Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10

Relieve me-" the lawyer protested, 81
would won a e,. nothing unbeeomins a gentle
ritoh q iittle?
Jirns answer was no reassuring. ION
the contrary, We never DO these primitive
races Justice. know the grief OF the or
binary woman. 1t doesn't prevent her from
looking into the mirror to see II her bon
net IL on straight; but Nat-u-ritch would
throw herself into the river out there and
I should be her murderer as much as If l
pushed her in"
Then Petr,e devised new scheme to test
Jim's resolution.
Why not take her with you to England?"
he asked.
'Impossible!" Jim answered. Wed both
be much happier here. Even here l am a
squaw man-that means socially ostra-
cized." bitter laugh broke from him.
You see, We have social distinctions out
here"
How absurd"
Social distinctions usually are" and Jim
laid his arm on Petrie's. He was growing
tired of the discussion. Petrie felt that
Jim wished to dismiss 1t. so Ha determined
to play his trump card. This sacrifice of
splendid fellow was madness. Years from
now. Jim would thank him that he had
urged him to abandon this life to which he
chung with his mistaken sense of right
Il think 1 am justified in violating my in
structions" Petrie began. You were not
to know that Lady Kerhill accompanied me
to this country
Jims hands frightened on Petrie. Diana
here?" Furtively he looked about him. as
though fearful of seeing her. In Amer
ica?' He waited to be quickly treasured
that there was no danger of her coming to
the ranch.
II left them at Fort Duchesne-her lady
ship and her cousin, Sir John Applegate. l
was to bring you there and give you what
was intended to be an agreeable surprise
but"
Thank God you did not bring her here"
Jim moved away. with his hands clinched
'She will be disappointed, deeply disap-
pointed: she is still young and beautiful
woman"
If there was temptation in the words. Jim
did not betray 1t. Quite simply he said,
"She must be-
with many admirers, it is only natural
that she should marry again"
And Jim answered, fully aware Of the
torturng methods used by the man who
wished to conquer him. ut is inevitable
This time Petrie's quiet voice rose In an
almost impatient Intolerance as he ques-
toned. And yet you feel
But Jim stopped him. There was agony in
his voice. "Petrie. don't tempt me. can
not go. My decision is made and nothing
on earth can change it. He walked toward
the house as he felt the sudden need of
comfort He wanted to feel his boys arms
about him; that would be his solace. At
the window he saw Hal, and nod brought
the child to him.
AS he watched him, Petrie said. more to
occasions mora misery in this world than
your downright brutally selfish one" To
Jim he put the direct question, Your de-
cison is f1nal?'
Final"
TOO bad. Too bad. You are condemning
yourself to living DEATH
ooh. no; have my boy. Thank God,
have my boy
child meant more than all the rest Of life,
to Jim. He knew the type-a type that pre-
walls more especially among Englishmen.
perhaps, in whom the need OF fatherhood
the lawyer laid his hand On the head of the
boy, who was standing on the bench play
ing with his fathers kerchef. "The future
Earl Of Kerhill."
boy"
If Jim persisted in refusing to accept the
position as the head Of his house, then this
child was the stake to play for, Petrie de-
cided
"Well. think of him.-of his future. He
has the right to the education of a gentle
man, to the surroundings of culture and re-
finement"
As Petrie spoke. his glances took in the
shabby little chaps. the feet in their worn
moccasins. the coarse flannel Shirt and Jim
saw the look and understood He almost
hurt the boy. so tight was his grasp as ne
Zone moment. Mr.. Petrie. 1 see your
drift" he savagely answered. But you
shann't do it, sir. You sha'n't. 1 won't
listen"
But Petrie now knew that he had touched
Jims vulnerable point, and that he was
capable of making the sacrifice for the boy.
Il speak as the trusted friend of your
family as the advocate of your child" He
told himself he was justified in asking what
he did.
Before you came" Jim said, II was a
ruined MAIDSTONE broke, as We say out
here l had to begin my life all over
again. But 1 had Hal. his love and his
life to live in day by day, and now you
want that. too. l can't do 1t. l know its
selfish, but life owes me something. and
that's all 1 ask. 1 can't let him go. 1
can't can't!'
But Malcolm Petrie persisted You're
for that childs future. You
to look back to his youth and his father
with bitterness. perhaps hate
Jim, as he held the boy from him and
studied the tiny face. cried. You'll never
do that, will you, Hal, my boy?'s
What, daddy?'
mo, daddy, no. and the child's arms
were thrown about Jim's shaking body.
Petrie touched Jim's arm quietly. You're
robbing your child of his manifest des-
tiny"
What do you want?'
Send the little man home with me-"
With eyes almost blinded with emotion,
Jim looked into Petrie's face. Have you
any children. Petrie?'
Inc SOLICITOR SnOOk MS mead, and In jim
words, II knew i'll knew it," he under |
stood what he meant. Like father who
sympathiZes, yet must be firm in his eff
forts to convince his son of his wisdom,
Petrie spoke:
II am thinking OF Halls future, as the
friend and adviser Of your family. am |
thinking coldly. perhaps. but, believe me.
kindly |
Jim could not doubt his sincerity He |
buried his head against the child. you |
don't know what lonely life l led until |
Hal was born. and how lonely I'll be when |
he Is gone
Gone! Could he agree to this separation? |
The word frightened him. Gone! Oh, my |
God, MOI" He could not.
Then Petrie appealed to Jim's conscience |
You know the trite old saying. England |
expects that every man this day shall do |
his duty" So simply, so seriously did |
Petrie quote the we!l-worn phrase, that |
its shaft went home.
Duty! Duty! All. one might squander
control of ones own destiny, but for an
other for the child whom the parent has
brought into llfe-how answer that? 1t was
the duty of the parent to the child-in that
lay the whole definition of the word. He
held the tiny face in his hands as he whis-
pered: "Well Hal. old chap. it's a tough
proposition they've put up to your daddy, |
son. But what must be must be. You'll |