The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-07-02
CHAPTER FoRTY-six.

less stephen was on triol with Benson.
The lawyer had neither the wish nor
purpose to influence him in any par
ticular, he seewed quite willing that
the young fellow should develop in his
own way and after his own fashion;
be well with him; II IL were not q
and IL II were a good fashion IL would
good fashion, IL would not be SO wen
with him Yet no matter what stephen
did or failed to do for himself, within
certain limits which were ALREADY
clearly defined In his own mind, Ben
son intended to right In him the wrong
he had done Virginia Landray the
least he would do would be- TO provide
adequately for his future. So he set
tied down TO watch stephen drift
thing Stephen was ready enough to do,
for he was finding existence very
pleasant in the little Ohio town; GER
tain of its aspects rather amused him,
but ON the whole IL was not lacking In
culture and dignity, while the con
Germs OF life were carried on with con-
siderable zeal. He was regarded local
ly as Benson's heir; thing he, too,
believed when 1t occurred TO him TO
speculate on the future
4 In time the lawyer came to have
real and deep affection for the young
fellow; he became more and more
dependent as the weeks slipped by.
He had not understood before how
, empty his life was; and as his affec-
ton for Stephen grew. he became less
critical of him, until he finally ceased
TO watch him from any such impulse.
But Gibbs was not SO we'll satisfied
with the situation. He. too. felt
fatherly interest In the young fellow.
T.. fa In x.,tt III MI
dices, and was conscious that IL
Stephen had been any one else the
lawyer would have heartily disapprov-
cd of him. Gibbs wondered how long
it would be until Benson reverted to
his normal standards. He hoped there
would be no disappointments in store
for Stephen. One day alone with Ben
son In the office, he took occasion 10
say:
Jake, what's Stephen going to do
with himself? He amt going around
with his hands In his pockets all his
life, Is hep"
why shouldn't he, II he wants TO,
and IL want him to-" retorted Ben
son sharply.
Well, you're rather down on idle
ness as general thing. Jake; mighty
little OF it's entered into your expert
ence."
Personally, Gibbs had no illusions
about industry he considered II a fine
thing. SO long as Ii paid.
The Bensons have always worked
hard enough" said the lawyer.
That's not SO true OF the Landrays,
be favors the Landrays," and Gibbs
chuckled.
He is half Benson Why shouldn't
I n
see some one who is gracefully. idle;
who seems to be able to do nothing
without getting into mischief and max
ing a mess Of it.
Well. he seems to have an inhnite
capacity In that direction. I've nAver
heard him complain OF not having an
occupation. II amt thing he misses
much, | should say said Gibbs.
IL Gibbs could not rid himself OF the
conviction that Stephen should be
thinking of his future, Virginia was
very strongly of this same opinion,
too. She had no faith in Benson, and
his Indifference in the case OF stephen
she felt was fraught with disastrous
possibilities for the latter. His
strength and vigor, his very manhood
would be snapped by his condition OF
dependence. From her, this feeling
SpIedu 10 mTs. w dlsH, duu ftdTIlell,
and Elinor, and even TO Mark Norton,
Who partook in some measure OF all
their prejudices, for he found that In
cessant reiteration sooner or later
fastened them upon him.
Stephens lack of all ambition was a
blow TO Elinor. She had more than
liked him from the first, but Ben
Wade had always been held up TO her
by Clara, as a shining example OF what
young man should be: and Clara's
convictions, which were always ad- !
yanced with singular steadiness, never
failed TO impress her II Wade was all
Clara said, and she hoped Clara was
not mistaken. surely Stephens lack Of
all apparent ambition was anything
out praiseworthy. She would have
liked to rouse him. to have pointed out
70 him. that young man who had
leisure for afternoon calls, was in the |
nature Of an innovation In Benson. |
She did not doubt that when she re-
d. turned home this was one Of the first
things Clara would do, for Clara was
the soul of Incorporating candor. /
OF Ben Wade Stephen saw much.
Wade's attitude was that of lifelong
friend who was resuming merely in
tcrrupted intimacy, and in this light
Stephen came to look upon him and
to accept him. Wade possessed a
wide popularity, but the liking in
which he was held extended to no
other member of his family. Wade
himself did not appear to notice this,
certainly he did not resent it. This
struck Stephen as odd, and 1t was
one of the things he admired his
friend the less for. Another thing he
was not slow to observe, was that he
was very welcome at the Norton's;
but he admitted that Ben could hardly
be blamed for having made the most
OF his opportunities, whether profess
sional or social
Ben was also his aunts lawyer and
il was from him that he came to know
something of his aunts affairs; that
the sale OF what had once been farm
land about the cottage, was her only
source OF revenue.
She'll be in a bad way when she
gets TO the end OF that" said Wade
rather indifferently.
You mean she has nothing beyond,
no investments, no income?" Stephen
asked.
Nothing that know OF. She's been
ceiling off lots for the past ten years