FOR WOMEN FOLK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 231, 9 March 1915, Page 6

FOR WOMEN FOLK.

" BY EILEEN."

" Eileen " will be glad to receive items of interest and value to women for publication or reference in this column.

THE CKASTEIIING. (iiy Arthur Slanwood I'ier). Hi' hail never been thought u scre-i----five man. lint wli n he cum." away 1 nun li. • interview with lit, l he was wound";! i» tlii- bottom <if hi? m u!. He wished In think. In l wished al.-o to forjret. and ho could (In iis-itliiT Tin- of Ihe horse s feet, Hi' r-wnvin;_>; of the ra!>, annulled his mental ymi'i'sscs witliml sootliin;: him. Iji i!h : :»i.rk he dUi:i«iil tiif call and sat down on a l)i'!K']i opposite a magnolia tret-. It was >.iav. ali i the magnolia, was in full bloom, a. j.r. (ty. h. .ltuilini: bloom hat it liad no Ir: 1 *;: i for Selwiit. lie >tartnl at if miH-hlj- and thought o ! ' ill' I'.irstv d"-ert. I:i one month there hi' bad discovered that the year of serviei be liad contemplated siivinjr to tlic Stsiti would 1:'. t"h into two before the work could in' finished. Why. if lie elms- not to make tli-it sscrilicc, should lie be to loam '? Vi t that lie v.'as to blame he now acknowledged. He bad eome to the Commissioner wi;h the most a]ipeaiiii;i defence that lie could frame, lie bad recited the nnfore-"eii difficulties that bad faced him, be bad dwelt oil the loneliness. the neces-dty. when opportunity offered, of noi sacriliein;,- his own fut•ar'. He bad put it all as cogently as possible yet while lie -poke, while the Comtiii.'s'inii r quietly listened and the Com-.

tio-Moner's stenographer (juietly cbniMi* in;:lv tO(,k down bis words, he knew tb;r, if was all riiecior.s, ,\nd when he came to tb ■ annouiK'tfineiit of the iiiviiina otter which was causing bim to tender bis resignation, he faltered, though his ;aii, he bad most carefully prepared. The Comm'-sion.r waited until S"l----win had floundered on to the end of his plea. "So, Mr Selwin." iie then observed, sadly, ''vou can be bouirH oil' from a duty to the Commonwealth —one for which you volunteered, on which, when you were nssi»'i"d to it. you eagerly undertook. Ycai can be boujrlit c,iT Mr Selwin!'' He had continued in a slow, deliberate, speech, to point out. the culpability o; Sehvin's act. "Yon expressed yourself as sati.fi d with tip; salary which the State paid vou. You know that hundreds of settic •• have com • into the desert valley, ar- making thpr-" their hemes under the encouragement which the State has held out. "You arc the only man who Ims studied this particular irrigation problem. Your abandonment of the work now means infinite delay: it means hardshio to those poor people whom the State Iris encouraged and with whom it imi«t, keep faith. On the early completion of thoi" irrigation works, the prosperity of tin's" people depends. You forsake them and the Commonwealth for your own prosperity."

I Xow, sitting in tlio park, Goorj."* Scli win over to lntter ivI gret. What devil of shortsightedness ' had possessed him, lie wondered? His | accuser was right: lie ha<l been tempt- ; ed by mere cupidity. " i A West Point education had fitte'l 1 Selwin for the engineer corps of ;V army; in that braneli of the serviee he had shown distinguished capabilities. After a term of years he had resign",l from the army to devote himself to professional work in a western citw Then lie had been chosen to plan and construct, j the important irrigation works by which I the State, co-operating with the national (lovernment, hoped to reclaim an area of tile desert. He had been i n the desert only a month when I"' received a letter'fron Henry King, a financier and promoter of large enterprises. The letter offered him the presidency of the most important street railway in the State. Tt had taken Selwin but a few minutes to decide that his offer must be accepted. He had hastened home to tin- State capital to present his resignation to the commission. The city was vlie plae., for a man in the prime of life: the d"--<rt V.TIK for til;* young who had their :->purs to win, and for the old and wea-ther-beaten to die in. Evidently, wrapped in dreams of liis opulent future, hj" ' returned to en joy the income of a millionaire. I Xow he wondered gloomily if he hai! Imade a great blunder. Well, the bridge had been crossed, and he would never m,,.-,. 1.-,

