The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-08-29

And so," he said bitterly, after all
that have gone through and all I've
done, you want me to give this fortune
up. My God, Elsie, you know what q
hateful thing poverty is as well as do!
Think what this money would buy!
Love for one another. we have already,
and we can get besides every pleasure
the heart cah wish for. ] know as well
as you do II was dirtily earned, and !
hated the work Of getting It, and I'll
never dabble In anything so foul again.
My instincts bid me live as an upright
gentleman, and with the income I'd
do that and forget was ever anything
else. When / cease to be poor, cease
to be In the way Of temptation. Don't
you see? And, besides. there Is no
chance Of being found out The money
is supposed to be blotted out of exist
ence, and its there now in the Glades az
private mine to dig at as we choose.
Besides I'm bound in honor to go on
after getting thus far. IT isn't as II
were working for my own hand alone.
Shelf's my partner, and can't neglect
his interests for a sentiment"
Mr.. Shelf may do as he chooses, Pat.
You yourself may do as you choose,
dear, but / can't alter what I've said.
love money, heaven knows, but /
couldn't use money Of that sort. You
might forget how 1t came. / couldn't.
! can't forget some things. I've a ter
rible memory when / don't want 1t to
act. tried to forget you, Pat, ever
since you left us in England tiil the
day saw you here, but T couldn't. I
used to pray for forgetfulness all those
years, and II wouldn't come, and IL I
were to marry you now, dear, with that
money, should always remember just
In the same way"
What is the use of carrying thumb
SCraVVa I'm vOfiY~ f,noIr l,a olra1 ha1R
angrily. ~.
She smiled a little panied smile. Can't
help 1t, Pat I suppose it's the way
I'm built. But I'm only telling you
II thought" he said brusquely, you
wanted to go back into society and
have steam yacht and do things com
fortably. Now, without this quarter of
million, which is lying ready to be
picked up, you have R200 year, and
l have $500, which makes $500 in all.
Now I might point out to you that one
can't do much continuous splashing
among smart people on that, in Lon
don or anywhere else, unless, Of course,
you married some one else"
She flushed painfully. "Oh, Pat!" she
said, Il don't think deserved that
from you" f'E- ~
He dropped his arms round her and
drew her to him tenderly. mo, dear,
you didn't. was a brute. But it's
hard for man to speak soberly when
he's just had all his plans smashed to
the smallest kind OF fragments and
stamped upon by the only person in the
world whose opinion he cares a rap
about. or course I know all this busi-
ness was theft, a piece of piracy pure
and simple. But circumstances ell
bowed me into 1t, and / bowed my
head to them. Circumstances--you,
that Is, and you entirely-now drag me
out or 1t, and I'm going to bow again
and say 'kismet.' Only 1 wonder what
VIII become of the money. swear
Sheir shan't have the whole half mil
ion and the steamer too. But / don't
see how we are to give my share back
TO the rightful owners. One can't very
well draw q check on the Everglades
and send 1t to them anonymously by