Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-08-13

1or It DeIOre ne was done, but here
was, at least, something definite to be-
gin with. Since he might not have
Mary-a wife to cherish and protect
he had extended his protection over the
great whirling world Of machinery.
He promised himself the pleasure Of
setting thousands of machines going
in an easier, more nearly perfect man
ner, as lover promises himself to
perfect his 1ady's charms with ropes
of pearls.
When his employer and former friend
came to him. demonstrating, agitating,
he found him utterly immovable.
Mary's husband offered him the largest
sum at his command for the suppress
sion Of the discovery; but money was
nothing to him, his discovery was
everything, and he was not to be
bribed. He was offered a partnership
In the business and it's entire manage
ment (that, indeed, he had already, ex-
cept in acknowledgment in return for
his silence alone, but, although he had
liked the work we'll enough while he
believed it served good ends. was in
dispensahle he had no interest what
ever in it as a mere means of liveli-
hood.
Then, as last resource, Marys 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
| sung. SO, having vaIn1y spent MS 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 net 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 as 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 well
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.
! life so low that he was obliged to leave
out of count altogether the individuaPs S
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 bi-
zarre. She was wearing long, loose
cloak, and she paused to fling it off
before she spoke, standing before him
in 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 1t-you
cannotv' 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.
"We should be penniless, Michael
Frank and I! 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 1t all so. I believe
YOU would be q richer man like that
than by following up your discov
cry
ooh, very likelyv' he interrupted.
s3Then why do you wait to ruin US
with no gain to yourse1f?"
s'But a gain to the working of ma
chinery is an immense gain to me-" hi
explained with painful Intellectual
ness.
.'You could get rich without" she
persisted.
81 am fairly certain to acquire riches
ANYHOW" he said. II have mania fol
work that is sure to bring them in it
train. but I have no personal predilec
tion that way. have no particular
use for money, as-as you see.' III
looked round his bare, comfortles
, room. her. eyes following his. The room