The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-04

dignifying no man as rival who was not
rich. The present, so. was more than any
possible future, how dire soever 1t might
be.
He was mad to prove to her-and to
Shepler-that she was more woman than
either had suppOsed-a woman In spite OF
herself, weak, unreasoning; to prove to
them both that a determined man has
vital power to coerce which no money may
ever equal.
Not until o'clock had he by turns
| urged and fought himself to the ferry. BY
that time he had given up arguing. He
| was dwelling entirely upon his plan OF
| action. Strive and grope as he would.
the thing had driven him on relentlessly.
His reason could not take him beyond the
reach of it's goad. Far as he went he
| loved her even farther. She belonged to
him. He would have her. He seemed to
| have been storing, the day before, a vast
quantity of energy that he was now
drawing lavishly upon. For the time, he
was pure. raw force. needing, to be re-
sistless, only the guidance of a definite
| purpose.
| He crossed the ferry and went to the
hotel, where he shaved and freshened
himself He found Grant, the porter,
waiting for him when he went down
stairs and gave him written directions
to the railroad people to have the car
attached to the Chicago express leaving
at 8 the next morning; also instructions
about his baggage.
| st expect there will be two of us, Grant;
see that the car is well stocked; and here,
take this; go to a florists and get about
four dozen pink roses-la France-can
you remember?-pink- take any
other color, and be sure they're fresh.
Have breakfast ready by the time the
train starts
"Yes, Mistah Puhs'val!'' said Grant,
and added to himself, 'Yo' suttinly do
cay yo'serf mighty handsome. Mistah
Mani"
Going out Of the hotel, he met Taunton
Oldaker, with whom he chatted a few
moments. and then babe goodby.
Oldaker, with a sensitive regard for the
decencics, refrained from expressing the
hearty sympathy he felt for a man who
would henceforth be compelled to live out
of the world
Percival walked out to Broadway, re-
volving his plan. He saw it was but 6
o'clock. He could do nothing for at lea st
an hour. When he noted this he be-
came conscious Of his hunger. He had
eaten nothing since morning. He turned
4 into restaurant on Madison Square and
ordered dinner. When he had eaten, he
sat with his coffee for final smoke of
deliberation. He went over once more the
days arguments for and against the novel
emprise. He had become insensible, how
eyer, to all the dissenting ones. AS a last
rally. he tried to picture the difficulties
he. might encounter He faced all he
could imagine.
"By God, I'll do it!''
"Oui, monsieur" said the waiter, who
had been standing dreamily near, startled
into attention by the spoken words.
That's all-give me the check
AS he went out of the door, a young
woman passed him, looking him straight
In the eyes, From her light swishing
skirts came the faint perfume. of the vio-
, let. 1t chilled the steel Of his resolution
He entered a carriage. It was a hot
humid night. Already the mist was MAX
, Ing gray softness of the air, dulling the
; street lights to ruddy orange. Northward
, over the breast of Murray Hill few late
carriages trickled down toward him
) Their wheels, when they passed, made
swift reflections in the damp glare of the
. asphalt.
I He was pent force waiting to be trans.
. lated into action.
i He drove first to the Milbrey house, or
: the chance that she might be at home
v Jarvis answered his ring.
t Miss Milbrey is with Mrs. Van Geist
sir" Jarvis spoke regretfully He hat
n reasons of his own for believing that thu
l. severance of the Milbrey relationship will
e Mr. Bines had been nothing short OF ca
q lan1itous.
k He rang Mrs. Van Geist's bell, five min
q utes later.
: '"The ladies haven't come back. sir.
: don't know where they might be. Per
8 haps at the Valners', in Fifty-secon,
8 street, SIR
Is He rang the Valners' bell.
n Mrs Van Geist and Miss Milbrev
It They left at least half an hour age
+ SIR
d 60 down the avenue slowly, driver
AT Fortieth street he looked down t
If the middle of the block
,s Mrs Van Geist, alone, was just alight
k ing from her coupe.
ID He sisnalled the driver
r; Go to the other address again, i
l. Thirty-seventh street,
e Jarvis opened the door.
70 Yes, sir-thank you, sir-Miss Milbre
IF is In, sir. I'll see, sir
He crossed the Rubicon of a. door-ma
to and stood In the unlighted hall. At tn
" far end he saw light coming from
s. door that he knew opened into the Ii
IN brary.
< Jarvis came into the light. Behind hi
it appeared Miss Milbrey in the doorway.
eff Miss Milbrey says will you enter II
le library, Mr.. Bines?"
err To be continued tomorrow.
ar ~ uNATURE,S RREu,,,