The San Francisco call., 1904-11-27

TO nave spent 1tSel1 on Grdntleys Sno
had no passion left. save the passion
of giving 1t was to this he made his
appeal; this would be enough to give
him all his way. Yet there was the
child. That was where the struggle
would be; it was there that he dis
trusted the Justice of his own demand
on her, there that his passion had to
drown the inward voices of protest.
1t might have happened that Jeremy,
with his fresh love and fresh ambi-
tions, would have been a relief to such
q position; that his appeal both to
sympathy and to amusement would
have done something to clear the at
mosphere So far as he himself went.
indeed, he was irresistible: his frank
ness and his confidence were not to be
denied. Trusting In the order Of ma
ture he knew no bashfulness; trusting
in himself he had no misgivings. With
out doubt he was right They all
agreed that the old ideal OF original
research on a hundred a year must be
abandoned and that Jeremy must be-
come rich and famous as soon as pos
sible.
Though whether you ought to for
give her in the end is, I must say q
very difficult point" remarked Grant
ley, with wouldbs thoughtful smile.
In cases Of penitence 1 myself favor
forgiveness, Jeremy"
character" suggested Sibylla, taking
the matter more seriously, or treating
it's want Of seriousness with more. ten
derness
I'm inclined to think the young
ladys right at present" said Blake.
What you have to do Is to give her
ground for changing her views-and
to give her mother ground for chang
ing hers, too."
Jeremy listened to them all with en-
crossed interest Whatever their at
titude, they all confirmed his view.
You once spoke Of a berth In the
city?" he said to Grantley.
mot much fame there; but perhaps
you may as well take things by in
stallments."
-T don't like it, you know. It's not
my line at all"
Blake came to the rescue. The Sell
fords drew their money from large and
important dyeing works, although Sell
ford himself had retired from any act
i've share in the work OF the business.
There was room for scientific aptitude
in dyeing works, Blake opined rather
vaguely. You could make chemistry,
for instance, subserve the needs Of
commerce, couldn't your"
THAT really is a good suggestion"
said Jeremy approvingly.
Capital" Grantley agreed. Wen
get at Selford for you, Jeremy; and.
If necessary, we'll club together, and
send to Terra del Fuego, and buy Janet
Selford a new dog"
nounced.
Whereat the men laughed, while ST.
bylla came round and kissed him,
laughing, too. What a very short time
ago, and she had been even as Jeremy,
as sanguine, as confident, seeing her
way as clearly, with just as little war
rant Of knowledge!
Meanwhile you mustn't NOPE, old
chap" said Grantley.
Nope? I've no time for, moping.
Do you think could see this Selford
tomorrow"
I'll give you letter to take to him."
laughed Grantley. But don't ask for
ten thousand a year all at once, you
know"
II know the world. When really
want thing, 1 can wait for it,
But it was evident that he did not
mean to walt very long. Grantley said
ten thousand a year: a thousand would
seem riches to the Milldean rectory
folk
That's right. II you want a thing,
you must be ready to wait for it,
agreed Grantley, with smiling lips and
pucker on his brow.
Sibylla.
These hints Of underlying things
went unheeded by Jeremy, but Blake
marked them. They were becoming
more frequent now as the tension grew
and grew.
There's always a hope with reason
able people"
Opinions differ so much as to what
is reasonable"
"Dora's not reasonable at present,
anyhow"
Jeremy's mind had not Travelled be-
yond his own predicament.
The contrast he pointed, the mock
ing memories he stirred. made his
presence accentuate and embitter the
strife, confirming Sibylla's despair. un-
dermining even Grantley's obstinate
self-confidence; while to Blake Lis ex-
ample, however much one might smile
at ii seemed to cry, "Courage!" He
who would have the prize must not
shrink from the struggle.
That night Sibylla sat long by her
boys cot. Little Frank slept quietly
Che had been named after his god
father, Grantley'S friend, that Lord
Caylesham who was also the Fan
shaws' friend), while his mother fought
against the love and the obligation that
bound her to him-a sad fight to wage.
She had some arguments not lacking
speciousness. To what life would he
grow up in such a home as theirs!
Look at the life the Courtland chill
dren ledl Would not anything be bet
ter than that-any scandal in the past,
any loss in present and future? She
called TO her help, too, that occasional
pang which the helpless little being
gave her, he the innocent cause and
ignorant embodiment Of all her perish
ed hopes. Might not that come oftener?
Might it not grow and grow till 1t
conquered all her love, and she ended
by hating because she might have
loved so greatly? Horrible! Yes, but
had it not nearly come to pass with
one whom she had loved very greatly?
1t could not be called impossible, how
ever to be loathed the idea of 1t might
be. No, not impossiblel Her husband
was the child's father. Did he love
him? No, she cried-she had almost
persuaded herself that his indifference
screened a positive dislike. And II it
were not impossible, any desperate
thing would be better than the chance
of it. But for Grantley she could love,
she could go on loving-the child. Then
"a L. -GxI-