The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-12-04

his silence alone, but, although he hat
liked the work well enough, while he lie
licvcd it served good ends. was indis
pcnsahle, he had no interest whatever il
it as mere means of livelihood.
Then, as last resource, Mary's hus
band tried taunts. Michael had dor
this thing out of spite; had deliberately
planned to ruin his rival and lost love
and the devil had helped him in his exc,
cution of his foul design. This move
him most, but he knew it to be as false as
it was ingenious, and he only momenta.
rily. wavcrcd undcr..its sting. So, having
vainly spent his last word, Marys hu:
band lett him. The man waSfacing ruiz
and if he left with curses on his lips ! c
was not without excuse
For he was not clever; was possessed
of something less than the average apiti-
tudc for business. He had inherited 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 as to what to do next The dis
coverer knew that of course but he was
not prepared to set the welfare fone man
before the welfare of thousands of ma
he thought oft. His manner of mind
was one somewhat rare in our Western
world. He rated the value of the indiviG-
ual's life so low that he was obliged to
leave out of count altogether the i'll
dividual's comfort. He looked to the
prosperity of nations-a prospect never
conductive to sentiment Yet, as has
been shown, he had the one weak spot
i'll his arinor, only Marys 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 lightly touch
ed with the theatrical, the bizarre. She
was wearing 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 plead
ing, her bare white arms extended I'M
ploringly.
Michael, you cannot mean it-you
cannot" she said.
why not-Mary:" he asked He at
any rate, remembered that they address
ed each other by their Christian names
for the first time s4lsss@4
1--WE should be penniless, Michael,
Frank and |, What could Frank do?
What has he ever done? You cannot
mean to leave US penniless. What will
your riches be worth when you think of
our poverty"
81 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 business
now; as partner, you might make it any
thing. You have such head for it
understand it all so. Ibelieve you would
be a richer man like that than by follow
ing up your discovery"
"Oh, very likely" he interrupted.
Then, why do you want to ruin us
with no gain to YOURSELF"
But a gain to the working of machin-
cry is an immense gain to me" he ex-
planned with painful ineffectualness.
"You could get rich without" she per.
sisted.
Il am fairly certain to acquire riches
anyhow" he said 81 have mania for
work that is sure to bring them in its
train, but | have no personal prediction
that way. have no particular use for
money, as-as you see He looked
eyes following his. The room spoke
sufficiently for himself tor him.
She raised from her survey impatiently.
81 cannot understand!' she exclaimed
at seems such madness-so trivial. A
machine worked one way is as good as
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, suppose"
And we can starve. While you save
for world that does not not want it,
that won't feel it. we can starve?'
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; his look hardening again. saw
the harm she was doing.
She came nearer to him, touched his
arm.
michael, you used to love me- she
said.
For a moment he looked at her
waited as though he would choke tic
words in his throat, yet failed to do 50.
Heaven forgive me, l love you still!'
he cried.
Michael" she whispered. al need |
heavens forgiveness more-and yours.
All the while | love you best-you
only"
Then, why? Mary, it isn't true
at is truc-I swearit. Butch, you will |
never forgive me. thought you would |
always be poor; though loved YOU, | |
did not understand you, did not see what |
you were capable of and couldn't face
poverty therl-I-I cannot now
How you have spoilt my life" he said.
"And needlcssly" she cried. "Oh but |
YOU have your revenge to hand" A
sudden tempest ofgriefseized her. Take |
it. Take it! Perhaps, after all, shall |
feel better then. Thefat years have been
hard enough to live through"
II shall not take it., he said. "What |
Won wrecked orr lives for that at least