The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-09-09

ney out to samoset and look over the
ground.
He went thither; found the banks
condition too hopeless for any idea of
recovery, and Gordon's own assets too
heavily involved to offer even q gam.
bler's chance for further profits.
But he also saw Janet Gordon. And,
because the lovely girl strangely
stirred the faded New Workers. fancy,
he stayed for 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 was engaged to
another man. But he resolved, all the
more strenuously, to win her.
Janet was wholly different from the
fiashy and sophisticated women who
had hitherto made up Lander's social
world. Her gentleness, her innocence
her fragile beauty, began to weave
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 II the younger man were ever
to earn q marrying income he must
waste no time in looking for a new Job.
In village there are few positions
that promise career or even enough
income for an ambitious young man to
marry on. Which explains why 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 fac. les in a dozen lesser
cities.
Tom was set to work in the com.
pany's Hartford, Conn.,, factory. His
job there was petty and Ill paid, at
first; but 1t offered fine opportunities
for promotion. And Tom Mercer made
up his mind to avail himself, to the
full. Of every one 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 still live to.
gether. Miriam welcomed the change.
less because 1t brought her more
money than because 1t took Tom away
from Janet Gordon, whom she hated
more and more bitterly as the years
went on.
Janet and Tom tried to be very brave
indeed over the tragedy Of their sepa-
ration. To deaden the anguish of alb
sence they used to build air castles
around the swift promotion Tom was
certain to receive, and around the
gloriously happy life that would be
theirs when, in year or so ut most,
Tom should come back to Samoset to
claim her rs his wife.
Then with mist Of tears In their
eyes they kissed and said good.by. And
Tom set of to his new labors. Almost
every day for the next six months or
so he wrote to Janet, telling Of his
work and his prospects Of advance
ment. And she loyalty answered his
every letter. telling him, over and over
again, Of her deathless love and
loyalty. a.: :" q. IS
Then for whole month not one let.
ter reached Tom from the girl he
loved, although he learned, through
friends in Samoset, that she was not
Ill.
BE wrote again and again, begging
her to tell him the reason for her 81.
lcnce. Indeed, he was on the point of
dropping his work and hurrying back
to her when, one morning, the longed.
for letter arrived.
Tom tore It open and. with face
alight, began to read It. But, as he
read, the Joyous smile faded from his
lips and eyes, to be replaced BY blank
horror. Janet had written:
Oo1feet-1 nave waited ~ long a.
dared before telling you what must tell
you today. haven't had tho courage to
write. Because knew what had to saw
would DO 0 knife-thrlst to your heart.
And I would forfeit my own life, II I
might, to save you from pain, my dar-
ling, But cannot.
Let me tell It 40 briefly and a. msrcl-
fully a. can.
You remember how Mr.. Marc Lander
came to fathers rescue last year by lend
Ing him money enough to meet the inter-
est on his debts and by starting him
afresh In life. Well, o month ago. the
notes father gave Mr.. Lander fell due.
Father asked for renewal Mr.. Lander
refused.
Father faced bankruptcy and loss Of
financial honor II the notes weren't paid.
You know how old and feeble he mas
grown this past year or two. Such q dis
grace would kill him.
He besought Mr.; Lander again to grant
him more time: Mr.. Lander consented not
only TO- give him time. but to destroy the
notes themselves--on one condition.
II was terrible condition, Tom. A
condition I can hardly bring myself 70 tail
you. But must. He said to father:
TN tear Up all these notes.-the day
It seems he had fallen In love with me-
don't know why, And he admitted that
he had helped father in the hope Of win.
ming me. Il 10 horriblei He had woysn
net around father, from which there was
M asoonA s,nlaa1 ona.S,k.S