The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-03

| Ana virginia saw that vanity, AMI
probably a very real sense OF loss
had worked this change In Anna; she
also realized from the ready accept
ance OF the lie the doctor hac
mapped out for her, something oil
the mans determination OF char
acter. a force that Was all the strong
err because OF the narrow channels
into which II had been directed BY
the chance that had determined his
career.
80 am TO have little Stephen
poor little fellow"
They were silent for time and
Of her course.
IT'S my chance for happiness. Viz
ginia. I'm too young to bury my
self alive, know Bush wouldn't ex
/ pect It. | know he would approve;
and you can't think what a comfort
that conviction is"
And you really expect TO marry
DR.. Stillman?" Virginia set her lips
Then | have nothing more to say
Anna, absolutely nothing; you must
Judge for yourself. | don't propose
10 criticize you, or your future. hus-
band no good can come Of that. and
we won't be friends long II ! do. OF
course III take little Stephen, you
know that all along | have wanted
you and him at the farm; Id rather
have you both but | see that Will
never be-" she Quilted her chair as
she spoke.
oh, please don't go just yet.
dear" entreated Anna. Now that Vir-
ginia knew, and seemed so reason
able in her opinions she would have
liked to keep her and make her her
confidant; there was much to tell. 30
much In the way OF profitable discus
sion of her plans. But Virginia had
heard enough.
II must go Anna. really must go;
Sam West Is tired OF waiting for me,
and | wish to go home" she sighed
gently. II shall be sorry TO lose you,
dear" she said graciously, and per-
haps when ! am little more "a
miliar with the idea | shall see II diff
terently. more AS you see II.
But on the drive home. the cheer
fulness she had assumed In Anna
presence left her; she realized that
IL was but a few months since they
had really known OF their loss, ana
already Anna had formed new ties
and interests. and these far removed
from anything that had fallen within
their past experiences. lndia-it
vaguely suggested the ends Of the
earth. but beyond this it Was only "a
sound, il carried no meaning.
II was found that Annas affairs
and their adjustment presented GER
tain difficulties which necessitated
the calling in OF the patient Benson.
By the terms OF her husband VIII.
she was, in the event OF her second
marriage. to take one-third of hts es-
tate and the house In tom. the re-
mainder going to little Stephen.
Virginia consented to the expedient
OF mortgaging the mill IL was In
vain that Benson expostulated; point
ing out the manifest unfairness OF
such course: but very satisfac-
tory condition resulted from the buy.
ing out of Annals interest; he was
relieved OF her. and now he could ad-
minister Virginia's means TO the best
possible advantage.
He would like 10 have known Just
what Virginia thought about Annals
marriage, but he never ventured 10
ask: and he fancied he detected In
her manner a certain reserve when
ever IL was under discussion.
Benson also found purchaser for
Anna's house In town, and she over
came her dislike for the country sur
ficiently to 90 out 10 the farm with
little Stephen, where she remained
until her marriage. which occurred
late in the summer following Ben
sons return from the west. To the
very last she was sustained by her
love OF excitement but when Ben
son, and DR.. Stillman. and DR.. Still
mans brother, who had performed
the ceremony, had withdrawn to the
library where they spent gloomy
half hour In waiting for Sam West
TO drive up TO the door and she and
Virginia with Jane had gone upstairs
to finish packing her trunks: her
gaiety quite left her; she appreciated
for the first time the radical nature
OF the change that was before her;
and she clung to Virginia with many
endearments. weeping softly.
II may never come back, Virginia,
and If | don't. you will be a mother
to my boy"
HE Is more to me than any one
else In the world, now that you are
going away. dear" said Virginia gent
". She had forgotten all OF Anna's
selfishness. her general pnfairness,
and the fact that she had not dis
dained to drive an exceedingly close
bargain in the division OF the estate;
the latter. point that the exasper-
ated Benson could not get over and
which he had kept before her with
some insistence These were the
contradictory elements in human ma
ture she felt: and her only emotion
now was one of generous pity.
Where is Stephen, Virginia."
HE is with Martha; shall Jane go
for him."
NO, not yet. Let him stay with
Martha till the last minute: until
iust before ] go. You will do more
for him than | could, Virginia: II Is
only believing this that makes ii pos
sible for me TO leave him. You are
lots wiser than | am, so perhaps IL
Is providentia that he should be left
with you When | come back in
three or four years | expect he Will
be quite a big fellow, but don't let
him forget his mother Perhaps
haven't been just the best mother in
the world, but In my own way | love
him: You will not let him forget me
promise. oh. II is so dreadful 10
be torn by these different lcSes and