Charlevoix county herald., 1907-03-09

| have come to ask you TO pretend
| to give it to her-I, of course, giving
it 10 you TO give"
Again we looked full and fixedly
each at the other. Come to the
house, Blackjack" he said at last in
a tone that was the subtlest of COM
| pliments. And he linked his arm in
mine. Halfway TO the rambling stone
house, severe in it's lines, yet fine and
homelike, quantity resembling it's own
er, as mans house always should,
he paused. Il owe you an apology"
said he After all my experience of
this world of envy and malice, |
should have recognized the man even
in his caricatures of his enemies. And
you brought the best possible Gre
dentials-you are well hated. To be
well hated by the human race and by
the creatures mounted on it's back is
distinction. sir. 1t is the crown OF
the true kings of this world
We seated ourselves on the wide
veranda; he had champagne and wa
ter brought, and cigars; and we pro-
ceeded to get Notwithstanding pro-
notes cordially and sympathy like an
initial misunderstanding. 1t was a
good hour before this kind-hearted
hardsoft, typical old-fashioned New
Highlander reverted to the subject of
my visit. Said he: And now young
man, may | venture to ask some ex.
tremely personal questions?"
IN the circumstances" replied l.,
"you have the right to know every
thing. did not come to you without
first making sure what manner of
man | was to find" At this he
blushed, pleased as a girl at her first
beau's first compliment. And YOU
Mr.. Forester, can not be expected to
embark in the little adventure | pro.
pose, until you have satisfied your.
sell"
First the why of your plan
Il am in active business" replied
|, and | shall be still more active
That means financial uncertainty"
His suspicion of me started up from
its doze and rubbed its eyes. All
You wish to insure yourself"
Yes" was my answer, but not in
the way you hint. 1t takes away 4
mans courage just when he needs it
most, to feel that his family Is in
volved in his venture
why do you not make the settle
ment direct?" he asked, partly rcas-
sured.
Because ! wish her to feel that it
&c hat 1 ri oh
it whatever"
He thought about this. His eyes
were keen as he said, rs that your
real reason?"
| saw l must be unreserved with
him. Part of it." | replied. Tine
rest is-she would not take it from
me"
The old man smiled cynically.
Have you tried?" he inquired.
IF / had tried and failed, she would
have been on the alert for an indirect
attmpt"
Try her, young man. said he,
laughing III this day there are few
sum lrom anybody for anything.
And woman - and a New
York woman-and a New York fash
ionable woman-and daughter OF
old Ellersly-she'll take it as baby
takes the breast"
She would not take it, said |.
My tone. though | strove to keep
angry protest out of it, because l
needed him, caused him to draw back
instantly. Il beg your pardon, said
he. Il forgot for the moment that |
was talking to man young enough
still to have youths delusiOns about
women. You'll learn that they're hui
man, that it's from them We men in
herit our weaknesses. However, let's
assume that she won't take it, Why
won't she take your money? What
is there about it that repels Ellersly's
daughter, brought up in the sewers
of fashionable New York-the sewers,
sir!"
"She does not love me-" / answered.
Il have hurt you" he said quickly,
in great distress at having compelled
me to expose my secret wound.
''The wound does not ache the
worse" said l, for my showing it
to you" And that was the truth. |
looked over toward Dawn Hill whose
towers could just be seen. I'VE live
there" | pointed. She is-like a
guest in my house.
When | glanced at him again, his
face betrayed a feeling of which |
doubt if any one had thought him ca
pable in many year. Il see that you
love her." he said, gently as a mother.
YES" | replied. And presently |
went on: The idea of any one 1
love being dependent on me in a
sordid way is most 6istasteful to me.
And since she does not love me, does
not even like me, it is doubly neces-
sary that she be independent"
Il confess l do not quite follow you,"
said he.
sseIJo., o.o che oaaa.t ao,th;0.. f,D,~.