The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-02-29

\ .
He looked at her steadily for min
ute before he answered. She saw ms
line Of his lips become thinner and ~
muscles Of his jaw tighten '''rr ltI
Paul Remington 60" .'
1T seems" she replied mockinrlv
'that Mr. McAdoo in spite Of his boast
ed friendship cares nothing for tnt
happiness of his friend"
You won't understand" he said al
last slowly. when explain it, \ou r.
right when you say care nothing f.,
his happinessat least what you mra.
by the word You don't mean nnp,I
ness. Mrs Gilbert. You mean to gur
the appetite, to yield to the mating ~
stinct. to follow the lines of least r"
siStance. Only the very strong on.
afford happiness as you mean it ~ Il
weak man that sort of happiness mean
cripplng his natural force. ens'av,us
himself to outside influences There !,
only one true happiness content
that comes from being a real. origina
force. The man who would be tbs
Mrs. Gilbert, must own and roDtr"
himself absolutely. For Paul Remnr
tons greater. true happiness o.
care"
But what about me?"
HE is nothing to YOU"
"As you mea it, nO-just now. Ru'
for the future. why not? You never
can tell. Mr.. Remington is talented
He is magnetic. like him better thar
! like most men. 1t is quite possible
that shall in time develop a deepe,
interest in him. And. besides, Mr.
McAdoo. your opposition gives him n
new value Did you forget to conSid
er when you came to ask me to senu
him away what about my happiness?
She concluded her question with n
smile
Mrs. Gilbert, your happiness die
not, does not. enter into my calcuin
lions at all"
Winters early dusk was falling OH,
side. leaving only the freight to ligh,
the room. She was very beautiful as
the soft glow fell upon her face.
We're good deal alike. you and /.
You have taken everything you want.
I've been given everything except the
| things that count most. We're both
very selfish You make the excuse
that you have to be selfish to realize
your ambitions. | have the excuse
that life hasn't treated me very kind
| ~. and neither excuse is valid. | snS
pect You're not slave to conscience
and well. I'm afraid III never le,
| conscience stand between me and hap
piness. You have few friends. I've
had plenty to admire me because I'm
! not bad to look at and can turn wit
! ty phrase occasionally. But none mas
| ever cared for me because none saw
In me those womanly qualities which
are SO much finer than beauty or wit.
Paul Remington seems to al both our
wants. he is your one friend. he
cares for me because he thinks l pos
sess qualities don't possess. but
which he-he makes We want to &C
Quire I'm not in love with him. but
! I'd like to be- He seems my only
hope Of escape from becoming the
most pitiable Of creatures-a lionel,
cynical. selfish. loveless woman.
wonder why | tell you this?' She
leaned forward abruptly. What are
We going to do about it?'
| THAT is what | came to find out"
mo; you came to tell me what |
must do You put the issue squarely
One of us must retire in the other
favor. That amounts to a challenge
doesn't it! It's too bad we have this
| dislike to contend with. Your natural
state is fighting. and l suppose you
don't mind one fight more. But
don't want to fight for my happiness
] or possible happiness, especially when
l run the risk OF losing it altogether
| We both run that risk. Don't you
think'-there was the faintest twinkle
in her eyes-"don't you think it would
be wise, don't you think it would be
good politics. to ignore our dislike and
share the spoils?"
mo. think should have done
better to let you die in the mills"
Il don't understand Why
For an instant the luxurious, firelit
library faded away from her sight
She stood amid the CRIME and roar of
the mills She felt herself caught in
an iron grasp which dragged her to-
ward death Then a strong hand seiz-
ed her, and she stood before a hot eyed
young giant. IT,. -,.'.
lis it possible? Yes. you are the man
who saved me in the mills 1t is hard
to realize He was an uncouth. I'm
grammatical young ruf1ian. as re.
member. while you-you are an educat.
| ed She hesitated.
IAN educated ruffian." he concluded
dryly.
| She regarded him with new respect,
| 4 respect which Bob. remembering the
girl who had t1outed him as Of a lower
order of crea ton, resented.
| I'm no more than | was then.
have more. but am no more
| A detail Of the scene in the mills re.
| Cured to her. '"Ah! | remember that
/ / forgot to thank you for saving NY
/ life. That WIS very ungruteful !
suppose | should do so now 1t really
was very good of you ="
i .'You needn't thank me Besides,