The Detroit times., 1913-06-23

'HetoAs. wOoiu uot tIubt MN W
you"
When have l been unkind. vir.
ginia?' he asked.
II no longer feel that l know you."
she replied.
There Is one answer for that. one
explanation; you know what It 10, Vir-
ginia." he said still coldly.
You blame me after all these
years"
They have been lonely ones" he
said
Because l could not give you what
was not mine to give"
He ran his fingers through his thin
grey hair. and smiled almost whim.
sically.
81 am not grateful for failure; I fnd
that day by day ! am taking more
account OF success, no matter what
It's kind: and but for you. Virginia.
| might have been q happy man just
as I have been a successful man;
though after all success Is easier won
than happiness. You will want to
know what will promise on behalf
OF the boy. and it's quite right you
should"
IL have heard enough" she said, but
| ne went on unheeding her.
| You must remember that aside
from Gibbs wife. the boy IL nearer
me than any one else, and that I am
a rich man. yet you are to understand
that what l may do for him will be
much or little as he proves himself
worthy or unworthy But he shall
have every advantage that money will
give. You are ambitious for him; he
| shall have a profession and a free and
unhampered start in life Can you do
az much for him."
You know ! cannot" she said
why do you tempt me? or course I
am ambitious for him"
Then let me crafty you: do not
mean that you are 10 be entirely sep.
arated from him: but until he goes
away TO school wish him to be an
inmate OF my house. This is not an
unfair demand; you could hardly ex.
pect that would ask less
But how do I know how you will
treat him." asked Virginia.
You can learn from the boy him
SELL answered Benson smiling. II
did not suppose that you think me
capable OF nnkindness or brutality
he added with quiet sarcasm.
He will he lonely"
Most likely" said Benson compos-
ed Understand Virginia. II you pre-.
fer TO be alone responsible for his
f'iture. | have no desire to interfere
In your plans, though Stephens let
tor gives me definite claim: but
shall never urge this claim, IL Ii sim
ply that do not believe In a divided
authority: and beg you to remember
what Stephens life was"
You must not speak Of that to me.
! could have saved him had known"
1T was the hardness OF conditions
that killed him He only new failnre:
and have something better than tina.
to offer his son. You love the boy,
virginia, how do you know I may
not love him, too? Few men are more
alone In the world than /. why should
| not love him just as you love him."
My plans for him as 7 have thought
them out, would be to send him away
tC school as soon as he Is old enough.
This | regard as necessary, for If he
remains here. he will inevitably get q
wrong idea. perhaps an Injurious idea.
as 10 his relation to me, and his expec
tations
You have not even seen him." said
Virginia.
But you tell me he is like his
father | was fond OF his father once"
Yet you would want me tomfwypet
Yet you would do nothing for him."
she said bitterly.
He did not want me to- he would
have accepted nothing from me had
| offered 1t. ! don't reproach myself
With anything there. II was only that
his love for his son was a stronger
passion than his pride, that made II
possible for him to appeal to me-"
But I am to see Stephen"
As often as you like. but he is to
live with me- Virginia; this is to be
clearly understood between us: nv
house will be his home. You can trust
him to me quite safely, and shall end
by caring for him; perhaps not a. Won
love him but still I may feel deeply
and sincerely toward him"
u will give you my answer IN a
few days." said Virginia rising hastily
AS you like" said Benson. follow.
ing her example. and CLEAN OF
triumph flashed in his eyes. He knew
what her answer would be.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE,
Stephen was q lonely little figure
In Benson's great house; he was vast.
ly depressed by the formal manner
OF life to which the lawyer had nd.
1usted himself. and for which Mrs.
Pope his housekeeper was primarily
responsible. for Benson was a silent
man In his home, and admirable lady
that she was. Mrs. Pope was neither
a gay nor cheerful person, nor was
she gifted In ways to inspire others
with gaiety or cheerfulness.
By day the house was his to wander
through; there were also the grounds.
into which he was thrust at stated
intervals by Mrs. Pope, all of whose
acts were depressinsly regular and
ordered. In the gardens. working
diligently among the plants or vines.
or cutting the acre or two devoted TO
lawns, Stephen found a taciturn Ger.
mah whose name was Peter, and who
limited bis remarks to brief requests
fer the boy to let the flowers alone: