The San Francisco call., 1904-12-04

In being just what he had always been
to her from the beginning. however
sore trial her unreasOnableness and
her vagaries might put him TO. This
generosity to Jeremy would be a fine
example Of his chosen attitude, a fine
move in the strategy on which he had
staked the ultimate success Of his
campaign against Sibylla-
'Ie I decide TO do it. III tell Sibylla
myself, at my own time, and in my own
way--remember that" he said TO Kate
RaymOre.
She had an idea that things had not
been going quite smoothly, and nodded
in a wise fashion She was picturing a
pretty scene Of sentiment when Grant
ley confessed his generosity or the
real state of his mind she had no idea.
but her own conception of the case was
enough to ensure her silence.
= Grantley went to work quietly, say
ing nothing to Jeremy. approaching the
working partners through Selford.
learning what they thought OF Jeremy.
not letting them suppose that the sum
required was lightly to come by or
was considered a small one. making.
like a good man Of business, the best
bargain that he could for the object OF
his bounty. These negotiations took
some days, and during those days
Jeremy's heart lost something Of it's
buoyancy, though nothing OF it's cOur-
age. London was having its effect on
his receptive mind-the crowd, the
stress, the push. the competition Cour-
age and brains enough to rise by?
Perhaps, but not enough to rise by
quickly. A walk about the streets, a
look at the newspapers, the talk at the
Metropolitan Radical, all taught him
that. Wait and WOrk-Wait and work
That was what they all said-and none
of them said that it was easy to lay
your hands on five thousand pounds.
nfr~14~ D, 70 civ
through those folds Of young self-cOnfi-
dence. Jeremy grew sober; he was no
more so gay and so assured in talking
with Eva RaymOre. He allowed him
self to dwell less on that mythical re-
turn to Milldean with fame and riches.
Now and then, il must be confessed.
he had 10 brace himself up lest his
very courage should falter. He con-
trived to keep it; but with IL there
came now the feeling new to jeremy
a humility, a sense that he was. after
all, as other men We're. and neither by
natural endowment nor by any rare
caprice Of fortune TO be different from
them or TO find his life other than
theirs He, too, was not above the
need of Z helping hand; for want OF it
he, too, might have TO tread very long
and very dreery paths before he made
much impression on the hill which he
had set out to climb so gaily, and with
such a mood as this he was as incap-
able of expecting any sudden interpOsi-
tiOn of outside aid as of refusing IL
when it came. He would protest, he
would declare that he must refuse, but
refuse in the end he could not. The
fierce Jealousy of his independence was
cooled by his new experience OF the
world
He heard first Of what was being
done from one of the partners down at
ROmfOrd The matter was practically
concluded, he was told; in two years
time he was to have the junior part
nership, and the share allotted to him
at that date would be somewhat larger
in consideration of the stipulated cap
ital being paid immediately-it hap
pened 70 be wanted for an extension OF
the buildings. Jeremy threw over work
for that day. and hurried back TO Lon
dOn-tO refuse. But all the way he
was thinking Of the incredible differ
ence this benevolent interpOsitiO1
would make
He found Grantley in his study after
lunch The deed regulating the ar
rangements between the partners On
the one side and Jeremy and himself
on the other was before him. A look
at Jeremy's face told him that Jeremy
knew.
II can't take it. you know"
Jeremy blurted out
You can't escape the obligations ST.
byIla has brought on you by marrying
me" smiled Grantley.
.Of course Sibylla's been at yOu-told
you she couldn't be happy unless"
Nothing Of the kind. Sibylla knows
nothing about it; and. what's more, she
isn't TO know till L choose to tell her
till choose. not yOu-that's part Of the
bargain, Jeremy"
Jeremy sat down. Anxious to avoid
a formal talking-Over Of the matter,
Grantley got up and lit cigarette.
Then why have you done it?" asked
Jeremy.
Grantley shrugged his shoulders.
"Of course it's the one thing in tho
world for me; but-but 1 wanted to do
it for myself. you know" Grantley still
smiled on him. with a touch OF mock
cry now. Yes, well, 1 know
couldn't" He looked at Grantley IN a
puzzled way. What makes it WORSE
he went on, 'is that I've been doing
you an injustice in a kind OF way. I
knew you were always kind and-and
jolly, but somehow thought you were
a fellow who wouldn't put himself out
very much fOr-anybody else.
I'm not putting myself out. I like
it."
.'PIanking down five Thousand, and
not knowing when you'll get it back.
if ever you do? If you like that for its
own sake, II TdLnGI a rare TASTE
Now don't jaw any more, said
Grantley with friendly impatience. II
was just going to sign the deed when
you came in. 1 should have done IL BY
now but / must have witness, and
didn't want to ring Thompson up from
his dinner. Well ring him up now.
I'm not an ass" said Jeremy !
don't think that because a man mar
ries a woman he's bound to provide for
her family-Or to like them, either"
You grow in worldly wisdom"
Yes, L fancy 1 do i know a BIT
more about myself. too. I might have
worked ten years and not got this
money"
s.Oh, thank my forefathersI I've not
worked ten years, or ten minutes~either,
+. for you" His back had been TO
Jeremy He turned round now as he
said slowly: you may consider IL as
a thank Offering for my happiness with
Sibylla."
And why isn't she to known
II like it better that way for the
present I'm entitled to make that con-