Mower County transcript., 1913-07-30
CHAPTER XIV.
The Unbidden Guest.


ing blood She would accept
the challenge Of this ,;,bble and show
her contempt for its opinions in
way that could not he mistaken. She
determined to give an entertainment
whose magnificence would startle the
social world and be her defiant answer
to the critics Of her husband. At the
same time it would serve the double
purpose Of dazzling and charming the
Imagination Of Stuart She would by
single dash of power end bis In
decision as to Bfvens's offer and bind
with stronger cords the tie that held
him to her.
Her suggestion was received with
enthusiasm by her husband.
"All rightH' he said excitedly, "beat
the record. Give them something to
talk about the rest Of their lives. |
don't mean those poor fools in Union
square. Their raving is pathetic. l
mean the big bugs who think they
own the earth, the people who think
that we are new comers and that this
island was built for their accommoda
tion Give them q knock out"
Nan spared no expenditure OF time.
money and thought to the perfection
Of her plans. She employed corps
Of trained artists. took them to her
home. told them what she wished and
they worked with enthusiasm to eclipse
in splendor New York's record Of lavish
pfo I'M -h11f q
reservation which she had imposed
that nothing be done that might violate
the canons of beauty and good taste.
The long dreamed night came. and
her guests had begun to arrive.
One was hurrying there to whom no
engraved invitation had been sent. and
yet his coming was the one big event
Of the evening. the one thing that
would make the night memorable.
The confession Of love for Stuart
which Harriet had sobbed ont In her
fathers arms had been the last straw
that broke the backbone Of his fight
against Rivens. In burst OF gener-
GUS feeling he made up his mind to
eat his pride. drive from his mind
every bitter impulse and forget that
be had ever hated this man or been
wro aged by him. He could see now
that he had neglected his little girl
in the fight he had been making for
other people and that her very life
might be at stake in the struggle she
was making for the man she loved.
Bivens had once offered to buy his
business. He had afterward made
him q generous offer to compromise
bis suit. He had never doubted for
moment that compromise would be
accepted the moment he should see fit
to give up.
He instructed his lawyer to with
draw the appeal before the day fixed
for fling the papers. The lawyer
raved and pleaded in vain. The doctor
was firm. He wrote Bivens gener
Gus personal letter in which he asked
that the past be forgotten and that he
appoint a meeting at which they could
arrange the terms Of final friendly
settlement
The act had lifted a load from his
heart. The sum be would receive. If
but half Bivens' original offer, would
be sufficient to keep him in comfort.
complete his daughters course In
music and give him something with
which to continue his daily ministry
to the friendless and the lowly. 1t
was all he asked of the world now.
he wondered in his new enthusiasm
why he had kept up this bitter feud
for the enforcement Of his rights by
law when there were so many more
urgent and important things In life
to do.
He waited four days for an answer
to his letter and receiving none wrote
again. In the meantime the day for
final action on his appeal had passed
and his suit was legally ended. On the
last day his lawyer pleaded with him
for an hour to file the appeal suit and
then compromise ut his leisure. The
doctor merely smiled quietly and re-
peated his decision:
"1'm done fighting I've something
else to do
When Bivens failed to reply to his
second letter be made up his mind to
see him personally. He was sure the
letter had been turned over to lawyer
and the financier had never seen it.
He called ut HivcnS' office three times
and always net The S:,;t!e answer:
''Mr Rivr!lS is engaged for every
hour today Ion n,nSt cal, again
On the fourth day. when he had
stayed until time for closing the office.
secretary informed him that Mr.
Bivens was too busy with matters OF
great importance to- take M ANY new
business of any kind for a month and
that he had given the MOST positive
orders to that effert t" all his men. If
he would return the first OF next
month he would see what could be
done.
The doctor left in disgust He deter
mined to break through this ceremonial
nonsense. see Bivens face to face and
settle the affair at once.
When he should see him personally 1t
l xvn,,ld h,o h,,< q vuoofjny,,. ~ f7vo min.