Well, tile bridal; had boon crossed. [ and lie would never feel more keenly I hurt, iinil regretful, never more culpable or more cliided; and now let liim put all that behind him. He rose, from t!io bench and walked briskly along the path; there was nothing like activity for taking a. man out of tlie dumps. And by a fortunate chance as lie emerged from the avenue he met TTenry King, out for a late afternoon stroll.' Sehvin "hook hands with him, with great gladIt s odd that T should have met you " Sehvi n paid. «r was just thinking of ym:—thinking of writing vou a note —to say that. T accept." ' "(■nod!' cried King, returnins to (he limi..<hnk» with a, renewed cordiality, '(■ood! Walk ('own to (he club with me: we'll seal the compact with a cocktail and have a little talk." Activity, cocktails and tall:! the--. y-as imfhiiiT like tint, combination for taking a man out of the dump*. Th.. talk too. was of a particularly cheering l-iiKj- U appeared that , (he salare ""-ht be perhaps jl,c h-a.-t ,-f the new le-t'Milcnt's peronisif os. ior ! n vesj nieiil s - opening f,„- 1n hole! remuiienlive oiTiees j„ other com- *; s "lv.-in." said Km*. "ihis ,1 -s-rf j"b (ha( you've Ijjiil W «V..< vou an e-pee's 1! v yaluahle conn.-el:> n for our concern: it's been well advertised all over (lie country; it's a sort -,f nni'iue thing; it s made vou a nation.',! ivouf at ion." J nder Hie irenily stroking infliien-e 'h" -m-li f;iH\ S"l'vi)i v.';!-; Mion ivstor'd . t<< hi-; r.'-.Mual --: H Uf;u*{ i< ; i) 1 ][.• ]• :'t, ].;< :n ,,i v.vll"'-] h<>ur. !:c fli;it ]|n prcfViTed id vn(ii v-I }o -\ V( ., V •- . i,! I,l,sin " SK I'uthrr than with >n- ■ ;;p])()itltrfS. I ''Vy { J*yr. its all tcUhul" h<< jo ins v. ifi' Avlu-n sin- <rr<vtei] him in th<> : h.ill of his hoiis". Ifc kis.-'i'i] hr i r ami h<< voice was gay and cheerful as he cni'iturned; "I've handed in my resignation and I'v . aer-pted (he olt'er (o lie piv-a-'bait of (he ri ihvav-— and so T'm jo l>.. wi 'h you and (he kids instead 1 io "■ in an irri!fiitit>n d'leh." v ' f f can't li.-iis iV.-Jitiif sov",' il 'Mi- .»"i"!i an interest;.,'... ' -ti.- "iviied. "I'r course, ii's more ! ' u l l l';': b!. lis- li,|i vooYo tnty '. ( a : . na,i . .. i"i-! ik..; deer?" "'!' h- !i.-,v w,.ric'* important enough." e' I"T "l!y 1 he way"- -1 ml he ' ■' I'r.-w her il. another '^object l'"a:-d this morning that (lie Denni-on i.la-". ( hi. m.mill ain-; von knew 1. ?'"• in -'i-n >fi.iTi>*i i> for sa'e i'." l " would dial si ri !'c you—-as a sumM'l " VI - ;' 1. ? J f (' " I .fy il ar! We could never ali'or.! a pla<- in. couldn't all'onl to buy I il. we couldn't all'onl to keep it up." He laughed indulgently. 'Tin gcttill"

