The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1912-01-12

phrase, you are most KIND 10 recall
that have purpose
II was the eonYent:bTed Emily who
looked back at him. earnest-eyed. ex-
altedly serious
Il have thought of it often. Every |
one else that | know Just lives the
way things happens-there are only a
few people who grasp things and
make them lappeh- That is real
work: so many OF us are Just given
work we do not want" she broke
of.
aft we do not want the work. it IS
probably not our own" said Le-
strange. "Unless we have brought 1t
on ourselves by a fault we must I'M
Go-I need not speak of that to you.
One must not make the mistake of as
Stunning some one else's work"
fIe spoke gently, almost as if with
a clairvoyant reading of her tendency
to self-immolation.
But may not some one else's fault
be given us to undo?" she asked Gag
erly May not their work be forced
on us?"
NO" he answered.
"No?" bewildered.
81 don't think so. Each one OF us
has enough with his own. at least so
It seems to me. Most of us die be-
fore We finish it."
Emily paused. contending with the
loneliness and doubts which impelled
her to speech. the feminine yearning
to let another decide her problems.
This others nonchalant strength of
decision allured her uncertainty.
81 am discouraged" she confessed.
"And tired. There is no reason
why l should not speak of it. You
know Dick, how he can do nothing in
the factory or business, or in the
places where a French should stand
All this must fall into the hands of
strangers, to be broken and forgotten.
when my uncle dies. for lack of some
one who would care. And Uncle
Ethan seems severe and hard. but it
Srieves him al the time. His only
son was not good man; he lives
abroad with his wife, who was an ac-
tress before he married her. You
knew that?" as he moved.
Il heard something of it in the vii
lage," Lestrange admitted gravely.
please do not think me fond of Cos
sip; l could not avoid it. But I should
not have imagined this family likely
to make low marriages"
cit never happened before. never
saw that cousin. nor did Dick; but he
was always disappointment. always,
Uncle Ethan has told me. And since
he failed, and Dick fails, there is only
me-"
"Youi"
She nodded, her lip quivering.
Only me. Not as a substituted
am not fit for that-but to find a sub
stitute. have promised my uncle to
marry the first one who is able to be
that"
The silence was absolute. Lestrange
neither moved nor spoke, gazing down
at her bent head with an expression
blending many shades.
ut is a duty; there is no one ex-
cept me-" she added. only sometimes
1 grow-to dislike it too much. 1 am
so selfish that sometimes 1 hope a sub
stitute will never come"
Her voice died away. It was done;
she, Emily French, had deliberately
confded to this stranger that which
an hour before she would have be-
lieved no one could force from her
lips in articulate speech. And she
nni4hnf, f,H
although there was time for full reali-
cation before Lestrange answered.
Il did not believe" he said, ''that
such things could be done. 1t is non-
sense, 1t is the kind of situation,
Miss French, where any man is justi-
fed in interfering I beg you will
leave the affair in my hands and think
no more of such morbid self-sacri-
fice."
Stupefed, Emily flung back her
head, staring at him.
''In your hands?"
"Since there are none better. it ap-
pears. Why" his vivid face questioned
her full and straightly. you didn't i'm
agine that any man living could hear
what you are doing. and pass on?'
"My uncle knows"
"Your uncle-is not for me to criti.
CHE. But do not ask any other man
to let you go on"
Her ideas Keeling, she struggled for
comprehension.
you. what could you do?" she mar.
veled. "The substitute"
There won't be any substitute re.
piled Lestrange with perfect coolness
Il shall train Dick French to do his
work"
YOU"
81 can, and I will"
"He can not"
"Oh, yes, he can; he is just idle and
spoiled" the firm lips set more firmly.
'He shall take his place, can handle
him.
Emily sat quite help1essly, her eyes
black with excitement. Slowly recol.
lection flowed back to her of change
in Dick since his light contact with
.Lestrange; his avoidance of even oc-
| casionals highballs, his awakening in
terest in the clean sport of the races,
and his half-wistful admiration for the
virile driver-manager.
81 almost believe you could" she
conceded.
81 can," repeated Lestrange. "Only,"
he openly smiled, sit will be hard on
Dickie"
It was the touch needed, the anti
+, dote to sentiment. Emily laughed
with him, laughed in sheer mischief
and relief and leap of youth.
"You will be gentle-poor Dickiei"