Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1908-04-18

shopping list and stood at the curb
deciding the question OF luncheon,
when hanson stopped directly in
front of her and voice called Miss
Marsden Edith! have been
searching the town for YOU" and he
was out Of the cab and had both of
her hands before she could manage to
gasp "BraXton Carr! From whittier
side of the world?"
Carr laughed. "Now call that cool.
when you have ignored my letters and
run away and left no traces behind
you; even Mulvaney could tell me
nothing of you, and none of the boys
were in when l called at the old place.
Where shall we go-Sherrys
She smiled to herself as he led the
way to the old table. 1t was now two
years since they had eaten the parting
feast in that self-same corner. BraX
Carr remembered well-for a man.
She thought of the eager young face
that had leaned over the table that
day, tracing plans, building his castles
in Spain and chanting joyously of the
plenteous years that should succeed
the lean, when he arrived-and he ar
rived; but was it the same BraXton
Carr that leaned back, toying with the
glass? The boyish face had changed
to mans, graver, stronger, more vir-
| lie
"BraX, have told you all my store
of knowledge, and you have given me
naught in return. Did the ship come
in at all the ports?'
You mean about Uncle Peter, as
we'll as the rest? Yes and no."
He traced the pattern of the cloth,
his eyes avoiding hers. Edith, there
| is question l would ask you-a for
hidden one-don't interrupt, please
! but it has to be discussed" She was
silent. and he went on: You cannot
have forgotten what YOU said to me
here, that day we parted-that the flu
ture meant art to you, and art alone
Did you mean it,"
Mean it? OF course do not I'M
derstand you, Brax, /" she faltered.
YES, you do" His face went a
shade paler. There is something in
my life, CHASTITY story that it was
useless to burden you with then; for
/ knew my love for you to be so hope
| less that shut my eyes to everything
but the JOY of comradeship with you.
and let things drift, but that day |
was dangerously near TO telling you.
when You let me know-oh, so lightly,
that / was merely your brother stu
dent. Do you remember, Edith, when
| refused that toast over the stirring
cup ITO the Past?" l had no wish
to go back, the impulse TO tell YOU
all and plead my cause was driving
the words TO my lips. when you made
me realize that my future was imper-
sonal TO you Little girl, there has
not been day, an hour since then
| that you have not been with me; yet,
! am thankful to-day for those words.
! Hush, j must tell YOU all now-the
boys folly and his punishment-you
must understand" Carr turned impa-
tiently and gave the order 1T will
take them an hour to fill that" and
he leaned back. shading his face with
| his hand, and Edith listening TO the
| low tones, felt a wave OF desperate
pity of maddening pain surge over all
| sense of self. The usual story Of the
boy entrapped into a hasty marriage,
| then thrown ON his own resources,
while the woman had betaken herself
TO more profitable game early in the
scene; yet the fact of her remained in
| Cars life, the shadow of those brief
weeks across his future. She under
stood now the reticence that had az
corded so i'll with his careless nature
and understood the guard that he had
carried. carried so well, that in return
she had built up her own defenses and
held them 10 the last.
And now | will explain that para.
doX. why am grateful that you have
no love 10 give me. Yesterday landed
! and was driven direct to the Office of
my Uncle Peters attorney, where
! learned the terms Of his will he
hated me, hated the very idea of his
money coming 10 me, but his pride
/ 10 my father 10 make me his heir. He
has done So but with clause at
tached-the malice of dead hand
reaching back to throttle the living
If am not married within "a hours
| from The time the will is read 10 me at
the Office Of Wilkes d Co.. IN the pres
ence of Witnesses. which was done to-
! day. then the whole estate goes to
| st. Imogene's hospital. Dear. | could
not ask YOU 10 give your self to me
while that woman is yet alive. If |
believed that YOU loved me. but know
! ing YOU simply rs my comradc, ap.
peal TO you to- help me defeat that old
mans malice. and in return, promise
| TO keep TO the old ground. What
would the money be but dust and
ashes IL could not share it with you,
Edith? Think, child, a winter in Paris
Rome, Fenice-all we have dreamed
| Of Just YOU and | and nothing to