Putnam patriot., 1912-08-16

fered there. man from girl. his com. piexion being much darker and less translucent.
 Tt is too early to give you tea and cake" she told him. with a playfurness partly shy. But if you win talk to me for half an hour. it will be after fcur o'clock and I can offer you hos pitality.
 What shall talk to you about" he doubted. q am better at listening. think
 "Oh. anything. everything. Suppose I were Jes: I like what he likes. rae ing. factories. moter-cars.-
 Although the season was early. & fire burned in the tiny hearth. on either side of which they were seated, facing each other. In the ruddy light stanton contemplated the smiling girl. in her pale blue gown with it's lace rufies foaming around her full young throat and falling low across her hsnds.
 Your brother has told you of the business partnership that we plan for this winter. Miss F1oyd7" She nodded her bronze-crowned head.
 Yes: I am very glad
 Did he" q sudden fancy prompted the question, did he tell you that was coming here to see you. if might7"
 Did he know of it7" she asked in counter-question.
 Floyd had kept the confidence given him, then, although no formal re- straint had been made. The expres- sion that crossed Stantons dark face was warm and very gentle.
 He knew, yes. I wish I could have met your brother years ago; might have been less hard man, more fit to know him. and you. now" You hard!"
 Has he not taught you that I am so?"
 In her earnestness she leaned for ward. her eyes fearlessly on his.
 Never. Do not imagine he thinks you that, do not so wrong his memory of your kindness. A rough word-what is it? The first gentleness cancels 1t; what is friend worth who does not understand"
 Stanton bent his head. looking at the fire.
 "I have not had much gentleness shown me" he said. My mother died when was born; when l was thirteen uly father married again. My step mother was a good woman, whom loved as we'll 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 a few moments of each other while being taken to the hospital. Have I said that my father was wealthy. He was 80. He had made his will, year before, leaving every thing to his wife: we'll knowing that she In her turn would pass all on to me. She was much younger than be. almost certain to outliye him. and CntilCi lo U0 U ustCds poN phC hoe never made a 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 a will again legally passed on to her relatives. l was left l 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, a beggar- ed orphan. They had no interest in me, and I 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. "I asked them for nothing. What per sonal trinkets belonged to me, l sold, for the first needs; then I set to work. My father had wished me to be a mechanical engineer, and l meant to fulfil his plan Perfect health l did have-for six years l regularly worked twenty hours out of each twenty-four, until I was graduated from college. For six years I was always tired, oc- casionally hungry, and took just one recreation: every night 1 walked through the avenue where my former home stood, and looked at it. I saw the people who had robbed me go handsomely clad and sleek, l saw their carriages and servants pass and repass l watched, and l concluded that there was just one thing in life worth while"
 The girl shivered slightly, her gaze on his firm profile with it's lines of re- lentless strength.
 You meant to punish them." she