The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-12-08

nett would steady down bit with her
hand on the checkren.
They were married in the Presby-
terrain church, and the wedding was
the event of the week There were
columns about il in the papers. Ar
thur read them in his Tall bedroom.
His grip lay. packed, on ,he bed. lie
had resolved TO run away, anywhere,
without notice, but when he had finish
cd reading them he suddenly sat up
and squared his shoulders.
I'll stay" he said. And IL get her.
Somehow-in heaven if not ON earth
Which expression, though far-fetch-
ed, might be pardonable in "a young
fellow of twenty-three.
Jim Bennett had made things hum
when he returned from college, as he
had said he would. and he kept up the
process after his return from the
honeymoon. During the next two
years Jim Bennett and his wife made
| the money fly. They inhabited the fin
est house in the town, and life was for
them a succession of entertainments
and pleasures. Arthur Royce was now
getting twenty dollars a week. Ben
nett never saw him and seemed to
have forgotten him. But Mllicent
| bowed There is something about re-
| jected lover that makes a woman feel
tenderly toward him.
| Two years passed and Bennett be-
came financial leader in the place.
| A few who watched knew that his af-
| fairs were unstable. Arthur was among
| these. And for Millicent's sake he
dreaded the crash that must come. But
Bennett plunged more wildly, until the
banks were tottering upon the verge
Of the precipice, while Bennett juggled
| with his millions and refused to look
| facts in the face.
He treated his wife badly, too. ev-
eryone knew. There were reports of
his infatuatiOn for several women sue
cessively Arthur saw Millicent rarely,
but he noticed the progressive look OF
unhappinesS upon her face.
Bennett began to notice Royce again.
He promoted him to twenty-five, chief
ly because another bank, an old, con-
sentative institution, wanted to get
hold Of him. Arthur would gladly have
left, but he had an instinct against
leaving his present bank when 1t was
in difficulties.
One day the truth came out Arthur
had been sent to Benefits house on an
important GRAND. I!e found Bennett
out, but as he was about to leave Mill
cent came in.
what did he send you fOr?' she
cried Historically.
1.-THE manager sent me, Mrs. Ben
nett. 1t was ABOUT private matter
"a banking matter?"
eyes"
She burst into tears. II thought he
sent you TO taunt me-" she cried. "He
has told me l ought to have married
you. o, am so wretched."
She cried on his shoulder. During
that interval the young man learned
many things-of Benefits iDfdelity
, of his dishonor He had made her life
misery from the day they were mar
ried.
| Siit pltW Naiili. SilOui'
not have spoken in this way" she said
But sometimes / think Of the old day
do you ever remember them, Ar
thur?"
Remember them? When they la.
upon his mind forever?
Somehow he managed to tear him
, self away His last memory of Milf
cent was of pale-faced woman wh
j. watched him at the door pathetically
as if nothing in life was worth liv1n
for.
, Faster and faster Benefits bank
careened toward disaster. The com
ing crash was clear to everybody now
:, Bennett himself went about with n
4 anxious face and glum expression.
: was ut first matter of months, the
one of weeks-then people just waited
: Arthur Royce waited. He was thinb
ing all the time of Millicent and Won
dering what she would do.
y One afternoon Bennett sent for Al
thur 10 come TO his house. Arthur ha
+ not been there since that last inter
o view with Millicent. He did not Xix
: the task; but he went, because it wa
part of his duty.
q "Mr. Bennett is in his library, sir,
n said the butler. He said YOU were
n so right in when you came.
: Arthur went in. He saw Bennet
seated at his desk. Bennett did nc
i look up, and when Arthur approache
l. he saw that he was quite dead. with
, bullet hole through his head Upo
o the desk was n letter addressed I
g him. Arthur opened it.
: take her. She loves YOU" was q
V that il contained.
v Arthur never quite remembered III
details OF the following hour-his ha
r " summons of Il doctor. the terrific
d servants; lastly Millicent whom
Ie had vainly tried To keep out of Ii
d room, standing before her husband
f body. And she wrung her hands, an
l. all she could say was:
h, AZ meant TO leave him tomorrow"
+. 1t was six months before Arthl
l. saw Millicent Bennett again. She M
IN been travelling. When she came baC
she went To her old home She ~