Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-11-15
yourself, but that warrant you never

yourself, but that I warrant you never
shall"
Then there was grim silence for
moment. Old Adam gripped convul-
sively at the staff he leaned on, and
ali but as loud as the ticking Of the
clock was the beating of his heart.
God give me patience" he said.
"Yes, I'll bear 1t meekly. Ruth" he
said, huskily, 'I'Tl not trouble you.
Make yourself sure of that. While
there's horse-wal.et to hang On my old
shoulders, and bit Of barley bread to
put in it, I'll rove the country round,
but I'll never come on my knees to you
and say, I am your husband. l gave
you all you had, and you are rich and
I'm a beggar, and I am old-give me
for charity my bed and board"
But, unable to support any longer
the strife for mastery that was tearing
at his heart, he gave way TO his
wrath, and cried out in loud voice,
"Out on you. woman! Out on you!
lOIBlRC Tic va ICY i SSS ~ ~
on you! God forgive me the damned
day I took you to my breast to rend
it."
While this had been going forward
Greeba had stood silent at the back of
her fathers chair, with eyelashes quiv-
ering and the fingers of both hands
clenched together. But nov she step
ped forward and said, Forgive him,
mother. Do not be angry with him.
He will be sorry for what he has said;
I'm sure he will. But only think. dear
mother: he is in great, great trouble.
and he is past work, and if this is not
his home, then he is homeless"
And at the sound of that pleading
voice Adams wrath turned in part tc
tenderness, and he dropped back to the
chair and began to weep.
II am ashamed of my tears, child
he said; "hut they are not shed foI
myself. Nor did l come here for my
own sake, though your mother thinks
did, No, child, no; say no more. III
repent me of nothing have said to her
no. not one word. She is a hard, a
cruel woman; but, thank heaven, I
have my sons left to me yet. She is not
flesh Of my flesh, though one with me in
wedlock; but they are. and they VIE
never see their father turned from the
door,"
AT that instant three Of the six Fair
brothers, Asher, Ross and Thurstan'
came in from the stackyard, with the
smell of the :urze rick upon them that
they had been trimming for the cattle.
And Adam. without waiting to explain,
cried in the fervor of his emotion. This
is net you will. Asher?" Whereupon
Asher, without any salutation. an
swered him, 81 don't know what you
mean. sir" and turned aside.
HE has damned your mother" said
Mrs. Fairbrother. with her morning
apron to her eyes, land cursed the day
that he married her"
But she is turning me out of the
house" said Adam. This house-mJ
fathers house"
ASK her pardon, SIR Asher NUT
tered. and she will take you back
Her pardon! God in heaven!" Adam
cried.
you are an old man now, sir" said
Thurstan.
And you are poor as well.
That's true Thurstan; that's true.
though your brother forgets it."
so you should not hold your head
90 high"
What! Are you on her side also?
Asher. Thurstan, Ross, you are my
sons-would you see me turned out OF
the house?"
The three men hung their heads.
What mother says. he must agree to-
muttered Asher.
But l gave you all I had" said
Adam. If I am old am your father,
and If 1 am poor you know best who
made me SO"
I'VE are poor. too sir; we have moth
ing. and we do not forget who is to
blame for it," Thurstan growIed.
You gave everything away from
US" grumbled Ross; 'and, because
your bargain is a rue bargain. you want
us now to stand back of you
And Steam, and Jacob and John com
ing in at that moment. Jacob said, yer!
siyly. with something like a sneer:
"Ah, yes. and who took the side Of a
stranger against his own children:
What of your good Michael Sunlocks
now, sir? Is he longing for You? or
have you never had the scribe of line
from him since he turned his back az.
you, four years ago?'
Ito be coutinued)