The Detroit times., 1913-06-04

absurd. that he found himself laugh
Ing 1t II. along with his other fancies.
but with certain Joy and wonder
that they had come to him: and with
the wish that they might be some
thing more than fancies And so day
after day, as he sat in his ONCE,
where he gave most excellent advice
In vast variety OF cases, these
thoughts filed his mind: they follow
ed him out into the street when the
cracked town bell summoned him TO
the dingy courtroom. whittier he
walked with much elaboration and
dignity: for he was aware that his
youth. though beginning to be largely
matter OF appearance only. was
still not exactly In his favor
He sometimes wondered what his
clients-serious-minded people. for
the most part, who were suing for
judgments on bad debts. or involved
In squabbles over line fences, or had
foolishly acquired or rashly bestowed
black eyes and broken noses---would
have thought, II they could have
known that under the mask OF his
professional interest in their affairs,
he cherished such an array OF dreams.
So he lived this double existence;
Benson the lawyer and Benson the
lover, who dwelt. removed and re-
mote In secret ectasy all his own.
and OF which no man knew or guess
ed. IL was the season Of a generous
enthusiasm, when he strove manfully
toward greater measure Of worth,
for his we're the ideals that no man
attains to but only desires; and only
desires when he Is young and gener.
GUS; and this season, saw the passing
OF another season beyond the win
dows OF his quiet house. The leaves
on the naples. crimsoned at the
touch OF frost, faded and fell. clog.
ging the open cutters with their faded
heaps; the snow lay two feet on the
level. and then came the period OF
frost and thaw; OF melting snow and
Ice; and the imperceptible change
from stagnation to life: and II was
spring, and the naples were in bud
again.
All this while he managed to be
OF use to Virginia in many ways. He
watched over her interests with rare
good judgment, for he was deter
mined that no advantage should be
taken OF her. He found a tenant for
the farm-Trent, whom Stephen had
left In possession, having proved him.
self unworthy after the first year or
two-and over this tenant he held a
tight rein; and many we're the trips
he made to the farm to see that he
failed In no part of his bargain. Then
4 n l. l-A
ed on very desirable terms to a man
by the name Of Crawford, who came
from distance, and had some little
capital and considerable energy.
He supposed. though she gave no
sign, that he could interpret In sup
port of his opinion, that there was
much self-denial In the life that cir
cumstances forced upon her. Ii was
the same thing, without break or In
terruption, day after day, and month
after month. Once, and the time was
OF course, well within his memory.
the Landray home had been famous
for Its hospitality; but Virginia had
neither the inclination nor the means
to continue this: indeed her few
friends In the town itself gradually
dropped away. and her interests mar
rowed to the immediate members of
her own household, who furnished
her with something that stood for &C.
cupation. James baby developed q
variety OF inconseQuential Ills, such as
babies usually develop. but OF which
Virginia was always inclined to take
an extreme view of potentially tragic
possibilities. She had also been d.
recting little Stephens studies for
some time; though she had assumed
this responsibility with serious mis-
givings as to her fitness for such a
task, since her own education was OF
the simple sort such as usually fell to
the lot OF girls at that period. and
went no further than a fair use OF the
English language, a treacherOus &C.
quaintance with figures. and a very
little French. which she had forgotten,
she found with a thoroughness that
was quite disproportionate to SO vague
a knowledge as this had been at its
best.
From Anna she heard occasionally.
Her letters came at irregular inter-
walls, great bulky packages filed with
agreeably written descriptions OF the
places she was seeing. These, Vir-
ginia sometimes loaned the lawyer to
read; az she took it for granted that
ne had the same interest In Anna that
he had In her.
The summer that followed Anna
marriage passed; and the winter that
succeeded It: and spring came again.
and found Benson still committed to a
self-denying silence. II was one OF
q ha Av~at do, - IL
and Virginia had sent for him; her
note had been left by the farm tenant
and the lawyer had discovered 1t on
his desk when he went home to din
ner after a morning spent In court,
and by the middle Of the afternoon he
was Jogging over the pleasant country
road In the direction Of the farm
ITS about Stephen said Virginia.
l. l.