The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1910-09-15

engineering and meiallurgy instead Of
adopting the law aud the classics
BY every means deyisabe pressure
WIS brought TO bear 10 induce Benton
TO abandon his distastefu vocation.
but 10 no avail. Instead. he applied
himself the more diligently TO the hot,
noisy, greasy machine shop. keeping
apart from his kin altogether. II was
but little wondered at therefore when.
at bis fathers death. the name of this
pariah was mol included In the list OF
heirs and beneticiaries
In bitterness Benton had listened to
the reading of his fathers WILL and In
bitter defiance he had held bis 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.
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
II had therefore been a matter of
pocketing pride when. at lsabelle's bid
ding. he had again visited the beach
at Cragshead But 1t was withal
pleasure and doubly so TO meet
again the girl be loved at the dear
old trysting place. Isabelle had played
with him there In their childhood days,
and II was there they had repeatedly
told their love each for the other.
And today he had irresistibly been
drawn there to watch the ship which
carried her out to sea with the cruel
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. for |
a beginner His university prepare
ton and steady application had made
him apt for advancement. and his In
ventlve genius augured good But 30
occupied had he been In the pursuit |
OF Invention that marriage had seemed |
remote Now he smiled bitterly when
be thought OF tenderly nurtured lisa
belle Fielding living on his meager In.
come. True. she was rich but he
would support his wife himself He
would not have II otherwise.
Once since that 6rst day he had met
her on the beach and bad cheered her.
for he was alive with the fire OF deter
mination TO thwart Donald Benton's
ambitions. The avenue which was to
lead to success, however. remained dis
invisible.
The boom Of cannon aroused Ben
ton A warship. stately and majestic,
had turned from the city and was put
ting to sea. She was magnificent 10
her grandeur, and her bristling guns
alone would ordinarily have aroused
Benton to enthusiastic admiration. but
be scarcely noticed them now.
He glanced at the sun and saw II
was time TO be turning toward the
city. Once again he looked seward,
and a great sigh. born Of his solitude.
tilIed bis breast Impulsively be
stretched his arms toward the vast.
ness into which his heart had van
shed
"oh. God" be cried YEARLY, work a
miracle for loves sake"
He climbed the rocks and had gained
The summit when there were more
cannon yolieys The warship and a
nearby fort were exchanging courte-
lies. Benton glanced disinterestedly
n their direction and was about to
continue his progress when something
,aught and held his attentIon-som
hing on the ship.
II was the gun turrets that be looked
L.
The rays OF the descending sun shot
'ull length aloug the grim dogs OF war
,erchcd high above the ships main .
leck. As the sun sank toward the bills
,eyond the radiance departed fro the
annon, and stiIi Benton's eyes follow |
d them. even until they and the ship
rere far too distant To any longer be ,
liscernible.
Then. Ike one suddenly possessed /
With al inspiration. be snatched o
book from his pocket. |
lropped down on 10 the rocks and /
TO sketch snd 10 figure. III
Rapidly and ercitedly he worked |
With bis pencil lie traced straight {
ines aud dotted Hines lie drew curves Z
nd circles and made queer looking |
jagged marks. covering page after /
age Of the little book. There were 1
runt views. side elevations and cross !
ections with figures and notes totted
here aud there lie seemed
0 be striving for some conclusion OF
plan J.
The big red sun slipped from view
nd the rosy sftergiow turned TO violet {
I'd from yioiei 20 gray Lighthouses
linked their alternate lights. and day d
ghi grew 30 dim that Benton was
liiasd 10 bend tis face close 10 the