to make an end of
things as quickly and as decently as
possible.
As noiselessly as by magic two tall.
foaming goblets had appeared. Ridge.
ley motioned him to come and take
one of them, himself eagerly carrying
the other to his lips with a mumbled,
Here's luckr' Suddenly Trenwick
was conscious of raging thirst He
emptied his glass at draft and set it
down, clinking it lightly against the
massey silver tray. Ridgeley beamed
vacuously on him. Really, you'll
agree Jenkins has Il touch" he said
Have another Do, It'll set you
up so near the clouds you won't come
down again until tomorrow"
Trenwick shook his head. II must
keep away from the Clouds" he said.
you know how used to build cas-.
ties there. | have never built one
since May died"
Ridgeley set down his glass. This
time the CULVER rang underneath 1t.
ITS odd about US three" he said,
speaking very low. May was the
only one to marry. | wonder how we
happened not to."
"Oh. I've always had too little mon
ey and you too much" Trenwick said,
turning toward the door. so long.
old mani Get over the caution of a
capitalist and marry before it's too
late"
stop, Are you going back down
there Rdgeley asked. nodding In the
direction of the street. Trenwick shook
his head. mo use. | cannot alter
anything" he said II think | shall
go to my club for an hour. After that
-Upll | haHn mot unitn 1aoiIo5
Come back" Ridgeley said. IL
want to talk to you. IL haven't been
quite square with you. 1t is-not the
money mind. But-you were not
square with me-in the old time, you
know. May love her. love her
yet. And you-you came between us.
So Eve waited to get even, you know.
| knew you'd come to me some time.
Oh, I'm not quite such a fool as look
You-you kept me from getting what
| wanted most in the world Now
the scores eVen-and land | can't
be glad"
You have done right was cur to
come to you. knowing what did"
Trenwick said thickly. 81 cannot ask
your pardon. because | cannot pardon
myself. | crossed your path because |
loved my sister and was ambitious for
her. BY the light had | was right
Yes. You We're right" Ridgeley
said, dropping his head upon the table,
with sigh that was half n sob. Il
had nothing and wasn't much myself.
But, oh, If you had let me have M-May
I-feel-as-t though might have
conquered the world"
"GOodby!" Trenwick said huskily.
again moving toward the door. Half
way he turned back. Ridgeley still sat
with his head on the table. Trenwick
went up to him and said In his ear,
"Will you do one thing for me, Ridge
ley?'
what is it," Ridgeley asked, with.
out stirring.
ITO keep this while you live and de
stroy it before you die" Trenwick said,
slipping a golden oval into his hand.
Mays miniature" he began. Il can
not bear to have it found on me and
maybe exploited as the most sensa-
tional feature of the case. There will
be noise and dirt enough in it anyway
| don't want IT to touch her, yet |
could not destroy this myself"
81 would kill you if you did" Ridge.
ley cried. clutching the picture and car
rying 1t to his lips. May. darling" he
mOaned. they shall not take you away
from me again. | have cried night aft
er night because | could not remember
YOU your eyes. your lips and all Now
| will not give you up for millons-all
the millions in the world"
There is no need. Goodby.' Tren.
wick said, with his hand upon the
latch. Ridgeley almost beloved after
him, Come back"
His ch0kbook lay upon the table be,
side him. With shaking hand be
scrawled his name upon a leaf and
tossed it blank to Trenwick
"Fill that in for what you like" he
said NO; don't thank me Only come
back as soon as you have things
straight"
Trenwick walked away as one blind
seeing all things through mist but
his spirit was enlightened