pretty pi'osjn reus. If ! found 1 on'd mnna'.'e it --you'd like to live there wouldn't vou';" "Heart be took, hj, Cr-oree" she answered "I shan't b": I'm a p'.'e :l !. bard J 1m>:;<!«-tl Stiiiii' of tip m ; day: } lie jiKikiu;; V(;U ;i }>;•' -il tlu- j)!ucn." Ifc saw that wan nh-asi"!-—holi, by his /ivmral, i'?;frjva.trant wish ain !>y ils indi<-atio n of j-roMpiTitv. He was annovi-,] v.-Ihii iali- even- j iiiii* n'portiT.-i from vaviou- j visited liim, to !v i arn why he h.ul I IV.'iL'Wcl. i "Thrn 1 was 110 of vwy sort; I I vr-i.un-cl fcr ••nt:n , !v rriv::»\'! :mm! ]m r. »»!ni: iban Ibai. 1 (\uv.'\ ran- to talk," lie sail 1 to linsn. Th.-\ ]s'r~ist"!it ar.'l susp'cioLi.-;. I>ut iht ■ coubl v.ai (\vi\w l:i:a any ' It was with a nf oa^.TiKs; :»u<i t!'.a( lv <h;. i-i'V.'spajuT the next morning. Th<T- on il-i- !'.r-t wms tin l '"S.'li!i i": Wliat followed v/as mev.K'rioos; i!;*« a.riic'e iaLiia'ited that lit" was ijulii'iiant, a«nl would Waxi> a abe.nt nstv Sciwin too'-; !h > ])<»] ']* wiili hii", \-;b )\ be "It rt< IhL brur': IJ- ? V" r ' ' l '" ; v.-i !e •• •; ecjic. ra :'.-'d )! : ;*i• •-'■lf di>!!irb'm«; <;ui i -t'onium. !>■ Ih-- Vf-vvsiKiper intimulions wcro qu;?" ;o autliorisnl. and wo:il;l nt L vcr b ( > fu'til 1 * d. i', l»o\vrv. v, fiMlr.wras^ir.v; tr tin*) Halt his friends down t«nvn view-i-d Isiai this da;.' v.'M'i a (•; , rf;aij. euvr-s----iiy; hr* i ir'-d of e.Ni>lainh)".r to evei'v-o-w thai be hsid <hr-<v,a up th" ivri.rai.ion wc-rk for ''famiiv reason:*." Tbiit dav he bought thi- Otnaison idace. laiyiuiT si).lHM)dol in en<h an<l sriviia UHTl;.ra ( 'f it for • 1 "D.OOOdnl a:: 1 ! Xorris l.dd hl'n that four or fjv. :i fifluTs bad 'a'o-HTly in view, and tins had rontributvd to his liaste. Resides be was in a mood to plunge recki lessly into any Imrffain whieli would bind liim at orce ti> 'lie v/ovbl and life of the ; very rieh. put bim in of that for whieb be bad made bis sacrifice. T!u' would eramp him for a while, but when one bad the income of a millicr.r.ira. with, chanevs to constantly In- • c-r.-filt. a (emwirary stress was not io bi» rojrardod. lb* aopeased his wife's anxiety abniri liis extrava.'xanee by •••*' I "rainL' on lii e:noln''V?(is. new nflieo; hj«. woi! her entbusiasm bv describing all the wbieii the Dmnison plap<> wouUkhave for tin' cliildran. lb- was downstairs before bc-r in tip n;ormnir. J?is eyes f(dl on a beading iit 1h< i newspaper that seemed to scorch them lie was reading the article when his wife entered; be did not look up. She srjoke to bim twice, but he was ab-

sorbfd in the stenographic report of all that the Commissioner had said to liim and of his own foolish and blundering excuses.

There was also a dispatch from the little settlement, in the desalt whore the farmers who were depending on the State irrigation plans were clustered, "l'anicstricken by Selwin's Retirement" v, as the. heading. So they had been bailing on him The dispatch told oi their amazement, their indignation. He passed the newspaper to his wife with the remark, "Here is something unpleasant, for you to read, Sully." • He saw her frightened look as the words of the headline jumped at her; lie saw the quick rush of color to her cheeks, and the sad. downward droop o.' her mouth as comprehension dawned. ■'George; is it true?" •'lt's the stenographers report of wli.it passed between jis. I think he hasn't got some things quite riglit " "Is it true--what the Commissioner says—about your abandoning the workwhen von "wore so needed, and for such reasons "Yes. T suppose it'* truo." She passed her hand across her foivjf to brush aside ';ui veil. Then slie tool; up the newspaper ml looked :it il npain for ;i while Hsth'Ssly. "Oh, Cliwirr, if you had taken me ?;i your confidence—let nie understand—do you think T eouid ever have consented to this? My dear, my dear—could'nt yon see—couldn't: you see?'' Sorrow for him and passion had succeeded reproach. She came to him and stood by his chair her hand, on his shoulder.

