The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-17

James. nodding slyly to the company
at large. Then. turning to the English
man, he went on, like one giving good
and welcome advice: Il dc not think
that We could do better, Umphray.
Think of it, man.
And it was while the cloth weaver
hum;ned and hawed and shifted his legs
first over one knee and then over the
other, thumbing the dottle all the time
into the bowl of his pipe, that l first
heard my fathers words as l have re-
ported them at the beginning.
nett"
L saw a tall. swart-visaged man.
standing erect by the outer door, and
reaching back hand to one VINO stood
without on the steps half bowed TO en-
ter. yet reluctant to descend. Philip
Stansfield was of a fiery yisage. with
eyes a little bloodshot his cheeks mot
tied like Gay-oid butchers meat on a
stall, and all his gay clothing tasted
and frayed at sleeve and braiding. Yet
. through all DISCUSSES it was tins face
my mother looked at every night -rhe1
she rose sobbing, from saying her
prayers. and opened a little leathern
case which lay beside her Bible on the
service stand of her bedroom. / had
locked at it a thousand times when she
was in the garden or gone up to the
great house.
And, though no one had ever told me.
l knew that the man l looked upon was
my father.
He stood on the threshold with a nat
urally gallant air. one hand on the hilt
of his sword and the other, as 1 say,
reached back to pull his companion
within.
She came. shame-red and Sinking, a
smooth-faced. apple-cheeked. youngish
woman, slatternly, careless of dress,
short of skirt and lavish of shoulder.
a blue ribbon cris-crossing loosely over
her breast and only half holding her
bodice together. This woman laughed
nervous, fleering laugh when she
found herself in face of the grave trio
seated at the table, who turned with
one accord to look at her. Yet a mo-
ment after she seemed to care nothing
for them, and conferred her diSdainful
attention upon the women on the 9TH
er side of the inn kitchen. AS l say.
she was indeed very buXom and hoy
denish of feature. hat (this l learned
afterward } there was no steadfast or
housewifely look in her eyes. And that.
after all, is the way to tell a good
woman.
The young man with the naughty air
and handsome damaged countenance
took his hand from his sword and
pointed scornfully at the table.
LUX. JdEel- ne tlODh wen dl
them. There sit all the three. For "a
silver groat | would send them all to
hell-aye, and swing for them in the
Grass Mercat in the morning, janet"
The rosy mirth of the wine heat had
ebbed quickly from my grandfather
lips. He gripped the table to steady
himself-not that he was in the least
bit overcome with fear or .apprehen-
sion, but that he might worthily say
that which he had to say.
Philip" he murmured, and then put
his fingers to the goffered frill of his
neckerchief. Philip, my lad, you are
my eldest son. Will you not take warn
ing and lead a new life? Gladly would
forgive you for the sake of the BARN
1 learned to say his prayers kneeling
at my knee. Put away this wicked
wanton woman that has made you live
like beast. Return to your wife. She
greets for you. She prays for you
Look upon this BARN
Mr. grandfather had now his hand
upon my head. for 1 had hung to him
at the first sight of my father He
would have said more. L could hear
his heart humping in his side and his
breath Wheeling dryly in his throat.
But at this moment the woman broke
in shrill revilings, demanding furiousiy
who he was thus to fitch from her her
good name.
4 would have you know that I am
an honest mans wife, She shouted I
the words at him like throwing stones
Sir James eyes were steady on her |
face.