The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1910-07-27

she exclaimed. clinging TO him. In
spite OF all can say or do. mother is
giving dinner tomorrow to announce
my engagement to Donald In month
we leave for Europe. and it is arrang.
ed that shall marry him early this
autumn. Oh. 1t is unendurable! 1t
seems as if l shall die If do not es-
cape it air.
Il will not take you away" he snap
ped. yet tenderly catching at and re-
straining locks of her yellow hair that
the breeze was playing with. Il never
stole anything in my life, and posi-
lively refuse to steal my wife. Don
aid already has everything that right
fully belongs to me, but he shall not
have you. my Isabelle say he shall
not have your
His voice was tremulous with anger
though his eyes dwelt fondly on her
tear stained face.
II would go with you Voluntarily
gladlyy
mo. no! 1t would amount to the
same thing. dearest he replied In a
determined voice There shall be no
elopement for us. And when we mar
~ it shall be with your mothers con-
sent. Besides" he added. with sudden
detection. Il cannot now provide a
suitable home for you couldn't ask
you to live on my present income"
THAT doesn't matter" she broke out
graciously. There's my income. We
couldn't use half of it,
She caught his reproving hook and
l flushed you are so delightfully."- indie
pendent, Phflr' And she smiled wan
little smile. which was quickly fol-
lowed by look Of distress.
They conversed long and earnestly,
and when they parted he admonished
her to 'sbe brave and to trust in him. .
A mighty portion of his strength of
character seemed to have been cast
upon her, for with each and every step
that took her farther and farther from
him her will and her trust increased.
| 1t was with blazing eyes and with
clinched little fists that she re-entered
the halls of the Inlet. muttering to
herself: II shall not yield to them. Let
them do their worst!'
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 forlorn little figure on the ship
with straining eyes turned in his di-
rection.
sob. to know what ito 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
tom could use his hands and brain he
had displayed penchant for the baser
metals. When a 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-
strncted 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 netallurgy instead of
adopting the law and the classics.
By every means devisable pressure
was brought to bear to induce Benton
to abandon his distastefnl 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 beneiciaries.
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 no
money worshiper, and he found solace
within himself and his purpose and
Isabelle. Isabelle Fielding had been
his greatest comfort and inspiration.
"0ne Benton, alone and unaided, laid
the foundation of all their wealth, and
/ guess can at least take care of my
SELF" he had remarked deTisively.
1t had therefore been a matter Of
pocketing pride when, at Isabelle's bid
ding, he had again visited the beach
at Cragshead. But it was withal
a pleasure and doubly so to meet
again the girl he loved at the dear
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 been