Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-11-04

NANt o-AeAa w SthS
any sort of plunge except Il plunge
for glory, why, they must expect to
receive the reward that comes to the
men who Won't try-the reward of
failure. If l We're a man"-her voice
took on color of strength and boldness
whether | were in the navy or
whether | owned a continent, | would
not let any foolish selfishness OF my
w keep me from attempting to get
anything l wanted"
"Frances!" The man whirled sud
denly, catching her two hands. You
mean it,"
She looked up at him, happy and
quite unafraid.
YES" she said. 'of course 4 mean
it." And her eyes invited him.
Impulsively the man leaned toward
ell to touch. Il 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 a
woman'S power of self control. seemed
quite unmoved.
oh" she cried gayly. is that you.
Edward? Lieutenant Sommers and |
were just talking of you. He says
you're a lucky dog"
The marriage of Frances Duranr and
Edward Fincllney had been so long
anticipated by all who knew them
that the announcement of their en-
gagements would have been received
with a feeling of general relief. In
the minds of their friends it would
have Strengthened out an awkward
situation. Under present circumstances
their friends did not know Just how
to take them. For more than a wear
it had been generally understood they
would some time marry, but the mem
bers of the set i'm which they moved
had waited %anNiously, but in vain. for
some definite sign. 1t was generally
taken for granted that MIR. 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 intimatps
IN " III Odl, u az llllC, W IlD
! perfect good humor, but with complete
thoroughness, she blocked every at
tempt. Finally, their curiosity block
ed, the solicitous friends had decided
to 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 hn n rrial Evan tho y,n0p1o olo,,t
the steel works had come to look at
the matter in the same light. The
men understood that the general man
ager was some day going to marry
the daughter of the boss, and that
made them treat him with more re-
| spect. for not only was he the mana
| ger, with power greater than most SUI
pervising managers had. but he was
also expected to own the works some
day himself.
Pinckney, too, was particularly care
full not to contradict the general i'm
| preston. He knew the influence it
gave him, and also he was so tremen-
dously ambitious and SO anxious to
bring the marriage about that he really
DelleNeu IL WOulu De. AuQ 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 a mere boy had been taken
into the household of the steel mil
l%ionaire. Durant had Sent the boy to
j.! the best schools in the country. Boy
though he was, P%inckney had appre-
ciated the opportunity given him. He
had studied hard. finally graduating
from one of the best. institutions at
the top of his class. Then his bene-
factor had placed him Immediately in
the works. Durant had no son, and
to him Edward Pinckney. with his in
born tact. his aggressiveness and his
splendid mind. seemed just the kind of
son he would have liked to have.