The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-11-30

my out W SAbiNoOh ~ hNon sbN
ground.
He went thither; found the banks
condition too hopeless for any idea OF
recovery. and Gordon's own assets toe
heavily involved to offer even a gam
bler's chance for further profits.
But he also saw Janet Gordon. And
because the lovely girl strangely
stirred the jaded New Workers. fancy
he stayed for q time at Samoset.
Marc Lander was too well versed In
the art Of courtship to make direct
love to the girl who, at their very first
meeting, told him she vas engaged to
another man But he resolved, all the
more ~strenuously, to win sher.
Janet was wholly different from the
aashy and sophisticated INT who
had hitherto made up Lander's social
world. Her gentleness, her innocence,
her fragile beauty, began to weav
subtle chains about his heart and
brain. He swore, at last, a mighty and
blasphemous oath that she should one
day be his wife, at whatever cost.
He surprised and delighted old Hi
ram Gordon by paying Off the latter's
debts Of honor and by accepting Cor
don's unindorsed notes for the sum.
The bank, Of course, was hopelessly
wrecked. And while Gordon now had
enough money to live on, Tom Mercer
had not. IL the younger man were ever
to earn a marrying income he must
waste no time In looking for a new job.
In a village there are few positions
that promise a career or even enough
income for an ambitious young man to
marry on. Which explains why a mil.
lion country lads flock yearly to the
big cities.
Through Hiram Gordon's influence
Tom received an offer from a power.
full manufacturing concern whose
headquarters were In New York and
which had factories in q dozen lesser
cities.
Tom was set to work In the com
pany's Hartford, Conn, factory. His
job there was petty and Ill paid, al
first; but 1t offered fine opportunities
for promotion. And Tom Mercer made
up his mind to avail himself, to the
full, Of every n of those opportuni
| ties.
To please Tom Mr.. Gordon at the
same time secured for Miriam a posi-
ton In a Hartford school, so that the
brother and sister might SIT. live to
gether. Miriam welcomed the change
less because IL brought her more
money than because Ii took Tom ava,
from Janet Gordon, whom she hatet
more and more bitterly as the year.
went on.
Janet and Tom tried to be very brav,
indeed over the tragedy Of their sepa
ration. To deaden the anguish of alb
sence they used to build air castle:
around the swift promotion Tom wa!
certain to receive, and around tn,
g~loriously happy life that would b,
theirs when, In a year or so at most
Tom should come back to Samoset t.
claim her MS his wife.
Then with a mist Of tears In theil
eyes they kissed and said good-by. Ant
Tom set Off to his new labors. Almos
every day for the next six months OF
so he wrote to Janet, telling Of hi.
work and his prospects Of advance
ment. And she Loyalty answered hi!
every letter. telling him, owe and ovel
again, OF her deathless love ant
loyalty.
Then for a whole month not one let
ter reached Tom from the girl h,
loved, although he learned. through
friends In Samoset. that she was no
III,
He wrote again and again. begin,
her to tell him the reason for her 81
lence. Indeed, he was on the point O
dropping his work and hurrying bacl
to her when, one morning. the longed
for letter arrived.
Tom tore 1t open and with fac,
alight, began to read It. But. as h,
read. the joyous smile faded from hi,
lips and eyes, to be replaced by blanl
horror. Janet had written:
Dearevt-T have waited as long a
dared before telling you what ] must tel
you today. I haven't had the courage 4
write. Because / knew what / had to sa,
would be a knifc-thrust to your heart
And / would forfeit my own life, II
might. TO W. you from pain, my dar
ling. But ] cannot.
Let me tell 1t a briefly and a merci
fully AZ ! can.
You Der how Mr.. Marc Lande
came to fRther's rescue last year by lend
Ing him money enough to meet the later
est On his debts and by starting hin
afresh In life. Well, a month ago. tn
rptes father gave Mr.. Lander fell due
Father asked for renewal. MI. Lande
refused.
Father faced bankruptcy and loss o
financial honor II the notes weren't paid
You know how old and feeble he ha
grown this past year or two. Such q dis
grace would kill him.
He besougnt Mr.. Lander again TO gran
him more time. Mr.. Lander consented no
only to give him time. but to destroy tn
notes themseives-on one condition.
It was q terrible condition. Tom. 4
condition can hardly bring myself to tel
you: But / must, He said TO father:
TN tear up AL these notes.-the day
1t srems he had fallen In owe with me
II don't know why. And he admitted tina
he had helped father In the hope OF win
rtaS -ss.- Is S5TTfSisf re i,ad woven
net around father, from which there wa
no escape. unless ! consented TO MARI
him.