Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-07-08


not have you.'
Bis voice Was tremuluus with anger.
though bis eyes dwelt fondly on her
tear stained face.
i would go With you Voluntarily
giadly-'
NO. no: II would amount TO the
same thing dearest ne replied In
determined voice Their shall be no
elopement for us Aud when we mar
~ Il shall be- with your mntheT's con
sent Resides he added. with sudden
detection. Il cannot now provide a
suitable home for you. couldn't ask
you To live nn my present inrume"
THAT doesn't matter" she broke out
grariously. There's my income We
couldn't use half Of IL"
She caught his reproving look and
flushed. You are so delightfully."- indie
pendent. Philr' And she smiled n wan
little smile. which was quickly fol
| lowed by a look Of distress
They conversed long aud earnestly.
and when they parted he admoniShed
her TO "be brave and To trust In him"
A mighty portion of his strength Of
character seemed TO have been east
upon her. for with each and every step
that took her farther and farther from
him her will and her trust increased
II was with blazing eyes and with
| cllnched little fists that she re-entered
the halls Of the Inlet. muttering to
herself IL shall not yield to them. Let
them do their worstr'
A month had passed The man was
again on the sands of Cragshead,
but he was alone. A big ship was
slipping swiftly down the channel to-
ward the open sea. If the vision Of
the gazer on the beach could have
reached far enough he would have
seen a forlorn little figure on the ship
with straining eyes turned in his d.
rection.
"Oh. to know what to dor he sighed.
turning at last from his vigil.
he paced the sands with heart and
brain afire In an effort to conceive an
avenue to wealth. Six weeks before
he had laughed at poverty. 1t was
different now since the homemaking
instinct had been keenly aroused with
In him.
For generations the Benton men had
engaged In professional careers or as
capitalists. From the time Philip Ben
ton could use his hands and brain he
had displayed penchant for the baser
metals. When baby he reached for
the chandeliers, for the buckles on
harness. for the wheels of his carriage.
When a child he took to hammers and
nails. bits Of glass and the like. He
dissected watches and clocks while his
brother Donald rode his pony. He con-
structed embryonic machinery while
Donald played tennis. He sought out
the motive power of engines and
steamships while Donald visited art
galleries and INDUCED in polo. and on
entering his university had disappoint-
ed the family by selecting a course in
engineering and metallurgy instead OF
adopting the law and the classics.
By every means devisable pressure
was brought to bear TO induce Benton
to abandon his distasteful vocation
but to no avail. Instead. he applied
himself the more diligently to the hot
noisy. greasy machine shop, keeping
apart from his kin altogether. 1t was
but little wondered at therefore when
at his fathers death. the name of this
pariah was not included In the list OF
heirs and benefciaries
In bitterness Benton had listened to
the reading of his fathers will. and in
bitter defiance he had held his peace
There was general surprise that he did
not enter legal protest, but he was nc
money worshiper. and he found soace
within himself and his purpose-and
Isabelle. Isabelle Fielding had been
his greatest comfort and inspiration.
Zone Benton. alone and unaided, laid
the foundation of all their wealth, and
guess can at least take care of my
SELF" he had remarked derisively.
1t had therefore been a matter OF
pocketing pride when, at lsabelle's bid
ding. he had again visited the beach
at Cragshead. But it was witha
pleasure and doubly so to meet
again the girl he loved at the deal
old trysting place. Isabelle had played
with him there in their childhood days
and It was there they had repeatedly
told their love each for the other
And today he had irresistibly beer
drawn there to watch the ship which
carried her out to sea with the crue
object of snatching her from him.
Long after the vessel passed from
view. even after her smoke had merg
ed with the mists of the ocean. Ben
ton remained. his attitude was that OF
detection.
His career as a mechanic was salts
factory. as mechanical careers go, fol
a beginner. His university prepare
, ton and steady application had made
him apt for advancement. and his in
|, ventive genius augured good. But Sc
| occupied had he been in the pursui
of invention that marriage had seemed
remote. Now he smiled bitterly wher
! he thought of tenderly nurtured lisa
, belle Fielding living on his meager in
come. True. she was rich. but hi
would support his wife himself. FL
would not have 1t otherwise.
Z Once since that first day he had me-
her on the beach ana had cneered her
for he was alive with the fire of deter
. mination to thwart Donald Bentonl
, ambitions. The avenue which was t.
, lead to success, however, remained dis
J couragingy invisible.
, The boom Of cannon aroused Ben
ton. A warship. stately and majestic
had turned from the city and WAS mt