The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-08-25

brown is Just the SnaQe OF my HAIR. DeeH
hard at work on the Camera lately, dear?'
sThey'ye leeded nothing for two weeks. =
"Oh," she was quiet minute. "Just
put that hat carefully away in my room,
won't you?" and bring me my slippers.
They're in the lower drawer. You have
the KEYS She sat motionless until the
door closed behind him, and then like
flash she was in the pantry cupboard,
which was empty, as we know, and back
again by the fire. She took up the goblet
and smelIed it. The Major coming back
glanced at it jealously, but it stood where
he left it, and Maddy was leaning lazily
back in her own low chair. She was pale
and the water stood in her eyes.
"You're not well; child?o
s'No, sit down by me, Uncle Dan. I'm
tired and | am hungry, that's all. ! Or
dered a miraculous little supper as [ came
along. 1t will be here presently. She
took his big hand as he sat by her, finger
ing it over, holding it now and then to her
cheek. Something else than hunger has
been to work with him. They were both
too old soldiers to be beaten, as he was to-
day, by little wholesome fasting. But
what was the sore? She did not know
where to thrust the probe.
"They've raised my salary, Uncle Dan,
did you notice.
"No, [ did not. I'm glad of it, my
darling. You can go through the world
alone pretty well now, Maddy?'
She made grimace, eff one only comes
for hard work and money-yes. But I'm
tired of living alone. / mean to either
come home or you must come to me.
Though a man Of your talents would be
wosted in a Jersey village like that They
have only one newspaper. You could
not go there"
"Only one newspaper, have they!"
There was silence. "Jack is at home,"
he said, at last.
1.-The cheek at which she had pressed
his fingers grew suddenly, fiercely hot.
She got up and laid some woodpn the
CRATE, sat down leisurely, her face turned
from him. who did you say had come
home-John? John Proctor?
jack. The very name of the boy
stabbed him like pain, yet he could not
keep it off his lips. He did not wayer in
his resolve. He would put himself out of
the way to keep the shameful birth of the
boy ii secret. Yet as the clock ticked away
the moments of this last hour, nature
grew almost too strong for him. He could
have cried out SO all the world might hear,
for his son-for his son whose flesh and
blood was the same as his. He heard the
girl speaking to him rs in dream. Her
voice trembled in spite of herself.
Tell me something about him, Uncle
Dan. Is he much changed!"
ssI see no change in him." He caught
sight of her face, and through all his dull
absorption, it startled him; it was so
strangely fresh, and dewy and young.
Il suppose John has been successful,
then? she said at last, with an effort. He
told me once that he would never return
or write uctil he could do a mans work
and make all his friends proud Of him.
He. thought they would forget him. He
need not be veay much afraid of that"
She was talking half to herself, STOPPING
as she sa on her stool, her brown eyes
fixed on the fire, her hands pressed on her
breast / always knew he would find
n s,, Sha Tact hnn
come back. / knew he would"
"Maddy!''
''Yes, Uncle Dan.'' @-~.s
"I'll tell you about jack in an unnat-
urally loud, harsh voice. He is a man of
mark nova leader in his sect. They've
called him to the first church here. His
companions are not yours or mine and his
ways are not ours. They would look up
on him as tainted if he made friends of
shiftless Bohemians like as. He's in a
world, the door Of which is shut to you
and me. 1t will be the same way when
we are dead He will be inside, but when
| come the door will be shut--shut.
sudden comprehension broke
through her face. Dimpled, kissable little
face that it was. There was latent no.
bility in it, great steadiness and strength.
81 think you're unjust to us and to jack
she said, firmly, standing before him.
II tell you the boy is on the road to sue
cess, and he must go on he cried. mo
body shall stand in his way to hinder him.
| mean to stand out of his way. It will
be quite easy for me to do it--quite easy
Some suspicious Of years ago were COM
ing back to her. Il think i understand"
she said. s'Is Jack willing that you
should give him up?''
sWhat could it matter to him? A
shabby old liar and braggart, as M'Mur
ray called me. | saw his church to-day
and the house where he will live. So
grandly furnished, Maddy."
s.Chunhes and furniture!o with a con-
temptuous shrug. "What are they to
Jack 2"
II saw the woman he is to marry
"Ah! the Woman!''
"a daughter Of NJ MurraY's; delicate
white rosebud Of a girl. He has every
thing now the world can give, Jack has.
There's but one obstacle in his way, and
that won't be there long,
But Madeline had turned to the window,