The Man Thou Gavest

ms for William Truedale. The old man looked at her now; how strong and fine she was! How reliant and yet-how appealing! How s

do you come here-you of all the

me, generally,

of the general? You co

oing to comfort him as she never had before, going to recompense him for the weeks just past w

r went, Uncle Will

cigar swayed-it was a

you-

u once-l

ed. Lynda meant to comfort, but s

so young! Why should she so

found it out too late and-and after that she

doing-to the causing of his bitter loneliness and despair-was beaten down by the words that flooded the former darkness with almos

did she-speak

es filled

nt me! Her confidence has been the sacredest thing in my life and I have tried to do as

ept silence-since she went; why? Oh! youth is so ignorant, so cruel!" This was said more to hims

ou what mother wanted me to be-it did not seem greatly to matter. I wanted to win my way. I always meant to tell you, and now, after th

once, might have saved him, but now it had come too late. By and by he would be able to deal with this staggering

for you-you will understand better than you do to-day; but remember this: what you have told me has

eversion to his cust

ell me abo

She had meant to comfort-instead she seeme

mured with a rising perplexit

was a long s

ine, too. I couldn't stand it! I have struggled up and conquered little heights just as he has-just as Con and Brace have; we've all scrambled up together. It didn't seem quite fair that they should-well, fly their colours from their peaks and that I should" (here Lynda laughed) "cuddle under John's standard. I don't always believe in his standard; I don't approve of it. Much as I like men, I don't think they are qualified to arrange, sort, fix, and command the lives of women. If a woman thinks the abdication justifies the gains, t

home and children-for such a whim? Your mother h

it and do not dish

outcast from the ordinar

hook he

. From my prison I took care to find that out. Brace did me pr

oured and

about that," w

feel sorry for him and angry at you. I

minds to it-sometimes without. Well! t

e you that a woman like you doesn't come to such a conclus

w what you mean

t to-to help you if I can. You've done much for your mother;

nothing

same place as other women's and you're no different in the main. You want the sane, right things just as they do-home, children, and securi

by two cold shivering hands. "A woman does recognize it; sh

ves a woman and makes her love him. You certainly thought you loved Morrell.

ue. All qu

ale flung his half-smoked cigar

s nothing

omething. Th

. She meant to say "How dare you?"-but th

ncts were not awakened. You were all good fellows together until you drifted, blindfolded, into the trap poor Morrell set for you. You thought I was ill-treating Con-disregarding his best interests-starving his soul! Oh! you poor little ignoramus; the boy never h

ace. She had never seen him in this mood

arried your father-this creeping disease fell upon me. If it hadn't been for the boy I'd have ended the whole thing then and there, but with the burden laid upon me I couldn't slip out. It has been a kind of race ever since-this menace mounting higher and higher and the making of Con keeping pace. I swore that if he had talent it must prove itself against hardship, not in luxury. I made life difficult in order to toughen and inspire. I never meant to kill-you must do me that justice. Only you see, chained

pt to grapple with a situation growing too b

one great excitement of my life. Through the years I have believed I was doing it alone;

struggled against that which she could not unde

I left it bare and ready for her taste and choice. After-I go,

t on: "I may let you begin to-morrow and not wait! You must fill the bare corners-spar

were shining-her ra

evelop the talent you think he has. I have seen to it that the two faithful souls who have served me here shall never know want. There will be money, and plenty of it, for you to carry out my w

arted vi

she gasped, every desir

ted, Lynda. It is only for-three

d t

go to Con

Lynda was

-marri

be so cruel, Uncle William?" The hot, passi

The years will te

thought best to do this th

self did not know why; I underst

d never have hu

rust-her an

-Con does not ... Oh

urs. McPherson and I have wo

g her head back and laughed relievedl

e it goes-to

ust herself to speak and Truedale sank back wearily. Then came

me trip; but the man can wait. The night is mild

hts were rushing wildly over the path

Her knowledge could affect no one but herself! If"-and here Lynda breathed faster-"if Conning should want her enough to ask her to

d-the one who, in all the world, loved him the best-would profit by it; she would be a wealthy woman, for her moth

ned to Truedale and a

why did yo

at caused the old man to close his eyes against the pleading

ight have-I could not. But time will show. Time is a strange revealer. All my life I hav

der-do not do it unless you want to, or think it

ice, once for her mother!-and she felt that he understood. She had n

for Thomas and was wheeled to

time when he feared that small, dark bottle, but not now! He believed too sincerely in his master's strength of character. Having the medici

but there will be

night, isn't it? If they should build on that rear lot I could

ale heaved a heavy sigh. It seemed to relieve the re

nd fears, but nevertheless a sure passage to freedom. It had seemed, in the past, a cowardly thing to avail himself of his knowledge-it was like going with his debts unpaid. But now, in the brig

ered if Lynda, instead of his old friend McPherson, would find them? He wished he had spoken-but after all,

ffered-oh! my God-and I never did you the justice of understanding. And

s sluggish blood. Weakly, gropingly, he stretched his benumbed hand out again; he was well on his way now. The long journey was begun in the moonligh

ter than the moonlit way. It smiled understandingly-it,

toward the stand beside the bed, but it fe

e had bee