Evening star., 1911-08-20

of, even. Encouraged, he went on.
"She different from the Others. | thought then
it because of the rough setting. know now that
it wasn't She is the here that she was out there
| can't anything in any other woman; don want
to see ANYTHING IN any other woman. couldn make M
After school hours (she the schoomlstress, you
know, Sir rode far up into the mountains. She
got to be habit with me, then fever didn't know
what the matter, except that was sick because OF
the need OF her Her father kept store IN Abilene,
Kansas thought OF you. All my inherited instincts,
nv sense of class distinction, of which people IN
New York make such a fetish revolted but |
loved her. and told her She was too clean to un-
derstand me, Sir knew it almost before had spoken
In her eyes there dawned the horror the tear the SELF
pitt that could not be said in words Then Jeff Wray
caI e in, and left her-left Mesa City. There was
nc, hing ese-to do
His Voice, which had sunk to a lower key halted and
then silent For long while the two sat, each
busted with thread Of memory that the young man
had unreeled from the spool of life In the midst OF his
thoughts Cort heard voice at his elbow, the voice OF
an old man, tremulous and uncertain softer voice
than his fathers.
1T is strange-very, very strange!'
"What is strange, SIR
Cornelius Bent passed his fingers before his eyes
quickly and Strengthened in his chair "Your story.
like that the way do. It's an old romance.before
your mother Cort Nobody knows nobody in the East
ever knew Caroline The speaker stopped, as
though he had already said too much got up slowly and
walked the length of the Il sorry, Cort he
said with sudden harshness. And then after sudden
pause, "You must not see Mrs. Wray again"
white, and his eyes closed tightly as though by mus
c,ar effort he might rob them of persistent vision.
you're right, Sir-Ive thought 50 for some days
But it not SO easy Sometimes think she needs me-
"He doesn't abuse herr"
a don't know She'd be the last person to speak Of
it if he did But think she doesn't want me to 60"
General Bent shook his head slowly, NO, Cort it
won't do What you've just told me makes your duty
very clear your duty her and duty to yourself
There's danger ahead danger for you both. You may
not care for my advice-weve not always understood
each other,-but hope you'll believe me when | say
that offer it unselfshly, with the single purpose OF
looking after your welfare. Leave New York
I'm prepared to send you West next week if you go.
There will be lot of work for all It's possible that
may go too before long can give you duties that will
other things When first spoke to you OF this business
tonight spoke president of the Amalgamated Re
duction Company; now | am speaking to you as
father. want you with more than ever largely on
account but more largely now upon your own
Cortland rose and leaned one elbow on the nantel.
"You want to help you In the hight tor Wray
smelter?"
"Yes l do
"Dont YOU want me to see her again?"
dts wiser not to- No good can come of it-perhaps
great deal of harm"
aShe would not understand she knows dislike her
husband but it seems to me ought to tell her"
"That you're making financial war upon her husband!
Forewarn him-forearm him? What else would you
say. That doesn't seem fair to me, does it?'
He paused watching his narrowly, and yet with
kind of stealthy pity.
Cortland's struggle cost him something ! suppose
you're right he said at last and then, Il will not see
her again Give the work Sir, and III do my best
Perhaps l haven't always tried to do that. will,
though if you give the chance.
"Your hand on it, Cort. | won't forget this. I'm
glad you spoke to 1t hasn't always been our Gus.
tom to exchange condolences; but III give more of
mine if you II let me- I'm getting old More and more
] feel the need of younger shoulders to lean on I'm
all business document but the habit OF mercess-
grows one down town. have another side
There's tender chord left in me somewhere You've
struck it tonight and there's kind of in the
pain of it. Cort.'
Cortland laid his hand on the old mans shoulder