The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-08-30
think. /"


Although the season was early, a
fire burned in the Tiny hearth, on
either side Of which they were seated,
facing each other. In the rudy light
Stanton contemplated the smiling girl,
In her pale-blue gown with its lace
ruffies foaming around her full young
throat and falling low across her
hands.
your brother has told you Of the
business partnership that We plan for
this winter. Miss Floyd?"
She nodded her bronze-crowned
head.
"Yes; I am very glad"
ibid he," sudden fancy prompted
the question, did he tell you that I
was coming here to see you, II
might"
did he know of III" she asked in
counter-question.
Floyd had kept the confidence given
him, then, although no formal re-
straint had been made. The express
sion that crossed Stanton's dark face
was warm and very gentle.
HE knew, yes. wish could have
met your brother years ago; might
have been less hard a man. more At to
know him, and you. now"
You hard!"
HAS he not taught you that I am
sol"
In her earnestness she leaned for
ward, her eyes fearlessly on his.
Never. Do not imagine he thinks
you that. do not 50 wrong his memory
Of your. kindness. A rough word-what
Is it? The first genteness cancels 1t;
what Is a friend worth who does not
understand"
Stanton bent his head, looking at
the fire.
II have not had much gentleness
shown me-" he said my mother died
when I was born; when was thirteen
my father married again. My STEP
mother was a good woman, whom I
loved as well as my father did. But
within the second year after the mar
riage, the horses they were driving
ran away, dragging the carriage over
an embankment, and my parents died
within few moments of each other
while being taken to the hospital.
Have l said that my father was
wealthy? He was so. He had made
his will, year before, leaving every
thing to his wife; well knowing that
she in her turn would pass all on to
me. She was much younger than he,
almost certain to outlive him, and
entirely to be trusted. But she had
never made will, delayed by chance
or forgetfulness, I suppose. When he
died five minutes before her, all his
fortune passed to his wife; then, upon
her death without will again legally
passed on to her relatives. / was left
with no share or claim"
"But It was yours by every right
Surely, surely, your step-mother's rel
atives did not take it,"
'They took every penny and every
inch, Miss Floyd. And I, at fifteen,
was sent out into the world, beggar-
ed orphan. They had no interest in
me, and l was old enough to support
myself. One Of them offered to get
me a position as office boy"
"Oh! YOU"
"I-lived," he grimly answered. II
asked them for nothing. What per-
sonal trinkets belonged to me, l sold,
for the first needs; then set to work.
My father had wished me to be q
mechanical engineer, and | meant to
fulfil his plan. Perfect health I did
have-for six years regularly worked
twenty hours out of each twenty-four,
until l was graduated from college.
J For six years l was always tired, oc-
casionally hungry, and took just one
recreation: every night walked
through the avenue where my former
home stood, and looked at 1t. saw
the people who had robbed me go
handsomely clad and sleek, 1 saw
their carriages and servants pass and
repass. / watched, and I concluded
that there was just one thing in life
worth while"
The girl shivered slightly, her gaze
on his firm profile with its lines of re-
lentless strength.
"You meant to punish them" she
faltered.
Revenge? No; 1t was not worth
taking. I will not deny I thought OF
that as boy; as a man I was too
practical to waste my time. What /
decided to have was money. l found
in my aptitude for this automobile
racing my best and quickest way to
secure starting capital. II I killed
myself in doing it. very good; that was
better than poverty. l was poor for
six years; poor for lifetime / will not
be-"
mo, you will not be-" she agreed.
her voice quite low and agitated. "You
were born to bend circumstance, for
good or ILL.,"
circumstance bent me, when II set
your brother In my path" he cor
rected 81 never before had a friend,
or cared" He shook his head impa.
tiently, turning fully to her. bah,
what dead history am / boring you
with! Forgive me; only meant to
say there might be some small excuse
for my savagery. 1t is after four
o'clock, was promised tea"
Jessica rose to cross TO the little
tea-table, but fingered for an instant.
Al 4 - = =