River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-02-20

never seen anything more nearly per-
feet. Whose is itT'
Stuart looked into her dark eyes with
desperate yearning.
IT'S yours, NanP'
Miner
Eyes, dear; this is my secret. I've
been building this home for you the
past year. I've put all the little mon
ey my father gave me with every dol
lar | could save. It's paid for. and
here's the key. meant to ask you
out here to fix our wedding day.
ask you now. Forget the nightmare
of the past two weeks. and remember
only that we love each other"
Her lips quivered for just an in
slant. and her hand gripped the rail
of the veranda.
"If I'd seen it four weeks ago, Jim.
really don't see how could have re-
sisted it, but now"-she shook her
head and laughed-'now it's too late.
my God! Don't say that Nan" he
pleaded. Its never too late to do
right. You know that l love you
You know that you love me-"
"But I've discovered" she went on.
with bantering, half challenging frank
ness. that l love luxury too | never
knew how deeply and passionately be-
FORE She paused a moment. look
ing toward Sea Gate. isn't that the
anchorage Of the Atlantic Yacht club?"
YES" he answered impatiently.
Then that's Mr. Bivens' yacht, the
big, ugly black one lying close inshore
with steam up. He told me he would
send her into drydock today. He was
talking last night of wedding cruise
in her to the Mediterranean. i con-
fess. Jim. that I want to shine, to sue
coed and dazzle and reign. This is
perhaps the one chance Of my life."
do you hold yourself so cheapr'
"You can't realize how much the
power Of millions means to a woman
who chafes at the limitations the world
puts on her sex. It's too late"-
Don't, don't say it, Mani"
"Why not be frank? This little cot
tage is gem. admit But I've seen a
splendid palace set in flowers and
cleaning with subdued light. Soft
music steals through it's halls mingled
with the laughter Of throngs who love
and admire me. It's banquet tables are
laden with the costliest delicacies.
while hveried servants hurry to and
fro with plates and goblets of gold"
Stuart seized her arm with fierce
strength that hurt You shall not do
this hideous thing. You are mine, l
tell you. and l am bigger than money.
have the power to think, to create
ideas, to create beauty-the power that
remakes the world i expect to have
all the money we shall need. In the
years to come we shall be rich whether
we seek it or not But the sweetest
days of all life will be those in which
we fight side by side the first battles of
life in youth and poverty when we
shall count the pennies and save with
care for the little ones God may send
u.s."
But life is short. Jim. can have
things now. He has already promised
them-a palace In town. another by
the sea. great castle in the heart of
Tie DluS SOulueTu IuOuuld1uS we uSSQ
TO watch as children and armies of
servants to do my bidding. l can live
now"
"And you call these trappings and
tinsel life?''
81 want them"
MY God. Nan. haven't you soul7
Hasn't the life within no meaning for
you? To me such luxury is sheer In
sanity. The possibilities Of personal
luxury have been exhausted thousands
Of years ago. It's commonplace. vul-
gar and contemplate. If You wish for
power why choose the lowest of all It's
forms? The way you are entering is
worn bare by the feet of millions of
forgotten fools whose bodies worms
have eaten. No. one of them lives
today even in footnote of history"
And yet, Jim. you know as well as
do that money is the sign OF success
and power; its absence. of failure and
weakness. II you make mistake In
| your career You can correct it and be-
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