The Detroit times., 1913-06-25

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might be a year hence. or II might be
ten years hence; he only knew that II
would not be until his mood changed,
until he was ready TO show kindness
to her.
Thus it was that Stephens first
summer was passed entirely In the
east. Benson told Virginia II was
better that he should become thor
oughly accustomed 10 his surround
ings; that to bring him home would
only be to unsettle him. But he him
self went east and Stephen spent two
weeks with him.
The second year passed much as
the first had done, and now Virginia
understood that Benson wished to
wholly separate her from the boy.
The lawyer had arranged that she
should receive periodic reports as TO
his health and progress. AS these
were always satisfactory, she had no
grounds for demanding that he should
be brought back She had Stephen g
own letters. too, which after he had
outgrown his first feeling Of home
| sickness, showed that he was quite
happy and contented But with the
passing of time his letters became
more and more perfunctory.
Benson he saw once or twice each
year, and his affection steadily
strengthened toward him. His Uncle
Jacob was able and generally quite
willing to confer most tangible bene-
| Ats, he could not have been more
generous, nor have shown greater
readiness 10 do for him in all reason
able ways; and Stephen early learned
that an appeal to him was certain OF
results. These benefits might be ac-
companied by admonitory hints as TO
the folly OF extravaganza, but he could
always skip these hints, and the law
yers check was an asset that gave
him great prestige among his fellows.
He was fortunate in his teachers
perhaps, and II was all In his favor
that he was constitutionally predis-
posed to good influences. and that
they made lasting impression on
him; since his development was large
ly a matter of chance. he might cas-
lily have gone very far wrong and no
one been the wiser.
After the first two or three years at
school, he gave up all idea, as he lost
all desire. to return to Benson. His
summers we're passed agreeably
enough Just where he was. He could
safely count on his Uncle Jacob CON-
ing east during his vacation, and then
there were pleasant trips TO the noun
tains or seashore.
Benson rarely spoke of his aunt to
him. He early sensed 1t that they
were not friends. and he adapted him.
self to what he considered the law
yer's prejudices. He gradually ceased
to inquire about Reddy or Benjamin
Wade or Spike. for here the lawyers
information was meager and uncer'
tain: and after a few years his Aunt
Virginia, the boys. Peter the garden
err and Mrs. Pope the housekeeper.
fitted into the background OF those
hazy memories that now made up the
substance OF his life In the Ohio town
He came more and more to think OF
the lawyer as q solitary man without
friendships or associations, and save
in his own case, as both lonely and
unapproachable- II would have sur
prised him not little had he been
told that In his own circle Benson
was a powerful and dominating figure,
even sinister at times. with concerns
and interests whose magnitude ex-
ceeded anything he could have mag
ined possible.
His feeling Of mingled tenderness
and pity increased as he grew toward
manhood He wished his Uncle Jacob
could be made full aware OF his al
lection, but he was always conscious
that there was something in the law
yer's manner that repealed any emo
tional display; that beneath his kind
ly dignity, the fiber OF his nature Was
cold and hard. The utter barrenness
OF his life, as the boy imagined 1t,
explained this. II was the awkward
ness of one who had lived much In
solitude, with few intimates and few
er friends.
He had been away at school ten
years. when something occurred which
took him back to the very limits at
which his memory was active. ana
which slowed him that Benson might
have intimacies Of which he did not
know. He had written for money.
and instead OF the usual letter from
Benson, there came one In a strange
hand. Mr.. Benson was absorbed In
important litigation, the writer said.
and had requested him to see TO the
mailing Of the enclosed draft; the
writer also ventured the hope that
his young friend had not altogether
forgotten him. In spite Of the years
that had interviewed since their last
meeting. The latter was signed with
a flourish. Nathan Gibbs.
Stephen remembered vaguely that
there was such a man, but whether
he really remembered him, or only
remembered having been told OF him.
he could not have said. He wondered
though how long Gibbs had been in
Benson, and why his Uncle jacob
had never mentioned him.
Gibbs, once started on the down
grade, had gone from bad TO worse.
There had been ten doleful years dur.
ing which he had sunk lower and low
err. Now and again he had made
manful rally to recover his lost es-
tate, but II was no use. Finally such
a point was reached that his Julia
took matters into her own hands.
She had written Benson. and her let
ter had been an urgent appeal Tor
assistance. The lawyer had needed
Il. but he had no intention OF helping
Gibbs at arms length. II he was to
make himself responsible for the gen.
erals future. he would have TO be
close at hand where he could keep
him under some sort OF surveillance.
He had made his arrangement with