The Detroit times., 1913-07-11
CHAPTER EIFTY-TWO.

CHAPTER FIFTI-IWO.
Stephen did not see Benson again,
and he confided to no one the purpose
the lawyer had In mind when he sent
for him He had two reasons for TINS.
He did not want his aunt TO know OF
the sacrifice he had made; and after
"A time he came to feel that the wnole
incident had been discreditable 10
Benson himself. He would have made
him his heir, not because he longer
cared for him, but because 1t wouiu
have quieted Virginia. In the emo ne
found he had carried away the impress.
sion that bride had been onereu
him.
AS wade had foreseen, the news OF
Virginias demand speedily became
public property; but there was noth-
ing In Bensons attitude to indicate
that he was conscious Of the buzzing
tongues of gossip that were every
where. He carried his head little
higher. that was ALL No man could
say he feared to meet his glance; ana
there were those who said he was
dead 10 all sense of shame. These
were willing to think Ill or him on
general principles. and not because
they had any reason TO. There was
another faction. however, all sympathy
for him. They denounced virginia
charge as the irresponsible attempt OF
a woman TO levy blackmail. IT was re-
melnbered as something not quite
creditable to her that she had always
been peculiar. and had held herself
aloof from the town and its social lie
But by far the bitterest denouncia-
tons were heaped upon stephen. He
was held TO be a base migrate, who had
turEed on his benefactor and had Join
ed with Virginia TO despoil him OF at
least a portion OF his wealth.
Stephen felt the injustice OF the po-
sition in which he was placed; and
Virginia felt 1t for him and for her
self. They would both have liked
to run away from the consequence OF
her act had it been possible.
Yet few people took the case quite
seriously in its ultimate aspect. There
were even those who were disposed TO
chan Ben Wade; but his air OF quiet
self confidence, his smiling reticence,
and his genial good nature in the face
OF ridicule had its effect, just as he
intended II should He prepared and
filed his papers in the case. and IL
was whispered that they were models
In their way.
Benson, although he had become an
object Of widespread and general in
terest. neither Stunned nor avoided
the public's gaze, its stare of covert
inquiry. He went his way In undis-
turbed serenity, and with no sign OF
shame or fear He was as impressive
as ever. The same austerly kind. dig
nihed figure he had always been; and
his air of pleasant patronage and
courtesy suffered no eclipse: and the
most bitter Of his detractors yielded
him what he by his very manner
claimed for himself, and had claimed
these many years.
II was only poor old Gibbs who
showed shame and fear, and no one
noticed him. He would gladly have
hidden himself away somewhere II he
could; but he could not: and so he
skunk in and out of the Office, looking
no man in the face where he could
avoid IT, He had expected Benson TO
rise in the might OF his spotless in
tegrity and silence Virginia. But
most Of all he had looked for him TO
punish Ben Wade for the part he had
played in the matter. But he either
would not or could not do anything OF
the kind, and a cruel suspicion. the
first he had known, began TO obtrude
itself upon him What If 1t were true.
what If Benson had defrauded Vlr-
ginia But this was so utterly incon-
ceivable to him. that he never really
believed II.
Each day he stole down to the Of
fee, choosing his way through alleys
and by unfrequented side streets, eX-
pecting that something would be done.
Surely Benson must decide who was
TO defend the suit for him: and gibbs
wanted to feel the excitement OF those
preparations But each day he was
doomed to Disappointment. The SUD
1ect was never even mentioned be-
tween them. He had hoped that Ben
son would make some denial to MIN,
90 that he might know OF certainty
Just how false Virginia's accusations
were; but the denial was never made;
and SO far as he knew nothing was
done. Apparently nothing would be
done Was IL possible thai Benson dld
not intend to contest the suit. His
anguish, for II amounted 20 that. lett
deep lines or his spotched and bloat-
ed old face The earth, the solid earth
that had rested secure In the very
shadow of Benson's greatness, seemed
slipping out from beneath his feet.
In this stress. unrebuked he took 10
drink Night after night he carried
tall bottle home hidden under his coat.
and his Julia was powerless to control
him. She could hear him for half the
night. as she lay on her bed In the
room over the small parlor, stamping
about III his stocGinged fe... or lurcn-
ing through the hall to the water-cool-
or that stood on the sideboard In the
little dining-room, muttering to him
self as he went, and his mutterings
were auerulous cursings of Wade end
Virginia
All day at the office he watched
Benson with eyes that held dog-like
devotion, and each time the lawyer
called him 10 his side. he shusfled
eagerly into his presence, thinking
now surely he would say something:
but Il was never what III wanted to
hear from MS lips. The days wasted
themselves and nothing Was done.
Perhaps Benson would have found
Il difficult to explain his altitude had
he felt called upon to do so. He was
conscious that he had no wish to exert
himself. He was strangely Indifferent
10 the whole course OF events. The
ching that hurt him most was the real