River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-02-13

to see that there. is something more
precious in our life than the mere
tonnage of national wealth-the spirit
of freedom and initiative in our peo-
pie! Shall they become merely the
hired men of few moneyed kings? Or
shall the avenues of industry and in
dividual enterprise remain open to
their children? The people will answer
these questionsr'
Bivens gave a cynical little chuckle.
''Then I'm sure We'll get the wrong
answer, DOCTOR" was the response.
''They will get it right by and by.
The nation is young. You say you be-
lieye in God. Well, see to it-a thou
sand years are but a day to him!
Among the shadows of eternity he is
laughing at your follies. Nature in her
long. slow, patient process is always on
the side of Justice
Bivens rose with movement of i'm
patience.
I'm sorry you can't see your way
to listen to any proposition from me,
doctor. I'm a practical man. l wish
to incorporate your business into the
Chemical company on terms that will
satisfy YOU
''Such terms can't be made, Bivens,"
the doctor said impetuously. Your
purpose is to squeeze money out of the
people-the last dollar the trade will
boor Tbot ie xy0,1r motto I cin1p1xy ~o
fuse. To you the city is merely big
flock of sheep to be sheared, while to
me its myriad sounds are the music Of
a divine OratoriO, throbbing with tears
and winged with laughter. / call the
people my neighbors-these hurrying
throngs who pass me daily. Because
they are my neighbors they are my
friends. Their rights are sacred. I will
not rob, MAIN or kill them, and l will
defend them against those who would"
Bivens merely shrugged his Shout
ders and answered in measured, care
full tones:
''Then l suppose I'll have to fight
you whether I wish it or not?"
Eyes, and you knew that before you
came here tonight You have heard
that l am beginning suit for dam
ages against your company
Bivens laughed in spite of himself,
bit his lips and looked at the doctor.
II assure you had heard nothing of
such a suit, and now that l have it
does not even interest me-"
Then may l ask the real reason for
this urgent callY'
"You may" was the cheerful re-
spouse. "And 1 will answer frankly.
l am engaged to be married to Miss
Nan Primrose. The wedding is to &C.
eur in a few weeks. In some way she
has learned of possible conflict be-
tween your interests and mine and
asked me to settle them"
'And, may I ask, why? don't even
know Miss Primrose"
"a woman's within perhaps. Possibly
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 a moment and
SldIOu duSIlly DIT HIS NlSlIOIs
"Bivens, you're liary' he cried in a
sudden burst of rage.
81 am your guest, DOCTOR
II beg your pardon. l forgot my
self"
II assure you,' the little fnancier
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! Have 1 asked for your
help or patronage? Its offer is an in
suit. l want you to remember, sir,
that 1 picked you up out of the streets
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 a 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 a 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 hall 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 doing?'
Something very foolish, I'm afraid,
baby-I've just refused fortune that
might have been yours some day."
"Why did you refuse it?"
Because I didn't believe it was
clean and honest"