The Detroit times., 1913-06-06


Yes, they did--a fortune"
The boy frowned.
We'll, / wish IL hadn't been lost;
then there wouldn't be this talk about
my being a professional man. What
are all the professions anyway. Mr..
Benson"
The law, medicine. the ministry
"Oh. well. | guess III have 10 argue
my Aunt Virginia out OF that notion
he said in evident low spirits.
Stephen was rather good looking
and mature for his years. All his
ideas, such as they were. were well
thought out and definite. He was dark
like his father. and had the I.andray
air Of high breeding; indeed, his man
ner toward Benson was one OF court
eous and restrained good-fellowship.
he was neither boisterous nor famil-
lar: and the lawyer, considering those
points which were most in his favor,
decided that while In some respects
he was only an average boy. he yet
possessed certain fine possibilities of
manhood, though he was forced TO
own he did not quite know what they
were. and was dubious as to their
practical value. He remembered that
his father and uncle had both been
exceptional men, but he would hardly
have called them successful men.
II Benson's opinion OF Stephen was
not wholly complimentary. no doubt
Of the boys capacity or brilliancy
ever entered Virgtnia's mind. He was
Landray, and she was sure he would
develop into such a man as his father
had been. She felt that the future or
the family rested entirely with him.
and had her own ideals Of what this
future must be.
She had so fixed upon profession
for him that he soon ceased TO COM
bat the idea, though il was peculiarly
distastefll TO him; and this distaste
grew as he grew. until his apathy on
this one point was SO great that Vir-
ginia's confidence was shaken some
what; however. during the second win
| ter Of his attendance at the pubic
| school he delighted her by suggesting
! the law, since II seemed TO him thar
with Bensons help 1t could be mac
tered with rather less personal incon-
venience than any other Of the profess
sions; and probably IL would be all
right. but he had his doubts, still TO
please his aunt he was willing TO
make the effort; and so the law 1t
became.
The following winter he worried
through Hume's History OF England
and then in very low spirits took up
lessly committed; but he braveIy
guarded his speech that she might not
know how great a sacrifice he was
making.
In his fancy. specializing on his fu.
ture, he saw himself as he saw Ben
son. digging away at his desk, among
piles Of papers, or delving into yellow
calfskin volumes: or arguing his
cases in the stuffy little courtroom;
or returning dusty or muddy. accord
ing to the season, from the round OF
the circuit courts; and this cherries
prospect filed him with secret ar
suish that time in no wise abated.
He did not dare tell any one what
he would really have liked 70 do.
which involved leaving home and go
ing west: the life there. as he imag-
ined II, was the only kind of life
he could think of with any degree OK
satisfaction. But this he knew could
never be for him; so he plodded grim
ly on In his studies, and while he
was not brilliant he wasted no time,
but persevered in his uncongenial pur-
suits with logged tenacity that went
far to atone for his lack Of heart IN
his work. 1t would not have been SO
bad, II he had not felt he was surely
building toward future in which no
could take no vital interest.
One day, during his fourth year in
school, his teacher was called from
the room, and on his return went TO
Stephens desk.
"You are wanted, Landray, at
home" he said. NO. there il moth
ing wrong there" he added. seeing
the startled look on the boys face.
Outside In the haal Stephen found Sam
West.
What is 1t, SAM" he asked anxi-
ously.
Il don't know. but your aunt sent
me In for you, she wants to see you.
Wants you to go back with me right
away"
But what Is 1t, Sam? You're sure
she Ia not siok?' be persisted, In
vague alarm
No, che amt sick; she's oil right.
Vas in town this morning and took
letter out u her she rvac ii, and
sent Ia for you; that's all I know
about It," Sam explained.
On reaching home Stephen hurried
into tae library where he found vir-
ginia waiting for him.
There is nothing the matter with
you. Is there, Aunt Virginia ?" ns ques-
toned anxiously. You're not sick,
are your
"Oh, no. dear-were you alarmed u
Virginia asked
We'll, yes. ! was." be answered.
You see couldn't make out why
you should send for me-
sit down. stephen. / have heard
from DR.. Stillman. Sam brought me
the letter two hours ago" Her man.
ner was very gentle, and the boy
saw that her eyes were red as with
weeping
rs there anything the matter with
my mother" be asked quickly
Yes. dear. said Virginia softly.
She's sick"
Yes. she has been very H.
Stephen"
He looked up into her face
You mean" he began. witt
strange hesitancy.
She Is dead. dear Your mother is
dead"
Dead?' be repeated. He did not
seem to understand >"When did n