The Marshall republican., 1912-08-23
CHAPTER x.
An Interval.

An Interval.
Il vas on the second day after his
arrival In New York that Stanton
called upon Jessica Floyd. This time
he went more confidently up the stairs
Of the quiet apartment house. sure Of
his right
As before. the little old Irishwoman
clad In black silk was waiting TO ad-
init him; as before, he could have
cried out in the wonder OF seeing this
girl who turned F1oyd's candid face
10 him and smiled with Foyd's gray
eyes. Only, this afternoon Jessicia
sid not rise from the piano seat TO
greet him, but from a chair neal e
window.
"Jes IL away again. she regretted.
giving him her hand.
II came to see you, ty his permits
sion," Stanton returned.
The rich color flushed under her
marvellous skid. that was like no other
woman's he had ever seen. Floyd DIFF
fered there. man from girl, his COM
plexion being much darker and less
translucent.
ut IL o early to give you tea and
cake" she told him. with a playfulness
partly shy. But n you will talk to
me for half m hour. Il will be after
four o'clock and ! can offer you hos
pitality.
What shall ! talk TO you sbout1- he
doubted. Il am better at listening. l
think"
"oh. anything. everything. Suppose
I we're Jes; I like what he likes. rae
ing, factories. motorcars."
Although the season was early. .
IRE burned In the tiny hearth. on
either side Of which they we're seated.
facing each other. In the rudy light
Stanton contemplated the smiling girl.
in her pale-biue gown with Ito lace
rufies foaming around her full young
throat and falling low across her
hands.
"Your brother has told you Of the
busincss partnership that We plan for
this winter. Miss royd7"
She nodded her bronze-crowned
head. - -
"Yes; I am very glad
did he a sudden fancy prompted
the question. did he tell you that !
was coming here to Q You. II ]
might"
Did he know of itY- she asked in
counter-Question.
Floyd had kept the confidence given
him. then, although no formal 10
straint had been made. The express
sion that crossed stanton's dark face
was warm and very gentle.
He knew. yes. I wish I could have
met your brother years $50: I might
have been less hard q man. more At to
know him. and you. now"
you hard!"
HAS he not nught you that I am
sor ~
In her earnestness she leaned for
ward. her eyes fearlessly on his.
"Never. Do no imagine no thinks
you that. do not 80 wrong his memory
Of your kindness. A rosgh word-what
is III The FIRST g~entleness cancels II;
what Ia q friend worth who does not
understand"
Stanton bent his head, looking at
the IRE.
II have not had much g~entleness
shown me-" he said. my mother died
when ! was born; whom ! was thirteen
my father married again. Ny step
mother was q good woman, whom I
loved as well as my father did. But
within the second year after the mar
rage. the horses they were driving
raj away. dragging the carriage owe
an embankment. and my parents died
within q few moments Of each other
while being taken 70 the hospital.
Have ! said that my father was
wealthy He was 90. He had made
mis- will, . year before, leaving every.
thing to his wife; well knewing 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 Q win. delayed by chance
or forgetfulness. l suppose. When he
died nve minutes before her, all hts
fortune passed to his wife: then. upon
her death without q will. again legally
passed on to her relatives. I was LETT
with no share or claim"
But Il Was yours by every right
Surely. surely. your stsp-mothsr's rel
atives did not take III"
'rhey took every penny and every
inch. Miss Floyd. And I. at fifteen.
was sent out into the world. Q beggar.
"a orphan. They had NO interest IN
me. and ! was old enough 10 support
myself. One Of them offered 70 ~
me . position q once boy
"Ohi YOU
~"T--iivsd." he srimly answsrsd II
asked them for nothing. What per
lcnaI trinksts belonged 10 me. I cold.
tor the nrst needs; then ! sst 70 work.
nv father had wished me to b =
mechanical engineer, and meant to
Fplnl his plan. Perfect health ! did
nave--for six years ] regularly worked