'[ regretted it." In l acknowledged despondently. "f don't know—T didn't sen the other side until it was too luti'. It was an error of judgment, Sally; it wasn't :inytliin.ir worse tlian that." .lie did not sco her lirows contract at iliis ('(Tort, to minimise his culpability. She done, however, with reproaching him. '"Those poor people! I suppose thv have gun<> down there and invested all tliev have! And now they mav lose all." Ue stirred uneasily. 'That's hardly possible. On,, man isn't so indispcnsibl.' to the success of an undertaking." "Not (lie ultimate success, perhaps, lint il its too long delayed—not ow/v one can wa.it.' Well, how i; iliis going to affect vour future':" "Not at. ail." "You are sure of that. Yon think people will tru.-f. von-rcsni-ct von---::;; thev did?" "Of course After nil. Sally, many will realise that, this attack on me this publication 'if it—i.s unfair. It makes iii,> out far wo<-sc than I am: anyone who knows m ( . will know that. I'll be moj'e likeh- to vefeivr sympathy for the unwarranted publicity for t!iattack teen condemned ion." "'I he idea, i f receiving- —of enduring ; ymnithv—T can't bear'it!" cried his wi-'e "I feel ashamed—ashamed to )ae" (11.. people 1 know. Wliat can you do to regain your place i,, -the eves of the world'.'" lie laughed uapleasantlv. "Tlnit. will not be difiieiilt. A man who is president of a gival corporation and lias a millionaire's income —people don't go back en that kind ot man just becunse he has a (!i v agreeable newspaper experience, nil', no. my dear; you're taking this tiling too much to heart." "If we go ahead just as if nothing had happened, you'll lira! that it will no Pa-gotten within a *week. Kspeeiallv '■ae' we give every sign. of increased pvo-neritv. If this unpleasantness we'-,' accompanied by a return of poverty it Wou'd 11 • different.: then W" Wol'ltl have to run in covi.i'. P'ui the . my dear. IT.' Hoi "111 !d ill 0.-llsnro V TV i■'!!L>; " Tie i»« lo 'I:-.. her wl<ii Id- lightly uttered c\ niei-ni, he did aol g0,..,, how il" lvneiied llei". "Th. 'n you rea!lv suggest parading the pre aerify for whi.-ii you have -icriib-e i - v.-nr Veouliiiioii and liie pro-'ii. rily oi' ( H" rs':" "I Irive not - acrifieed my remit a i ion. but. il I had that would h-- en" wav of i-covcrim-- it. I ccrtainte ibm't propo ;:' to slink alioul, and act like a c"'ni'it who has been deservedly thre-h----''On the other hand this is not a. time when you would wish to emphasise the fact, of your prosperity." I "It certainly is," ho retorted with

