Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1915-02-17

terest to sell this to your younger
brother. There is, however, a codicil
to the will, made by your father in
his last illness. Should you decide to
leave the woman with whom you are
living, an annual sum of five thousand
pounds is to be paid you, to enable
you to keep up your title respectfully.
Faithfully yours,
"Dench & Dench."
"The woman with whom he was liv-
ing" Benson saw the words staring
at him out of the typewriter page
His father had known. He had mar.
ried half-breed.
Natusha had been educated at a
mission school,, and, save for the jet
black hair and rather high cheek
bones she might have passed for a
white woman. But in the eyes of his
acquaintance she was squaw, and
he squaw-nan He had married her
when he was desperately lonely in the
remote North, and half-crazed with
drink besides.
Natusha had redeemed him. She
had thrown the whisky bottles away.
She had made him a home. She had
loved him, and he had loved her, too.
A violent revulsion of feeling came
over Benson. He seemed to smell the
Sussex air, to see the beautiful coun-
try Of his birth He had friends. many,
in England.
Benson resolved to run away. He
could walk to the nearest port and
catch the morrow's boat. He would
leave everything to Natusha. She
would doubtless go back to her own
people.
He saw her watching him silently
that night. Like faithful hound she
knew his moods-her lords moods.
Natusha watched him with dumb,
aching at her heart. She had seen
the change in him.
at midnight, when he thought Natu-
sha was sleeping, Benson arose noise
lessly from his couch. He had his
mackinaw and overshoes ready, for
the nights were cold.
When he had disappeared Natusha
kneeled at the bedside a moment in
ray er. She prayed to the God Of
whom the missionaries had told her,
as she had never prayed before. Then
she slipped out after him.
AS Benson strode along the trail all
memory of Natusha seemed to slip
from him. Ee was a boy once more,
in the Sussex lanes, heartfree.
He remembered the final angry
scene with his father, the old mans
futile wrath at the son who had dis.
honored his name.
It had been the act Of a goaded man
desperate for money, but Benson could
only hang his head before the old
mans scathing words.
"If ever temptation comes to you
again. sir, remember what you have
done and try with all your might to
conquer it," he had said.
Suddenly ne stopped dead. Why
this was the temptation of which his
father had spoken. He was doing now
thing still more dishonorable than
that which he had done before. What
was the use Of being Baron Linfeld
If he was a scoundrel to boot?
Benson sat down and fought his
battle out. And, with her woman's in
tuition one who watched him from g
near hiding place knew that the GOO
of the mission people was wrestling
with his adversary for Benson's soul.
The agony on the mans face was
stronger than the suffering on hers
Forgetting all, daring his wrath
Natusha glided up to him. She kneelet
at his side and put her arms around
him.
And, in this position, she whispered
something to him, a woman's secre
that made his heart leap as hers &as
beating then.
Benson rose to his feet The hag
gardness was gone from his face. HI
saw his duty. He saw the years o.
ease and dishonor stretching before
him, on the one hand, and, on the 9th
er, years Of honor. He could make
himself respected. If he could not viii
recognition for Natusha, he could fol
his daughter-or his son. And th'
heir would be Baron Linfeld, if it wa
boy. If girl-well.
Natusha drew his arm through hers
and together they went back in 81
lence toward the cabin. They entered
and Benson, taking out the letter, de
liberately tore it to pieces. He woult
not answer Dench & Dench. III
would not even take the money from
the estate. Let the dead past go.
Benson put his arms about Natusha
She was pretty and girl-like, this lit
tie wife Of his. He knew now, too
that the heart of woman beats tn
same, and always true, whether be
meath a pink or olive skin.
"It's all right, Natusha," he sail
cheerily. "There won't be any NOR