Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-28
The Daily Story
Merton's Ambition


have no doubt as to which would win
If didn't know about the other lady"
Merton flushed angrily and frowned.
you know nothing Of the sort. There
isn't any other lady"
(which her name II is Henrietta
Henrietta Bruce" Bemis interrupted, still
chuckling, but growing grave as he add
ed: And If you let yourself leave her
in the lurch, Jack, you're cad of the
first water"
There is no question of taking or leav-
ing" Merton began, trying to brave 1t
out, but at the end dropping his head, and
half whisperingi
"You-you are right, Ned--Etta loves me
and I love her-hetter than all the world
except my ambition l want to be some
body-somebody worth while The way is
open-if only I marry Mrs. Grey. She
has virtually told me that as her husband
her whole million will be at my COM
mand. If don't marry her, what chance
| have I? The ten years / must starVe to
make myself a leading lawyer will put
| me hopelessly out of the race. Now can
win almost anything political--if I can
| afford to take It. Mere money does not
| tempt me so very much-but power!-
| that is the thing I crave. Besides,
can't bear to think of Eta waiting. work.
ing. fading. for me-when she might be
happy in a home of her own II were
out of the way"
"I don't think shed mind" Bemis said
dryly. when may look forward, Jack?
And does Eta know"
"Go and tell her--you are so sure !"
Merton burst out LAS to cards--there
will be none. We start--we start for
California as soon as the wedding is
over"
80 you came for my advice-after the
fact. I supected as much" Bemis said,
his mouth hardening. II don't wish you
toy jack you don't deserve It. You are
throwing away a pearl among women be-
cause you are vain enough to believe that
you have in you the makings of great
man. Eta might have made great man
of you-at any rate, she would have made
YOU man. This other one will make you
an article of 'bigotry and virtue'-some-
thing dearer than her parrot little bet
ter than her lapdog. You'll have lap
dogs ease but you won't fit the position
you're too big and bulking-made too
much like man"
"Stop! l won't hear that. even from
you" Merton said hoarsely. Bemis swung
on his heel. 81 apologize for saying it
Five years after his wedding day he
recalled the moment, the trivial action,
with a mad longing to treat the original
as then he had been tempted to treat the
portrait. He had indeed found himself
ranking between the household parrot
and lapdog, albeit he had the freest pos
sible hand at the Grey money That was
his only freedom. Mrs. Merton laid claim
TO the greater part of his waking hours.
She was a shallow creature, kindly
enough but forever craving change,
amusement, the diversion of new faces,
new scenes. To her way of thinking the
end and the aim of manhood was either
to make money or, having it ready made,
to spend 1t.
II wont have you bother with politics.
only low people go into them" she had
said airily before the honeymoon was
out Even the prospect of being some day
Mrs. Ambassador had not made her
change. II want to have good times now
not wait for them till I'm old and hag-
gard" she had said. 1t was' the same
with his profession or any business ven
ture. II am business enough for you,'
his wife protested, adding in the next
breath: Besides, what other business
would bring you $l'oOOOD before you nave
one gray hair?'
Outwardly an enviable mortal, he was
sick and tired of everything-most of all
himself. Now and again he sighed for
the stings, the limitations of the old
times and caught himself wondering how
1t would seem to be free He knew moth
ing of Henrietta There was an agree
ment between him and his wife upon one
point if no other. She was firm that they
would neither ask nor hear anything of
his old friends, his native place
She was forever taking up things and
dropping them. Thus she came to own
fever for coaching In bright, early au-
sl,. MA a1 1FVnY 1riN
across country, one that would take at
least a month. Merton fell in with her
plan; he knew protest was idle. And
thus in the middle of his journey he came
to know fully what he had thrown away.
1t was a mile ont of a thriving railway
town when the coach had lost linch-pin
and was disabled that a storm drove it's
occupants to the shelter of the nearest
house, a pretty villa, spacious but unpre-
tentious, with gay autumn flowers all
about it, and thrifty trees throwing up its
red roof and gray walls. There was a
rocking horse upon the piazza, a baoy's
cap lying limp on the rail, and the woman
who answered Mrs. Merton's imperious
knock held the baby itself in the hollow
of her arm as she flung the door Hospitality
open and said: 80 the storm is to blow
me good-in the sight of old friends. Don't
you remember Eta Bruce, Mrs. Merton?
I'm Mrs, Bemis now-and very glad to
see you. Come in. I shall keep you all
night. Ned will not be home until almost
g. He went to see the Governor today,
and l know he would never forgive me
If let you go away without seeing him."
Then she shook hands with Merton as
calmly as though they never had been
more than casual acquaintances. He
found himself catching his breath as he
looked at her. She was less fresh than
of old but so wonderfully, spiritually
beautiful, with the beauty of mother love.
mother happiness.
"I needn't ask you how you are, Eta"
said Mrs. Merton mo wonder you're
happy. though, with two children" as a
sturdy little lad came shyly through the
inner door TO ambush himself In his
mothers skirts
Use free years old-and goin to be a
man when / drows up" he volunteered
when Mrs, Merton had coaxed him into
finding his tongue.
Merton WINGED as he heard the prattling
voice. The old love was dead with so
much else that was best in him, but still
there were some faint STRINGS of ambi-
ton. He was wondering IT, indeed the
woman he had loved and left might not
i'm