conviction. "I must show people iliaL i si 111 not too important to bo liilrt by a little thing liku thin." "Isn't .your importance in my eye.more to you than your important 1 :' in the eyes of others?" she asked sadly '•111' course, lint why brim; up sue], a question? We're :irj;ili'.ij,' about a liieiv abstraction, anyway; v.'iiat's the as of working yourself up w>, ; without one substantia.! point of oiiiereneeV" "t very much fear from the way you talk that the, Dcnnison bouse will b, the point of difference,'' said .Mrs Sei win. "I cannot think of livin;; theyi now, (ieoi'He. 1 could not boar tnat advertiscim'iit of our prosperity.'' "'Oh, but; that is too absurd. You're naturally a little morbid about it imv: you'll feel differently when {lie fW she"!, to von" sensitiveness has worn n! /.*■* Ill' Could belittle to her th:> CTavitv of tlii' publication. but he was binisel) suliieiently ii'.vare of it. Emphn'os w. supplied by t'le arrival of report-i's while "i have nothii'i' lo ray." li- :>.-sur'l there, with a,i ; li'orl; to speak M:i"d'v as ;r I 1!' Con':ui"s:oi!er's fp'inin"'ion had passed over bin and left hi; n smilin::. lie liad no sooner readed his ol'ice than be rveivrd a telephone call I'roin ihe Covernor, who bad been chiefly instrnii'enial i'l securiivj' for him the irri"Wfii.n work. 'l'l:e Coverar.r asked biie if hj" bad any explanation to offer beyond had apt'o-nvd i„ th«» c-wspapors Se'wia replied that he could iwi. into i-.ri •; 11'• matters v/bie'i determined iiia " "\Vi"- well" said th" (iovcrnor :n----"rov, "I'm throw!) with you. ?-Ir f:"l----'"in. Yen 'have nit n:.. la a. huh': yea h 've done me an injury. T shall J*, held for r'trnwaendin;; a ou':iJcr. I'm ilone-wlth 1 en." SVivvin protested. deohirnicr lie would

everyi'iiii';--- and becani" st\v«n> limn no one was listening to Tli' hung up tin' receiver mid <-at. in e. -.(>r| of nsinie. What if ail liis friends •tlls'V.n) this 'W'n's v'"v,'«. AVlri*. if In' 1 (;tii h.'eii r-"iw!he flu"!! itj] ;v ; let-'l'l-lv ;is ■!*'' 'li" !'i<vi - Tor? 11. rfciirn 1 to hi'a it would I)'' '.v<\! to vie! Kiief-; oll'ieo smd i; I V"> v,.f Vl"'.''v l'W pasture. Kin;; 1 had proni'sed to have it for I:iin in i> day or two. T!ii> finxxri- r'-t "vinn'i-.T ws i t) ci■VMjii'.liti"id S"lv.'in. who !ii'd '.i .■'■ip.'eting ii f'iici'i'y welcome, felt instanT!v delivered. '■This is ii. very unfortunate affair. S.-dwi't." J\iiig said. sinking bis Ic*'-' "Tuvi'lv. "T n!ii sorry Hint y«wi should have fouvd it ucce-isar*' in vfrr in air.' way to tlio offer which has been made to von " "T don't look on this nriioriety that ] urn receiving as a permanently wrio-w matter," asserted stoutly. ''i: will blow over ami be forgotten in a fcv. weeks." To tills Kini; made no answer. «mt Selwin waited awkwardly. Tlien in a more formal tone, be- asked if the can tract was rawly Tor bis signature. IS was not—tlie lawyer in charge of lie matter was absent from the city, and since in any event the new president would lint assume control for auolh.v month it bad not. s-emcd necessaj-y to hasten the arrange;.,::ts. Late in the afternoon Selwin bought an evening newspaper and found himself the. subject, of scathing editorial comment. The reclamation of the desert was a. matter in which State pride was deeply enlisted —it was the most popular of all the causes which hud come before the State Legislature. S»'lwin bought two other newspapers, in which likewise lie was made the text of a. preachment against ovonwlmijr greed. He did not bring the newspapers home to his wife, but she had read tliem. and because of them, she met bim with eager sympathy and compassion. "George," she said, "you must not canwhat the newspapers say. You'll have plenty of opportunities to redeem yourself."

