Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1916-12-30

consented, at G0rdOn'S request 10 i5tIl
ney out to SamOset and look over tn
ground.
He went thither; found the bank
condition too hopeless for any idea Q
recovery, and GOrdon's own assets to
heavily involved to offer even a ga.
bler's chance for further profits.
But he also saw Janet Gordon. And
because the lovely girl strangel
stirred the jaded New Workers. fancy
he stayed for time at SamOset.
Marc Lander was too well versed IL
the art of cOurtship to make direc
love TO the girl who, at their very frs
meeting, told him she was engaged (,
another man. But he resolved, all tn,
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
DlasphemOus 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
dons 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. If the younger man were ever
to earn a marrying income he must
waste no time in looking for new job.
In 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 a dozen lesser
cities.
Tom was set to work in the COM
pany's Hartford, Conn.,, factory. His
job there was petty and i'll paid. at
first; but it 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 Hartford school, so that the
brother and sister might still live to-
gether. Miriam welcomed the change.
lesl because it brought her more
money than because it 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
'ence they used to build air castles |
around the swift promotion Tom was |
certain to receive, and around the |
,loriously happy life that would be
heirs when, in a year or so at most,
Tom should come back to Samoset to
lain her as his wife.
Then with mist of tears In hefr
yes they kissed and said good-by. And
Tom set of to his new labors. Almost
very day for the next six months or
o he wrote to Janet, telling of his
york and his prospects Of advance
nent. And she loyalty answered his
very letter, telling him, over and over
gain, OF her deathless love and
oyalty.
Then for a whole month not one let
er reached Tom from the girl he
'ved, although he learned, through
riends In Samoset, that she was not
He wrote again and again, begging
er to tell him the reason for her ST. ,
.nce. Indeed, he was on the point of
ropping his work and hurrying back
her when, one morning, the longed- ,
,r letter arrived.
Tom tore 1t open and with face ,
light, began to read ii. But, as he
lad, the joyous smile faded from his ,
ps and eyes, to be replaced by blank
orror. Janet had written:
Dearest-I have waited as long az ri
ared before telling you what / must tell Z
~ today. haven't had the courage TO g.,
rite. Because 1 knew what had to saw i
ould be a knife-thrust to your heart | 6
nd l would forfeit my own life. n
light, to save you from pain my dar- {
lg. But cannot. g
Let me tell it as briefly and as merci-
lily as / can.
You remember how Mr. Marc IanderI
me to fathers rescue last year by lend =
& him money enough to meet the inter l
t on his debts and by starting him q
resh in life. Well, a month ago the
ties father gave Mr.. Lander fell due 4
ather asked for renewal. Mr.. Lander
fused.
Father faced bankruptcy and loss NJ
lanctal honor II the notes weren't maid II
on know how old and feeble he has g
own this past year or two. Such a dis
ace would kill him. n
He besought Mr.. Lander again to grant
m more time. Mr.. Lander consented NOT
lly to give him time. but to destroy the v
ties themselves-on one condition.
Il was a terrible condition, Tom. A
ndition can hardly bring myself TO tell s
u. But 1 must. He said to father: n
III tear up all these notes.-the day I a,
AIRY Janetr Il
L seems he had fallen in love with me a
don't know why. And he admitted that
had helped father in the hope of win y
ng me. 1t Is horriblei He had woven a Ii
around father. from which there was :,
escape, unless I consented to marry II