The Detroit Times

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS INSTALLMENTS.

Hiram Belknap is the leading citizen of Fairview. He is the lawyer for the railroad, the boss politician and the only man in the village who boasts an automobile.

His heart is wrapped up in his daughter Jane, who combines the beauty and dash of a Diana, with the ideas and enthusiasm of a high-school belle. She is the hope and despair of every village youth on whom she beams.

Two of her foremost suitors are Tom Wilson, the son of a widow, whose husband had been a close friend of Belknap; and Hezekiah Jenks, the lawyer's clerk and secretary, who has hopes of a political career and dreams that Jane may be induced some day to share it and encourage him in it.

While Tom is the one openly favored by Jane, Hezekiah craftily worms himself into the esteem and good graces of the father, his employer. Papa Belknap gradually comes to believe that his drudge, Hezekiah, is a pretty good, industrious sort. Hence, there would be any objection to him as a son-in-law, when "Hez" humbly asks one day if the old man replies: "I certainly won't object to you, if she wants it that way." Hezekiah is herewith transported to the seventh heaven of delight.

Meanwhile a career for her headstrong, willful son Mrs. Wilson, the widow, has mapped out. The resources left at the death of her husband have almost reached the vanishing point. So she seeks the advice and comfort of her old friend, Lawyer Belknap. Tom to take him into his office and Belknap tells of an offer he made salary offered was not as large as how the offer was scorned because the Tom thought it should be desire to go to New York, and while Mrs. Wilson then tells of her son's talking of this asks the lawyer what he thinks is the matter with her son Belknap replies that she has held him too close to her apron strings are discussing Tom Belknap learns trip while the widow and the lawyer Tom and Jane return from an auto mal casualties and says his auto is for that Tom has added to the list of anl- sale, as he cannot afford to have it driven by Tom Tom, as the latter regards Jane as his own private property The widow change of words between him and Hezekiah enters and there is an ex- to have a talk with Belknap He tells leaves for her home and Tom remains large enough for him, and that he the lawyer that the village is not lawyer has done nothing worth while means to get out of it He says the paper and give him charge of it This in life and urges him to start a news- says he will go to New York Belknap the lawyer declines to do, and Tom asks if he has any better prospects there than in Fairview, and Tom re- of his father's, who is passenger agent plies that Mr. Kennedy, an old friend of the Central, has offered to start him at $15 per week any arrangement he may have with fer and, as an afterthought tells him Belknap advises Tom to take the of- Jane is at end and she and Tom begin a serious talk of their affairs CHAPTER V.-(Continued). "What do you suppose I am raving about?" he inquired. "When two people love," said Jane, solemnly, "the ultimate relation is- marriage." "Correct," agreed Tom. "Object, matrimony "We've never discussed that part of it, have we?" Jane's brown eyes were big and round, and the dimples had vanished "I've always taken it for granted," said Tom. "But we've never discussed it," she proceeded. "In fact, I don't think that you've ever asked me to marry you." "If I haven't it was an oversight," said Tom, lightly. But I took that for granted." This tragically. 'Good Heavens, Jane," exclaimed Tom "It seems to me that I've asked you a million times" Jane smiled faintly at his enthusiasm The Crisis in Her Life. I understand perfectly, Tom," she said It's been that way ever since we were children I never thought of any one else, and I don't suppose that you have. But we are no longer children. We have grown up, and must now face the future. You see, Tom, a woman grows old more rapidly than a man. Perhaps she is born older. "At any rate, she reaches the crisis of her life long before the man does, and I've reached mine now." "What do you mean by crisis?" Tom asked dully.