"I'm not worrying about that," he answered. "But it's an outrage that a man who is not n criminal can lv held up to execration in this way and'have no redress. Never mind, Sally, T'll live it down. People's memories arc conveniently short —as soon as a man begins to deliver the goods. In another month. wlie n it ! 'U comes out that I'm a real magnate and when we're installed in our new place in the mountains an;l show people that we're getting richer every ■ minute, you won't hear any criticism then." "Haven't you given up that idea of the mountains?" "Not much! . Why, it's going to bo the most beautiful place for the kids you over saw. And now's the time when we mustn't seem down on our luck. Act as if yon were beaten and slink round and everybody takes ail e\--fcra kick at you a* you pass; throw ouf, your chest, let everybody we that you're prosperous and happy and successful and don't gije a continental for a little back-biting—-and tho. first thing, you know the backbiters become backslappcrs, and too gonial for any use. The Dcriiiison place is our trump card, and the sooner we play it the'better." "(leorge, nothing will induce luo to live in the Dennison estate." "Oh, my dear, that's all nonsense; you'll have to overcome that foolish sensitiveness." "It isn't foolish sensitiveness; it's—it's something T can't do." 110 tried to be patient. "Now see here. Sally. Suppose it were a year from now. and we could perfectly well all'ord to live there; you'd not obje: f . would you?" "It depends," she answered. "I'eoplo might have forgotten by that, tini"." "-'Mi| This will help them to forget;" he cried itfrfniphnntly. If! \.y<> show that we remember, everyone else will remember: if we go ahead calmly as if nothing had happened, everyone will fqiou for/jot." "•It's a question of taste, Oeorge, not one of expcdicn-y. It is more decent for lis for a wade to—to lie quiet and unassuming." rio argued the point, with her, he lost, his temper: she was unyielding II ■ '""I expected to dislodge her from her Vo-iimn lifter ;t brii'l encounter; now lie to foresee that a prolonged siege might he neecs.;ary. That she should surrender to him o„ this point ho was Sliitibornly resolved: the immediate enjoyment of his new purchase had now become implanted in his mind as the equivalent, of vindication. The newspapers the next day carried Ins persecution, as lie regarded it, a, step further. They printed passages from the editorial comment of newspapers in other parts of the State— -comment that we-; uncompromising and severe. ][,, found himself a bused as a money LTabber a contract jumper, a man who had forteucd all claim to confidence and respect Hie commissioner's blighting deuunci. a .01. was applauded. The'workmen on the big irm.-a.tiou ditch were demoralised ; the settlers in the valley were declaring that Selwin hail bet raved them. Incensed and defiant, he' was led te I'cnew with his wife the battle of the night, before. '-There, that's the kind ot a man your husband is!" and thrust upon her the ofi'ensive pereoraph He did not wait, 10,- her to finish ihe K.in ill reading; strode back and forth m tee room. "Nice terms thev u-.'! Anil you think I'm e-oing- to hack down under (ire. and skulk away in (],,, |. :; ,. r gra-.-sV ",ot I'm- mo. | i,...;,, ]j V( my life i.s if rot one word had printed to my disparagement—and we'!! see how long people in this town wil! hold out against, success!" "His wife read the various excoriations of him in silo,ice. When she had finished she sat with til,, newspaner ii: her lap, looking at the tloor." pa vine no attention to him while he strode hack and forth. "Very well," she said at last without raising, her eyes. "Since you think it

will help you—l will submit—l will live in whatever place you prescribe'" "Good for you; 1 knew you'll see the common sense of it." But his Wound:? were smarting too niucli to let him bestow more than passing approval of her loyalty. "This will bo another pleasaui iluv for mo down town —acijuaiutniieeri pointing at in 0 behind my back. I'm off now to face the music. Well, Sally, —lie bethought him to bo gracious—"yoii are standing by like a good one." 1 lie stooped and kissed .her, but she did not respond to the kiss. "You must understand." she said coldly, "that though I shall try to help yon to regain the esteem of others I must r.v. ojf esteem you the less." "Why V" "lb-cause of your lack of taste—a i l because if you have 110 sensibilities (■; your own you do not Consider those of your wife." This 'speech angered him; without making any reply lie turned and left the house. "In the car going downtown, he seated himself next, to ail acquaintance, a lawyer. "Well. I seem still to be a newspaper topic," he Ijegan genially; lie accepted the lawyer's startled chilled assent as due to embarrassment, and hp dilated to him reassuringly upon the whole affair. Half-way through his story, something ill the lawyer's manner curiously, ijuizzinglv, attentive, told him that he was babbling. Ho subsided into a. sihneo which was not broken by his companion. That" morning ho found that people whom he knew hurried by him on the street, as if afraid to stop and speak; he himself glanced about furtively as Ik; walked. tie ventured into his club for lune'.icon; tile men there nodded, spoko to liini and dropped away. None introduced the subject of his resignation; when lie introduced it to two or three they listened to it without comment. In tlic afternoon ho was requested over the telephone to call at King's ollice. Tie found the financier in an obviously more, friendly mood than on the previous day. "Sit down'. >fr Kelwin; sit down." King said, with an air of hospitality. "They're still hammering you in The newspapers, T see. "Well, 'keep yonr courage up; Til guess sometime it'wiil ail come out in a wash, i hate to broach this at just this - moment, "Mr Selwin • but. T suppose ill" sooner we come to an underslanding- the better. I'm sorry but Ilia! the. oll'er" oj' tin. presidency wiil have to bo withdrawn." King paused: Sehvin took a exeat swallow: then the blood. rushed, to his face, and hi' sprang up savagely. "Withdraw nothing!" 1 le stood over King and shook a. threatening finger. "It can't lie (lone. I have your letter —vour ii'jToomont; you must abide iiv it!" "Mr Selwin. it ill becomes you to forin.-jf up any question of fidelity to an agreement," relied King. "If you will allow me, I will explain the situation to you,

