The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1903-08-27

f AAS WIS
everything, and he was not to be
bribed. He was offered a partnership
In the business and its entire manage
ment chat, indeed, he had already, ex.
cept in acknowledgment in return for
his silence alone, but, although he had
liked the work well enough while he
believed 1t served good ends, was in
dispensable, he had no interest what
ever in 1t as a mere means of liveli-
hood.
Then, as a last resource, Mary's hus-
band tried taunts. Michael had done
this thing out Of spite; had deliberately
planned to ruin his rival and his lost
love, and the devil had helped him In
the execution of his foul design! This
moved him most, but he knew it to be
as false as it was ingenious, and he
only ~momentarily wavered under its
sting. So, having vainly spent his last
word, Mary's husband left him. The
man was facing ruin, and if he left
with curses on his lips he was not
without excuse.
For he was not clever; was pos
sessed of something less than the aver
age aptitude for business. He had in
herited all he possessed, and he had no
practical knowledge of the work. He
had always depended on Michael, and,
now that Michael had failed him, he
was utterly at sea al to what to do
next. The discoverer knew that, of
course, but he was not prepared to set
the welfare Of one man before the vel
fare of thousands of machines-that
was all it meant to him, all he thought
of it. His manner of mind was one
somewhat rare in our Western world.
He rated the value of the individuals
life so low that he was obliged to leave
out of count altogether the individuals
comfort. He looked to the prosperity
Of %nations-a prospect never conduc-
i've to sentiment. Yet, as has been
shown he had the one weak spot in
his armor, only Mary's husband had
singularly failed to reach it
Thus Mary was forced to come to
him herself; it was simply because she
was Mary that her coming was lightly
touched with the theatrical, the BIZ
zarre. She was wearing a long, loose
cloak, and she paused to fling it off
before she spoke, standing before him
in a trailing black dress, her beautiful
bare neck innocent of ornament, her
blue eyes full of pleading, her bare
white arms extended imploringly.
Michael. you cannot mean it-you
cannot" she said.
why not-Mary?" he asked. He, at
any rate, remembered that they ad-
dressed each other by their Christian
names for the first time,
1--WE should be penniless. Michael,
Frank and L! What could Frank do?
What has he ever done? You cannot
mean to leave us penniless. What will
your riches be worth to you when you
think of our poverty"
II am not considering the making of
money at ALL" he said, but she did not
appear to heed him.
you have full control of the bust
ness now; as partner, you might make
it anything. You have such a head
for it-understand it all so. l believe
you would be a richer man like that
than by following up your discov-
cry"
"Oh, very likelyv he interrupted.
"Then why do you want to ruin US
with no gain to yourself?"
But a gain to the working of ma
chinery is an immense gain to me,' he
explained with painful Intellectual
ness.
You could get rich without" she
persisted.
Il am fairly certain to acquire riches
anyhow" he said. 81 have q mania for
work that is sure to bring them in its
train, but 1 have no personal predilec-
ton that way. l have no particular
use for money, as-as you see." He
looked round his bare, comfortless
room, her eyes following his. The room
spoke sufficiently for himself and for
him.
She turned from her survey impa-
tiently. Il cannot understand she
exclaimed. 1T seems such madness
so trivial! A machine worked one
way is as good as a machine worked
another-so long as it works"
They'd work much better my way"
he said, smiling family, land at much
less expense"
Then you do care for money!"
"Not spending, but saving it,"
But what for? Who for?"
"Well, the world at large. l suppose"
"And we can starve! Your friends
can %starve! While you save for a
world that does not want it, that won't
feel it, we can s~tarye.w
She saw his face whiten; saw him
vince.
You shan't do that, Mary"
"Oh." she cried. you will give us in
charity with one hand what you have
stolen from us with the other! That is
worthy of you. good of you indeed"
But although she seemed carried
away, she was still watching him
eagerly, and she saw bis lQ0k harden,