Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

24 PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY thought you were engaged to Kenneth." "And I know it !" broke in the other. "For she is wearing, the ring I gave her." "I was," answered Janet, still quietly, "but no longer. John and I became engaged this very afternoon, and I return your ring to you now." As she spoke, the girl held out the diamond to the erstwhile soldier, and he, seeing nothing better to do, took it. Courtland Van Nest said nothing for a full minute. He was thinking. Then he if you ruin him in position and financially, you ruin me also. What is to be done about it?" The capitalist thought, and Kenneth Stuyvesant looked off at the fight that was still progressing, though with considerably less fury than before, as the strikebreakers were being driven gradually to the point of submission. After a brief pause, Van Nest again spoke : "There is but one thing to do. So far as the marriage is concerned, that is out of the question. Stoddard seems to have a peculiar interest in the strik Janet halted for a moment, looked off walked on without a did speak, and in a manner that showed all the surprise and wrath that he felt over the occurrence. "But you cannot marry this man. You never could. Your classes are entirely different — almost the opposite — and nothing in happiness could result. But this is not the time to talk of marriage. This is business, and must be settled." "In this case business and marriage go together," answered Janet, "and to decide one we must decide the other. The decision of marriage comes first. I can a«d intend to marry John Stoddard, and into space directly past him, and then word of recognition. ers and their welfare, and there is a way to settle both matters at once, though with a great deal of sacrifice on my part. Here is the proposition : "Stoddard, if you will give me your solemn promise never again to come to see my daughter and not to communicate by mail with her, I shall not only order these soldiers away, but will stop the strike and grant the increase in wages that the workmen demand. You* will also be reinstated in your position. Have I your promise?" A little cry escaped from between Janet's lips, and John Stoddard gazed at Van Nest with a look that almost made the capitalist shrink. He did not know what to say. Then he shifted his glance to the girl, who was looking at him with an expression of pleading and love. But he read beneath her heart, and, summoning up all his courage that was required for his reply, answered the question. "A sacrifice on your part!" he sneered. "You are merely doing what is right, and agreeing to give the men what they earn. It is I who have to make the sacrifice. You have my promise, sir." Janet turned away. She did not know how to feel, and could not look into the face of the man she loved. A smile lit both the faces of Courtland Van Nest and Kenneth Stuyvesant, and John Stoddard turned and walked in the direction of Levinsky, the leader of the strikers, to tell him of their victory. Early the following morning, Janet arose and went to breakfast in order to avoid having to speak to her father. Immediately after eating, she went to her room. Books and all diversions she sought could not divert her thoughts from the events of the preceding day. The name of John Stoddard seemed to ring in her ears, and his form stood out before her mind's eye. She was worried and miserably unhappy, but did not know what to do. For an hour she sat in deliberation and thought, and then, reaching a sudden decision, she rose, sought a piece of paper and a pencil, and wrote a short note. Her next step was to pack a few necessary articles into a bag, put on her coat, and go to the library. She was going away. Laying the note she had written on the library table where her father would find it later in the day, she turned and left the house. As she was going down the steps, Kenneth, having returned from the camp for the day, was coming up them. They met, and the young society man held out his hand. "May I take the bag and walk with you?" he inquired, with forced pleasantry in his tone. Janet halted for a moment, looked off into space directly past him, and walked on without a word of recognition. A few hours later, Stoddard, sitting dejectedly in his cabin in the valley, was startled by the sound of the door opening. He looked up into the eyes of