The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-28

and she had an absurd belief in the
scope of his powers.
She puts brave face on IL. none
the less. for the girls sake. and the
two kept each other thus In counte-
nance during the dreary days that en-
sued The shabby.iooking undescript
kept careful watch, but Fanchette had
become accustomed 10 his company
and even plGcked mp courage To sug-
gest that the girl and she might as
well 60 out and get some fresh air. II
only fer health's sake.
That afternoon, therefore. they pro
ceeded TO the Misses Winters select
pension, where they were received
with warmth OF welcome which did
them both good /, was inspiriting 10
find that they had al least two friends
in the teeming city. where, they hao
been prone TO think OF LATE. they were
pent in among mysterious enemies.
And we have news COR you, my
dear" Miss Jane said. about your
cousin?'
She beamed inquiringiy upon the
girl. who answered. with a sudden
sinking OF the heart which left her
lips pale;
HE was here only.a few days ago,
added Miss Sophia.
And very much upset he was TO
find that you had left us said Miss
Jane.
The girl had not been very certain
! how much IL might be wise 10 tell
them. but this unexpected Information
decided her.
- -
leave you, the girl began. | must ex-
plain, in the first place, that he Is not
my cousin except by courtesy.
You see," she went on while the
sisters listened in grave surprise.
Mr.. Miles Quaintance had no family.
He was not married. My father was
Lieut. dcn Lorraine. and when he
died In San Francisco, not many
months after my mother. Mr.. Quaint
ance adopted me. l was an infant
| then.
He always called me Elinor, after
some old sweetheart OF his. / didn't
know my own name till the day before
II left for Europe. when he told me
my history and what | owed him-al-
though had had no voice in the mat
ter"
He wrote OF you as Elinor. said
Miss Sophia "Elinor Quaintance.
wonder who she married"
Her mind was running on the dead
mans dead romance-or tragedy. Her
face expressed intensest interest.
Il don't know" the girl rejoinsd,
but ne believed that he had been bit
terry wronged. He was a strange man
in many ways, very reserved and Of
ten moody, always most arbitrary.
am indebted TO him for all | ever mad.
and yeti had not love for him.
was glad to leave his house TO come
here"
"Oh, my dear" cried Miss Jane,
much distressed.
1T may be wrong, but-one can't
help ones feelings. and it's best TO
be quite honest about IL. Had | had
any choice. would have owed him
nothing. No man can buy affection.
He cannot buy another's flesh and
blood, nor can he sell either OF these.
Mr. Quaintance believed ne had
bought me- He would have sold me,
too Can you blame me If feel bare
ly grateful TO him?
when Mr.. QuGintance died." she
once more went on, his lawyers sent
ne a long letter he had written me.
1t was a very cruel letter, and
told me, in so many words that
he had already disposed of my future.
Z was 10 marry his brothers son,
man | had never heard OF before and
whom ne had never seen. And there
was a penalty attached which he no
doubt thought too dreadful to be in
Cured by either CT US.
He had left large estate. some
millions, | think. which would be
awarded US on the sole condition that
We were married within a year of his
death. Failing which. we would both
be left penniless.
In other words, he had made up
his mind TO present me. his chattel.
20 an unknown man, and TO pay him
handsomely for accepting me. Would
any girl have submitted TO such un-
speakable degradation.
She was breathing quickly. her eyes
aglow with a wounded pride.
Il was poweriess to alter the past.
and | felt my position so keenly then
that | didn't dare TO ask your advice.
in case you should seek TO influence
me against the decision | came To as
soon as had read the letter through.
Mr. Quaintance had written his
nephew TO the same effect, and I was
little more than q school girl then, !
felt that starvation would be far
easier and less painful than
You were quite right, my dear,
Miss Jane commented. as she stop
red at a loss for words in which 70
express the alternative decently. That
spinster had all the respect OF the
shabby-genteel for wealth and posi-
ton, but under her well-worn, old
fashioned bodice beat the heart OF
pain-think,ng. old-fashioned woman
who did not believe that womanhood
should be bartered for wealth and po-
sition.
The girl bowed her head in regret
that was much more poignant than
her friends could understand while
there was still untold what might
we'll prove the worst half OF ner mis-
fortunes. And a. TO that half she
could not even now take them fully
into her confidence.
Il wish I had trusted you with this.
dear Miss Jane" she said. But
ran away instead. | had not posted
the letter you wrote telling Mr..
Quaintance's lawyers that | was leav-
ing you didn't intend TO have any
thing more To do with them, and-my
only ambition was To keep out OF the
nephew's way. but, at the last mo-
ment-l-I was so hurried that | had