The Detroit times., 1913-06-13

GlNo Huy IuouSatu uolt&Ts lOI tue
tract. Now II you can beat tham fig
ures, you're at liberty tot" He had
risen. and stood looking down on tho
lawyer. Benson did not speak. he
did not look up. for he did not want
Switzerland 10 see his race. Fifty
thousand dollars He wondered II
he had really heard Alright Fifty
thousand dollars A great JOY en-
quilted him, he could only think OF
what this would do for Virginia
the relief. the eass-agstn the CON
fort OF ample means. Yet when he
spoke his habitual caution prompted
him TO ask coldly;
THAT IL the best you can do"
Yes Think II over" said South
erland I'm yet UP the horse" he
added. and strobe away.
Benson did not follow him At once.
Fifty thousand dollars This was
rare news he should carry home. He
did not propose 70 commit himself 10
Southerlann then and there however,
he would learn nrst. IL he could not
do better But he had the Fremont
ton that he would accept this Ser
In tho and. since something In South.
erland's tone convinced him that he
was Offering all the land was worth.
On the drive back to town they
seemed by mutual consent to avoid
any reference to the offer. When
they drew up at the curb before Ben
sonS hotel, Switzerland said:
II suppose you'll want tomorrow
To look about. and then you'll have
to consult your principal before we
can settle anything"
"YeA" agreed Benson. III i see
you In the afternoon, suppose you
will be ready to put your OFFER In
shape for me to submit: | expect
TO take the night train west II your
otter Ii accepted. III be back by the
first OF next week TO conclude the
ideal"
Benson took a train west the next
tewening. He carried with him South
sriand's offer. which be had satisfied
himself virginia could do no better
than accept
From the first bis feeling had been
one OF generous enthusiasm He
could hardly wait To see Virginia.
The speed OF the train that was bear
| ing him across the state seemed Ut
terly inadequate to the great occa-
sion. She would be rich woman
again: the smile faded from lis lips.
! The thought smots him like a sud
den blow.
HIS one hold upon her had been
her dependence, and what comfort
! he bad been able TO cheat himself
into taking was all based on the idea
that AZ Vfrginia's fortunes grew DEF
perate, she must inevitably turn TO
| him. Now he would have nothing to
| offer. She was free TO leave Benson
II she chose.
II was two o'clock in the morning
when he descended 10 the station
| platform at Benson He slept late
the following morning. and after he
had breakfasted went into his office
to look over his letters. These were
but few. He soon disposed OF them,
and he was at liberty TO 70 10 Vir.
. ginia. But he had parted with the
desire. His first generous enthusi-
asm had quite LETT him. He assured
himself that he was still unspeaka bly,
glad for her sake, II was only that
for his own sake he could not he
glad. He must surrender all idea OF
her: but IL was folly to imagine he
II
la day. In his life. where each sane
com paniment OF modest achievement,
this love of his had been the supreme
thing; great. compelling, uplifting,
unsattsned.
There was one thing he could do
and suddenly he found himself think
ing II out step by step Until the
smallest detail was clear In his mind.
He might buy the land Of her. paying
her a. he now could. some small sum
for II that would benefit her. and yet
keep her near him, and still Deepen
dent II he did this, OF course he
could not accept Southerland's offer.
He would hold the land just as Nor-
ginia had held It, deriving no benefit
from II. This would be a disgraceful
and q cruel thing to do, but II could
be done-that IL. II would be simple
enough to do.
Il provoked q dull wonder in him
that he could consider 30 base be-
trayal Of her trust and confidence,
but the details Of this miserable
scheme kept recurring TO his mind
He even assured himself that II was
no longer possible to be honest In
his dealings with Virginia: for TO be
so. was 70 forever Danish the slight
chance of future happiness TO which
he chung with determination and
desperation that had become part
OF his very love for her.
He lived through each phase ~ the
supposittious transaction. but not
without suffering 10 himself. Then
he dismissed the matter from his
mind He felt as one does who has
awakened from bad dream To
wrong her was impossible. He would
do what was honest because II was
honest, and because the habits OF
lifetime would admit Of nothing else.
But why had he played with pos
sible temptation. why had he allowed
such q fnncy TO possess him? He
gave way to tear--fear OF himself;
and he was again weighing the merits
OF his case, the justice even: and he
knew that 1t had become struggle.
a struggle to maintain himself
against the willingness to do her
wrong.
Strangely enough he seemed 70 be
able to watch quite impersonally the
struggle that was going on In his
own soul. He wondered what this
tempted man would do. who IN
single day had fallen away from all
his nice ideals OF honor.
II have found a buyer for your Wild
- to-. " oil