The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-19

wished to think. he wished also 20 for
get and he could do neither. The jog
sing Of the horses fees. the swaylng of
he cab annullcd his mcn;al processes
without soothing him. In the park he
dismissed the cab and sat down on /
bench opposite 81 magnolia tree.
I, was May and the magnolia was r.
fun bloom. a pretty. beguling bloom,
but il had no balm for Selwln. lie stared
a. Il sul.,uly and thought of the thirsty
desert. In one month there he had dis
covered that the year Of ser % he had
contemplated giving to the state would
strcioh INTO ;wo before he work could
be finished. Why. If he chose not TO
make that sacrifice should he be to
blame?
Yc; hat he was to blame he now
aCknowl. dyed. He had come to the Com
missioner with he most appealing de-
fence that he could frame. He had re-
cited he Unforeseen difficulties which
had faced him. he had dwelt on the
loneliness. the necessity. when oppor
tunity offered. Of not sacrificing his own
best future.
lie had pu; /; all as cogently as pos
s,b,e-yet while he spoke. while the
Commissioner quietly listened and the
Commissioners ,tenographcr quietly
damn.nuly took down his words, h,
knew that !; was all specious. And
when he came to the announc, mcnt Of
the inviting offer which was causing
him 20 tender his resignation. he fall
tered. 'hough this part he had most
carefully prepared
The Commissioner waited until Selwin
had fuundcred on to- the end of his pea.
so, Mr.. Sc,win." he then observed
sadly you can he bought off from
duty 10 the Commonwcalth-one for
which YOU volunteered. one which, when
you were assigned "a 1t, you eagerly un-
dertouk. You can bc bought off. Mr..
S',win'"
He had continued in a slow, deliberate
speech to point cut the Culpability Of
Se,w.n's act.
You expressed yourself "a satisfied
with the salary which the State paid
you. You know that hundreds of settlers
have come into the desert valley, are
making there their homes under the en-
couraremtnt which the State has held
out.
You are the onlVman who as studied
this particular irrigation problem. Your
abandonment of the work now means
indefinite delay; it means hardship to
those poor people whom the State has
encouraged and with whom 1t must
keep faith. tn the early completion of
those irrigation works the prosperity
Of these people depends You f"rsake
them and the Commonwealth for your
own prosperity"
Now sitting in the park, George Sell
WIN gave himself over to bitter regret.
What devil Of shorts!ghtednes had pos
4.
was right; he had been tempted by
mere cupidty.
A West Point education had fitted
Selwin for the engineer corps of the
army: in that branch Of the service he
had shown distinguished capabilities.
After a term Of years he had resigned
from the army TO devote himself To pro-
fess!ona work in western city. Then
he had been chosen to plan and con-
struct the important irrigation works
by which the State, cooperating with
the national Government, hoped to re-
claim an area of desert.
He had been in the desert only a
month when he received letter from
Henry King, a finanCIer and promoter
of large enterprises. This letter offered
him the presidency of the most I'M
portant street railway in the state.
1t had taken Selwin but few minutes
10 decide that this offer must be ac-
cepted He had FASTENED home To the
state capital 10 present his resignation
to the commission. The city was we
place for a man in the prime OF lie,
the desert was for the young VINO mac
their spurs To win, and for the old aho
weather beaten t. die in. EXultantly
wrapped in dreams Of his opulen'
future. hc. returned to enjoy the income
of a millionaire.
N,w M. wondered gloomily If he had
made a great hlunder.
Well. the bridge had been crossed, and
he would never feel more keenly hur'
and regrctful. never more culpapie OF
more chidcd. and now let him put Al
that behind him He rose from the
bench and walked briskly along the
path; there was nothing like activity
for taking a man out Of the dumps
And hy fortunate chance as he
emerged upon the avenue he met Henry
King, out for late afternoon stroll
Selwln shook hands with him with a
great gladness.
Its odd | should have met YOU
Selwin said. Il was just thinking OF
you-thlnking of writing you note
10 say that | accept"
Good" cried King, returning TO the
handshake Mith a renewed cordially
Good, Walk down 10 the club with
me: Wen seal the compact with a cock
tai and have little talk"
Activity, cocktails and talk'-ther'
was nothing like that combination foi
taking a man out Of the dumps. The
talk too was of a particularly cheerlnl
kind. 1t appeared that the salary Nigh
be perhaps the least of the new presi
dents perqulsltes,
There would be special opportunities
for estments-openings for him q
hold remunerative offices in other com
panies. You see, Selwin," said King
this desert job that you've had makes
you an especially valuable connection
for any concern; it's been well adver
tised all over the country: it's sort OF {
unique thing; it's made you a nationa
reputation"
Under the gently stroking influence
Of such talk Selwin was soon restored
to his normal self satisfaction.
When he left his host and walke'
home he thought that he preferred L
have dealings with men who were sue
Cessful in business rather than will