The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-10-26
CHAPTER XII

Lorimer Lohmer. the gentlest of men,
whose very gentleness had rendered his
subjugation TO a woman Of narrow
vision and unbending will fatally easy,
had positively dashed himself up TO the
point OF having row with John II
need be-" and instead they had fallen
TO discussing the drearinsss Of things
generally with mutual goOd-natured
sympathy.
did you hear what mother said this
morning, John?'
Eyes. Five helpless boys and an old
woman dying. Which was putting it
harshly. She is not dying"
did you hear what she added?"
mo ] went out of the room Just
then. It took all the man out Of me, to
see mother, always 50 strong and clear
headed, lying there with that pinched
white face, babbling nonsense"
"Her head is rs clear as yours or
mine. She said, renorsefulAy, 1 wish
had no: Rugged that silly old griev-
ance to ny heart SO long. My Dennis,
at least, might have been happy, in
stead of homeless wanderer the Lord
knows where So many people need
not have suffered It looks SO small
and empty now-the fcud.'"
"Have you told her that Dick and
Rafe had gone to fetch Dennis home
at least 20 look for hHn?'
mo did not care TO excite her.
told her was obliged to send them to
the city in my stead, but that | was
looking for them back tomorrow. That
Is all she knows"
But we've got away from the sub
ject ! started out to exhaust, John. |
want you 30 hunt your wife up. /
want you to pub yourself together and
get out of this WORKOUT old rut. We
want no more tabby-cats in the fam
lily"
"Wait, Lorriel Not now!'
81 did not mean just new"
A somber silence fen between them.
Then Lorrie said, in his gentle voice:
II think | win go in to mother,
now"
He left John sitting there alone,
staring listlessly out over the sunht
world The dogs lay asleep in various
spots out there under the big trees.
The guns were all stacked In the corner
of the green-tinted hall. A solemn still
ness pervaded White Cliffs, indoors
and out. The harsh creaking of the
big front gate on It's nov wooden
hinges made John turn his gloomy
face in that direction. The next mo-
ment he was on his feet with a NUT
tered exclamation of amazement
Ida Fairbanks, accompanied by
Stepniak, her Danish hound, who
walked on one side of her with dignifed
self-possession. and by Ninettc. whose
methods of progression suffered severe
ly by comparison with Stepniaks, was
coming towards him.
Amusement swallowed up every
other sensation in John Lorimers
breast, but he was conscious of an an
controllable physical repulsion as
Ninstte, running swiftly in advance of
her companions, seized his hands and
put up her small red mouth with an
imperious demand:
kiss me. Uncle John. I amt come
back here to live. My aunt Ida says my
papa is" But Ida drew her back
ward.
"Ninette, you and Stepniab are to sit
Just here" She halted at the lowest
step and waited for Ninette to arrange
herself and her short draperies to her
own entire satisfaction.
"I could not leave her behind" she
said. apologizing to the shuddering dis
like in Johns eyes, because / have
sent the woman CeIeste away, and no
one else can control the child. had
to come. l heard that Mrs. Lorimer
was i'll, and thought-ah! I hope she
VIII not say / may not come in. Life Is