u know, certain
property will revert to me eventually, but, remembering what is in our
blood, I dare not trust myself to drag out a life of idleness or
monotonous drudgery, waiting for the future here. The curse is a very
real thing--and it would not be fair to you. Now I can save enough
from the wreck to start us without positive hardship over seas, and
George has written offering me a small share in his Australian
cattle-run. You shall want for nothing, Millicent, that toil can win
you, and I know that, with you to help me, I shall achieve at least a
competence."

Millicent, who glanced up at him as if she were carefully studying him,
could see that the man spoke with conviction. She knew that his power
of effort and dogged obstinacy would carry him far toward obtaining
whatever his heart desired. She dropped her long lashes as he
continued:

"Hitherto, I have overcome the taint I spoke of--you knew what it was
when you gave me your promise--and working hard, with you to cheer me,
in a new land under the open sun, I shall crush it utterly.
Semi-poverty, with an ill-paid task that demanded but half my energies,
would try you, Millicent, and be dangerous to me. What I say sounds
very selfish, doesn't it--but you will come?"

There was an appeal in his voice which touched the listener. It was
seldom a Thurston of Crosbie asked help from anyone; but she had no
wish to encourage Geoffrey in what she considered his folly, and shook
her head with a pretty assumption of petulance.

"Don't be sensational," she said with a wave of her hand. "You are
prone to exaggeration, and, of course, I will not go with you. How
could I help you to chase wild cattle? Now, try to be sensible! Come
to terms with these company people, and then you need not go."

"Would you have me a thief?" asked Geoffrey, gazing down upon her with
a fierce resentment in his look of reproach, and the girl shrank from
him a little.

"No, but, so far as I understand it, this is an ordinary business
transaction, and if these people are willing to buy the mine, why
should you refuse?" she returned in a temporizing tone.

If Thurston was less in love with Millicent Austin than he had been, he
hardly realized it then. He was disappointed, and his forehead
contracted as he struggled with as heavy a temptation as could have
assailed the honor of any man. Millicent was very fair to look upon,
as she turned to him with entreaty and anxiety in her fa