mid I will then make you a. proposition." Sehvin, after a moment's indecision, resumed his seat. "To till satisfactorily the presidency of a great corporation such as ours, Air Schvin, ft man must be something more than efficient in his prrfosision. He must be one whose vevut-.v' i will cause him to be looked wiwm > orably by other riien. Until yesterday morning you were such a man. "To-day no company in this State — especially no corporation that is in a measure dependent on popular and legislative approval—could afford to carry you as its president. Kspeeially could no corporation operating under a State ft-wcM*. ;■ (ford to make the tacit admission that it had lured you from your obligation to the State. '•Now, Mr Selwin, you nr.- a sensible man; you mu3t see the position is an. impossible one, and for reasons that could.not have been foretold. AVc do not, want to do you an injustice. What Ij have to suggest is this: We shall lxt glad to employ you as a consulting en- j gineer for our road : in that position; jour professional skill will be uscfcil to ; us, and your—your misfortune will not | embarrass us. Are you disposed to en- j tertain that offer?" "What are the terms!" Selwin asked suddenly. | " I was earning ten thousand before j T undertook the irrigation work." I "You were worth more then. However, I want you to do the best you can! for yourself—and, therefore, I n'm will-! itig to hold this offer < ,>en for a few! days." j "Let me think," said Selwin. ; He rose and went to the, window. Ellin of all his hopes, return to a stupid, commonplace struggle—this was his inexorable fate. Then in an unselfish moment lie thought of his wife and with an instinctive flash he knew that she would be glad. He turned to King. "I don't want, the offer held open," lie "T don't want; the oiler held open," he' said. "X want it closed up now —hard and ! fast." j On the homeward drive in the call ' Selwin pieced together moodily his lost opportunities, blinked over the fragment that remained to him, blinked again ' over ttie procession of inevitable, 'di~- ! tasteiul economies that passed through h.is mind, ITis large new country place wontd have to be sold at a saeritie"—-a sacrifice that would, indeed, leave him peer, f i he coolness of his wife's iireetinj* recalled to him ihe fenns up o; ,'which th",hail at that morning parted "Come, Sally," he said, ' "don't rub it in. I m not, going to make von live • in any bi<jf honsi-." ' { "Oli, I lunik yon, Gtwpfo!" 8lu» enmp' to him forgivingly—and to be forgivenshe kissed him. "It's good of von', f i-erge; that makes nie quite happy." 1 It s nol, because I'm virtuous; it's because I'm poor," he said to her, and he told her all that had passed. "I shan't mind being poor," she declar- ■

" ed. "I should have minded not being ' ■ i, able to caro for you." "I don't know why you Bhouid care v . for me now any more than this morn- , ing. I haven't done anything voluntai 1 - , ily; it's been forced on me." \ ■ "Yes, but—you'll bo different, You'll . : , start now on a new career and build up ,* ' , another and better success—with a dif- , ferent sort of ideal." "You're, the wise one of the family,f Sally," lie said. "Hen-after I will fol- ■ low you." " 1