The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-05-05
The Fortunes of the LandrayS
Just and
Author OF The Prodigal Judge,
Just and the Unjust" etc.

dancing flames OF the blazing htckor!
logs upon the hearth The three mel
had gradually drawn nearer the nre
AZ the shadows deepened about them
Now Benson rose from his chair.
Wed better get together at my OF
fee In the course OF a week or so
and well fix up these matters"
Wont you stay and take supper
! with u.s." said stephen.
NO thank you.
There was gentle tap AT the door
| and Virginia entered the room, carry
| ing lamp She bowed slightly e
! Benson. whom she had not seen be
! fore, and who. 10 her. seemed 10 be
| taking much too active part In hel
| husbands concerns. Her dislike, fol
IL already amounted 10 that. was
| scarcely reasonable, but then she was
not always reasonable.
Il thought you would need light,
she explained. addressing her hus
| band, land Martha Is busy with the
mems supper"
Thank you for remembering us.
said Stephen.
He had risen and now took the
| lamp from her hand in doing SO HE
! fingers closed about hers with a
gentle pressure, while his eyes looked
smilingly into hers; but there was
no answering smile She turned alb
rnptly and quilted the room.
There was an awkward pause, then
Bushrod rose quickly from his chair.
with something like look OF dismay
on his dark face.
Il declare, Stephen, you shOuldn
go. What's the use Of every one be-
ing made miserable?"
Nonsense, man. said Stephen
with shrug
A little later Bushrod and Benson
drove away together. and Stephen.
who had followed them to the door,
paused on the porch watching them
out Of sight. A soft step reused him ,
his wife stood at his side. and placed
a hand on his arm.
Il am sorry" she said simply
You're not TO blame" he said kind
ly. ~ know it's not the sort of thing
wAnan could have much interest
in"
"Oh, don't let Us speak OF II again
| want you TO remember only that
you were happy during these, our last
days together, and that ! loved you,
as | have always loved you, Stephen
sometimes | think better than even.
you comprehend
Why, you speak as if II were the
end OF IL all, when it's only the be-
ginning. Bush and | will make our
fortunes"
oh, why can't We be content to be
just poor, Stephen? What does II
matter what We lack AZ long as we
have each other? Once, not very long
ago, We thought that would be sum
Gent" she whispered softly, and TO
him her every word was a reproach;
only his fancied needs, defended by
his native stubbornness and his inabil-
ity to look down any path save that
he had chosen. was keeping him true
TO his purpose.
But We can't be poor he said at
last doggedly I've wished II were
possible, but It's not, We can't stand
by and see the fortune go 10 pot
But | thought our love was enough
it is for me-" she said sadly.
Why, bless your heart dear. and
80 II is" he cried in tone OF sturdy
conviction, slipping an arm about her.
Then why must you co." But she
knew that opposition was useless.
Nothing hut our necessity is taking
me from you"
Money with brave contempt. We
can live without that"
I'm afraid not, dear"
why do you so dread the loss OF
fortune? There are other things
dread more TO lose
Il swear don't know; but there is
something shameful In II TO me. he
said
But why?"
We'll, for us II would mean that we
had failed, Bush and |. in everything,
that we hadn't the ability to even hold
on to what father left us. NO. no.
dear. the family can't go 10 the dogs
quite yet. It's true we have no chill
dren. and sometimes | have been al
most thankful, but there's Bush's boy