The Coconino sun. (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1898-1978, 1915-01-01
iGONQUEHING TSMFTAFI0H
BY GERTRUDE A. PEARSON.
Copyright, 1914, by W. C. Chapman)

Copyright, 1914, by w. G. Chapman)
Benson lay upon the rocks, staring
at letter beside him. In front Of
him the blue waves rippled in the sun
shine. The air was warm and balmy.
1t would have taen difficult for any
one not acquainted with the country,
and the temperature Of July, to real
i2e that this was Alaska.
Dear Mr.. Benson" ran the letter
1--WE beg to inform you that, in accord
ance with the terms of your late faith
er's will, all the property except the
limited estate entailed, goes to'your
younger brother. You are, however,
Barren Linheld, and, as such are now
the Cwner OF Liniield Manor Kindly
wire US instructions as to your plans.
I'VE wish to add that, inasmuch as
the upkeep of the estate far exceeds
the rent-roll, it would be to your in
terest to sell this to your younger
brother. There is, however, codicil
to the will, made by your father in
his last Illness. Should you decide to
iCaNS TIC Nplilui W lth you al
living, an annual sum of five thousand
pounds is to be paid you, to enable
you to keep up your title respectfully.
Faithfully yours,
bench & Dench."
1.-THE woman with whom he was liy.
ing" Benson saw the words staring
at him out of the typewriter page
His father had known. He had mar.
ried a 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
/ acQuaintanccs she was Il squaw, and
he squaw.man. 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,
4 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 10 run away. He
could walk to tie 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 moment in
prayer. 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 strobe along the trail all
memory of Natusha seemed to slip
from him. He was 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
1t had been the act Of 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 he stopped dead. Why
this was the temptation of which his
father had spoken. He was doing now
a thing still more dishonorable than
that which he had done before. What
was the use of being Baron Linfield
if he was scoundrel to boot?
Benson sat down and fought his
battle out. And, with her woman's in
tuition one who watched him from a
near hiding place knew that the God
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 kneeleG
at his side and put her arms around
him.
And in this position, she whispered
something to him. a womans secret
that made his heart leap as hers was
beating then.
Benson rose to his feet The bag
gardness was gone from his face. He
saw his duty. He saw the years Of
ease and dshonor stretching before
him, on the one hand, and, on the 9th
er, years of honor. He could make
himself respected. If he could not wiz
recognition for Natusha, he could fol
his daughter-or his son. And the
heir would be Baron Linfield, il 1t was
| 49, Il