's
attention from Adelle, for whom he was sorry, to the cause, as he
thought, of her misfortune. Whatever had been in his mind he said
curtly, looking at Archie, "Five thousand dollars a year, to be paid in
quarterly installments on your personal order, Mrs. Davis."

The young people looked at him aghast. As a matter of fact, five
thousand dollars a year was not penury, at least to Archie, who had
rarely seen a clear twelve hundred from January to January. Even Adelle,
after her training in the Church Street house, might at a pinch hold
herself in for eighteen months, all the more as after that period of
probation she could not be prevented by the trust company from indulging
herself to the full extent of her income. Adelle, indeed, who was still
somewhat vague about the limitations and possibilities of money, was not
as much annoyed as Archie. But she knew that she was being punished for
her conduct in running away with Archie by this disagreeable old man,
and she resented punishment as a child might resent it. Mr. Smith,
observing the signs of discontent with his announcement, remarked with
increased decision and satisfaction:--

"I am sure that will be best for both of you. Especially for you, Mrs.
Davis! It will give you an opportunity to find out how much you care for
each other, without the luxuries that wealth brings. And it will protect
you, my dear, from--er--the indiscretions of a young husband, who has
not been accustomed to the use of much money, I gather."

Undoubtedly Mr. Smith thought he was acting wisely towards them,--"Just
as I would if it had been my own daughter," according to his report to
President West. As a matter of fact, he acted precisely as parents are
only too prone to act, with one third desire for the best interests of
the parties concerned and two thirds desire to have them punished for
their folly. The punitive motive was large in Mr. Smith's decision to
put the couple on short rations as long as he had the power to do so. He
would have liked to tie up Adelle's fortune indefinitely, so that the
young scamp who had married her for her money (as he was convinced)
might get as little of it as possible. Unfortunately the trust company
had no control after Adelle's twenty-first birthday, unless by that time
experience should teach her the wisdom of voluntarily putting her
fortune beyond her husband's reach; but, at any rate, for the next few
months it could arbitrarily and tyrannically disa