The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-10-05
THE GREATER LOVE
~ cLARissA MAckIE.

Uncle Gregory waved his arms In q
gesture of dismissal.
Very well, Roy, marry the girl IL
you wish to ruin your career. have
financed your art studies to the point
where all you need Is q couple years
sof perfect freedom abroad, where you
can absorb the best there 10 In paint
Ing and sculpture. Then. and then
only, will you be able to throw your
self into the work and produce, per-
'haps. = maaterpiece-for. boy. you can
paintis
Roy Benton listened and knew that
his uncle spoke the truth, but his
heart rebelled
There was Eve Alison. to whom he
had been engaged for many months.
His. acceptance Of Uncle Gregory's
offer meant their marriage must be
postponed for two years. He would
: mot let her decide. for women were
self-sacridcing. but she must be told
of Uncle Gregory's ultimatum. so she
could understand why he was going
TO give up his painting and return to
the profitable, though inglorious, bust
mess Of commercial art-the illustrat-
Ing Of hist-class advertisements. He
could earn enough to support them in
comfort and some day he might be
able to save enough to pay for his
"trip abroad-with Eve, Of course
when he would take time to paint the
great picture SILENCE" that had found
form in his fancy.
Anyway, he would have I'VE. and
I've Alison would make up for every.
thing else. even for the abandonment
3of career. Eve was poor, q self
supporting girl who was making her
lonely way in New York. She had
been Z bookkeeper In that great ad-
ivertising company which was anxious
to secure more Of Roy's work
oh. there was absolutely no choice
in the matteri Roy shrugged his
shoulders and told Uncle Gregory Just
how matters stood. I'll marry her
now and go back to illustrating ad-
3vertisements," he told the old man.
VERY well. Roy. marry her now and
you need never expect . penny OF my
money! I'll leave II ell to the Puddi-
ford Orphan asylum. won't take
your anal decision now. Go and tell
the girl what rye said and let her
decide
! Roy picked up his hat and left his
uncle without another word. He was
TO meet Eve ct six o'clock and they
were to dine together ct quiet little
restaurant. His mind was entirely
clear as to what course he should fol-
low. He was In . rage with Uncle
Gregory. How dared the cynical old
man insinuate that Eve-whom he
had mover seen and whose name he
did not even know-would refuse to
marry Roy II she found he was not
his uncle's heirf
1--WE. cool and fresh In her white
frock and smart little hat, looked
across the table ct her big lover with
basel eyes meltingly lovely. Her clear
olive skin was pink-tinted, and her
dark hair. delicately arched brows and
'roseleaf lips made her look like an ex-
Quisitely painted Japanese miniature.
Wellf" she asked. when their
/ greetings we're over.
We will be married at once-next
week." he said. Hnality in his tone.
"And. Eve. darling, hope you won't
mind very much II 60 back to Dem
bigh's."
Her eyes widened with dismay.
"Denbish'sf' she faltered. "And give
up your career-give up 'Eilence'Y"
He nodded. aAnd give up Uncle
Gregory's help, too. He thinks that
ought to travel for . couple Of years.
land simply don't see It that way. A
wife and = home look good to me,
darling. We win be just az happy in
our humble way, chi"
All the lovely light died out of Ewes
eyes and left them dark and brooding.
Her face was white and wistful and
her little hands were tightly clinched
In her lap. At last her pale lips spoke.
Il think you are very foolish to an
,tagonize your uncle. Roy-and-and-
I've been thinking for some time that
our engagement was mistake-a bit
ter mistake--and-you will understand
some day. Good-by."
She picked up her gloves and van
tished from the table before he had
time to rise. His bewildered eyes saw
on the white cloth the little peariy en-
gagement ring which had plighted
their troth.
So Eve had only cared for Uncle
Gregofy's money after all. The old
man had been right-of course, his
years Of experience would endow him
with an understanding Of women.
\ Roy groaned bitterly, put the ring
In his pocket, called for his check and
went back to Uncle Gregory.
I On the deck Of the great liner which
was to bear Roy away. Uncle Greg
Org uttered q last word Of advice
Seek the silences, my lad-in the
loneliness Of the Sahara, the temples
of India, the great bronze Buddha at
Kamakura-and your picture win
come to you'll"
Roy smiled cynicaliy. As II he
could ever see any other picture save
that sudden, woebegone face of the
girl he lovedl And he would not for
get TIT would be his amulet against
the charms Of women the rest OF his
life.
Mr.. Gregory. Benton's little nut
cracker face looked more irritated
than usual as he spoke to the pro-
prietor Of certain art store which
had handled several of Roy Benton's
charming little studies of peasant
life In Europe.
! ITS pertty state Of affairsl"
famed Mr. Benton. Here is my
nephew sending his pictures to you
TO dispose of. and cant get hold
OF one to hang in my homel Who is
this-this person who has bought
each one before could get hold Of
TT"
She Is . Miss Alison; beyond that
] know nothing" said the man. "She
has paid the price named without de-
muir, although to outward appear
ances she is far from rich; In fact
she Is quite shabby"
Il would have paid you ten times
the amount you placed on each pic
ture," went on Mr.. Benton. Il want
to encourage the boy in his work
it's all I've got to live for. Now,
Smith. save the next picture for me
mo matter what it isl"
Very we'll, Mr.. Benton" said the
dealer.
A year later Nj. Gregory Benton
was standing In a well-known art gal
lerY In which WAS hung the heauffful