The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-11-04

duu say. 1 nave plenty OI money.
can give you everything you want.
VIII you be miner And then should
say, I'm awfully sorry, Mr.. Manager
or Mr.. Owner Of Steel Plant: but,
you see. I have everything l want.
thank you. and l don't care the least
little bit for you Now, where would
your suppose theory be then, Mr.. Som.
mers?"
The man shrugged his shoulders.
Anyhow, Miss Durant," he said,
''the manager Of the steel plant or the
owner Of the steel plant can go to the
girl he loves, make his fight, take his
nance and. like man, abide by the
result. But the navy fellow can't do
that. All he can do Is to bite his lips
and twiddle his thumbs and regret and
suppose"
He ended 1t bitterly, half turning
away from her. so that he did Not see
the girls quick. involuntary motion to
ward him. He was still half turned
away when she fought down the in.
cllnation Of her heart to speak. At
last she gained self control.
"Of course, Mr.. Sommers," she be-
gan sarcastically, III the navy men are
so selfish that they're not willing to
give girl chance to show the stun
she's made of. IL they're afraid to take
any sort Of plunge except plunge
for glory. why. they must expect to
receive the reward that comes to the
men who won't try-the reward Of
failure. II were a man"-her voice
took on color OF strength and holiness
whether I were in the navy or
whether owned continent, would
not let any foolish selfishness Of my
own keep me from attempting to get
anything l wanted"
"Francesr' The man whirled sud
denly. catching her two hands. you
mean itT
She looked up at him. happy and
quite unafraid.
"Yes." she said. of course ] mean
It." And her eyes invited him.
Impulsively the man leaned toward
her. Then. as their faces almost seem
ed to touch. cold. hard voice seemed
to cut them apart.
"Ah. Good evening. thought It
was you two up here"
Angry, embarrassed. the navy lieu
tenant stepped back. The girl. with
woman's power Of self control. seemed
quite unmoved.
oh she cried gayly. is that you.
Edwardi Lieutenant Sommers and !
were just talking Of you. He says
you're lucky dog"
The marriage Of Frances Durant and
Edward Pinckney had been so long
anticipated by all who knew them
that the announcement Of their en-.
gagement would have been received
with a feeling Of general relief. In
the minds OF their friends II would
have Strengthened out an awkward
situation. Under present circumstances
their friends did not know Just how
TO take them. For more than a year
II bad been generally understood they
would some time marry. but the mem
bers Of the set IN which they moved
had waited anxiously. but In vain. for
some definite sign. II was generally
taken for granted that Mr.. Durant did
not object. and Mrs. Durant was open
ly in favor Of the match.
Frances herself was the stumbling
block. Time after time her intimates
tried to find out. but each time. with
perfect gooc humor. but with complete
thoroughness. she blocked every at.
tempt Finally. their curiosity block.
ed. the solicitous friends had decided
10 take the situation for granted. and
so they had with perfect faith spread
the report that as soon as Frances had
reached her majority the couple were
70 be married Even the people about
the steel works had come 10 look az
the matter In the same light. The
men understood that the general man.
ager was some day going 10 marry
the daughter Of the boss. and that
made them treat bin with more re-
spect. for not only was be the mana.
ger. with power greater than most su.
perrising managers had. but be was
also expected 70 own the works some
day himself.
plnckney. too. was particularly care
full not TO contradict the general i'm.
preston. He knew the influence II
gave him, and also he was 80 tremen.
dously ambitious and so anxious 10
bring the marriage about that be really
believed II would be. And even an
enemy must have admitted there was
every reason for him to hope. The
son Of a friend. George Durant, who
had committed suicide after running
himself on Wall street. Edward Pinck.
ney when o mere boy had been taken
into the household OF the steel mil.
lionaire. Durant had sent the boy 10
the best schools In the country. Bog
though he was. PiDckney had appre.
ciated the opportunity given him. He
had studied hard. finally graduating
from one OF the best institutions at
the top Of bis class. Then bis bene-
factor had placed him Immediately In
the works. Durant had no son, and
to him Edward Pinckney. with bis in.
born tact, his aggressiveness and his
splendid mind. seemed Just the kind Of
son be would have liked to have.
CHAPTER II.
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