Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-12-25
CHAPTER XIV.
The Unbidden Guest.


ing blood She would accept
the challenge of this rabble and show
her contempt for its opinions In a
way that could not he mistaken. She
determined to give an entertainment
whose magnificence would starte the
social world and be her defiant answer
to the critics Of her husband. At the
same time it would serve the double
purpose Of dazzling and charming the
imagination OF Stuart She would by
a single dash Of power end his in.
decision as to sivens's offer and bind
With stronger cords the tie that held
him to her.
Her suggestion was received with
enthusiasm by her husband.
"All right" he said excitedly, beat
the record. Give them something to
talk about the rest of their lives.
don't mean those poor fools in Union
square. Their raving is pathetic.
mean the big bugs who think they
own the earth. the people who think
that we are new corners and that this
island was built for their accommoda
ton. Give them knock out"
Nan spared no expenditure of time
money and thought to the perfection
Of her plans. She employed corps
of trained artists. took them to her
home. told them what she wished and
they worked with enthusiasm to eclipse
In splendor New York's record Of lavish
so II, m nj 0IxxvOvS with tho
reservation which she had imposed
that nothing be done that might violate
the canons of beauty and good taste.
The long dreamed night came. and
her guests had begun to arrive.
One was hurrying there to whom no
engraved invitation had been sent. and
yet his coming was the one big event
Of the evening. the one thing that
would make the night memorable.
The confession Of love for Stuart
which Harriet had sObbed out in her
fathers arms had been the last stray
that broke the backbone of his fight
against Rivens. In burst of gener
ouS feeling he made up his mind to
eat his pride. drive from bis mind
every bitter impulse and forget that
he had ever hated this man or been
wronged by him. He could see now
that he had neglected his little girl
In the fight he had been making fol
other people and that her very life
might be at stake in the struggle she
was making for the man she loved.
Bivens had once offered to buy bis
business. He had afterward made
him generous offer to compromise
his suit. He had never doubted for a
moment that compromise would be
accepted the moment he should see fiji
10 give up.
He instructed his lawyer to with
draw the appeal before the day fixed
for filing the papers. The lawyer
raved and pleaded In vain. The doctor
was firm. He wrote Bivens a gener
GUS personal letter in which he asked
that the past be forgotten and that he
appoint Il meeting ut which they could
arrange the terms Of a final friendly
settlement.
The act had lifted load from bis
heart. The sum he would receive. II
but half Bivens' original offer, would
be sufficient to keep him In comfort
complete his daughters course in
music and give him something with
which to continue his daily ministry
to the friendless and the lowly. II
was all he asked of the world now.
He wondered In his new enthusiasm
why he had kept up this bitter feuC
for the enforcement Of his rights by
law when there were 80 many more
urgent and important things in life
to do.
He waited four days for an answer
to his letter and receiving none wrote
again. In the meantime the day fol
final action on his appeal had passed
and his suit was legally ended. On tn.
last day his lawyer pleaded with hin
for an hour to 6le the appeal suit an(
then compromise at his leisure. TIL
doctor merely smiled quietly and re
peated his decision:
"1'm done fighting. I've something
else to do
When Bivens failed to reply to hi
second letter he made up his mind t.
see him personally. BE was sure tn
letter had been turned over to a lawye
and the fnancier had never seen II
he called at Bivens' office three time
and always met the same answer:
"Mr. Bivens Is engaged for ever,
hour today. You must call again."
On the fourth day. when he ha,
stayed until time for closing the office
a secretary Informed him that MI
Bivens was too busy with matters O
great Importance to take up any new
business Of any kind for month an,
that he had given the most positiv
orders to that effect to all his men,
he would return the first of mex
month he would see what could b
DONE
The doctor left in disgust He dete1
mined to break through this ceremoni;
nonsense. see Bivens face to face an
settle the affair at once
When he should see him personally
would be but question of five mir
utes friendly talk and the matte
would be ended Now that he reca!le
little traits of Bivens' character h
didn't seem slIch Il s!1undre.! after III