The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-05-20


because our mutual friend, Mr. Stuart,
lives in your home, and she feared to
lose his friendship in the conflict which
might ensue"
The doctor was silent moment and
giared angrily at his visitor.
"Bivens, you're harr' he cried In a
Judden burst of rage.
II am your guest, Doctor
II beg your pardon I forgot my
self"
II assure you," the little financier
continued smoothly, '+that my inten.
tions were friendly and generous. My
only desire was to help you and make
you rich"
Again the Doctors eyes blazed with
wrath, and he completely lost his self
control
dash you'll Have asked for your
help or patronage? Its offer is an in
suit want you to remember, sir,
Of New York i'll, hungry, out of work,
friendless, and gave you your first
job
Bivens, breathing heavily, turned. his
face black with hate, and slowly said:
"I'll make you live to regret this in
terview, Woodman."
With contemptuous grunt the doc
tor closed the door.
When Stuart heard the door close
and Bivens' step die away on the pave
ment below he came down to see the
doctor, haunted by a strange vision.
From every shadow he saw Mans face
looking into his. He was not supersti-
tious. This impression he knew was
simply picture burned into his tired
brain by days and nights Of intense
longing 1t was the ghost of Mans
face-old, white, pulseless, terrible in
its beauty, but dead.
He paused in the lower hail and
watched for a moment a scene between
father and daughter through the open
door Of the library.
Harriet had just bounded into the
room and stood beside the Doctors
chair with an arm around his neck and
the other hand gently smoothing his
soft gray hair. She was grooming over
his tired figure with the quaintest little
mother touches.
"You look so worn out, papa, dear.
What have you been doingT'
Something very foolish, I'm afraid,
baby-I've just refused a fortune that
might have been yours some day."
"Why did you refuse itT'
Because didn't believe it was
clean and honest"
"Then shouldn't want it. I'd rather
be poor"
The big hands drew the golden bead
closer still and pressed kiss on the
young forehead
MY husband will love me, won't
he7 shall not mind If I'm poor," she
went on laughing es Stuart entered
the room.
"See, boy, how's she's growing, this
little baby Of miner the doctor ex-
claimed, wheeling her about for Stu
arts inspection run now, giriie, and
go to bed 1 want to talk to jim"
well, my boy" said the doctor
when She had left 1--WE just done a
thing which I know was inevitable,
but now that's it's done I'm afraid l
may have made a tragic mistake. Tell
me If it's so, There may be time to
retract"
"Bivens has threatened to Cuin your
business?"
ION the other hand he has just offer
ed to buy 1t at my own price"
sand you refusedT'
ITO sell at any price, but it's not too
late to change my mind. I can call
him back now and apologize for my
rudeness. Tell me. should I DO ttr
Your eyes are young. boy; your soul Is
fresh from Gods heart I'm just lit
tie lonely and afraid tonight See
things for me-sit down a moment
There are several reasons why you
couldn't have a more sympathetic
listener tonight. doctor-go on"
''Grant all their claims" he began
impattently. "for the trust-Its econo-
my. its efficiency, its power, its sue
cess-this Is free country. isn't TIP
"Theoreticallp."
(COnfinuad in EridavsS Tccua \