Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-10-11

and bread and butter and the pretti-
est ingenue, ever created by Pinero |
and company. Come back, and I'll in
vite you again, and give you a lovely |
cushioned chair all to yourself, and |
sing reseries and cradle-songs and |
love-songs-oh yes,5 especially love
songs-to you till you shut your
mouth with kisses-what am saying?
No, no, let US be careful, and cold
surtout cold. But one little kiss does
not matter, does it? Just before one
goes out into the night-which is so
callous, so Indifferent. And so I bid
you farewell, Tommy dear. Hope for
letter next week. It will mean my
luck is in. Your Fleurette.
VI.
* CHEZ PAPA.
cts no good, Dad, I've stuck to 1t
six months and it's killing me by
inches. I'll have to co.
They were seated in the big book
lined library. Thomas sGriffiths, SEN
Tor, upright in his red leathern chair,
calm and dignifed, observed his son
from beneath acute, shaggy eyebrows.
$50 I see. It's the young blood again."
he sighed. -'sI thought you had sown
your oats, but it seems there's still
a plentiful CROP
Indeed, dad, you're wrong. I'll
be as steady as the Inchcape Rock,
butt must get away. I'm choking"
''Can't brook restraint. Home ties
what are they? Brittle as paper,
solid as water. My son!" He turned
over the leaves of the "Graphic' with
a large paper-knife, and let his eyes
rest vacantly on the pictures. Sud-
denly he spoke again. ..
/ "Of course, there's woman VIII
you tell me who and what she is?''o
The roots of Tommy's hair blushed
a quivering red.
There's no woman" he said, after
a pause.
"sAnd before the cock crows We
shall deny me thricei' o Lowell"
Through the stained-glass window
fell shafts from the westering sun.
Long shadows lay across the thick
pile carpet, the face of the old man
cleaned like the emotionless stern
ness of sculpture in the dying light.
"You are choosing, Thomas" he
said at last. ssMy way or thy way.
There is no going back. My fortune
goes to your sister if you thwart me.
I can allow you nothing any more."'
'T can't stick it, dad,'' he repeated
doggedly. I'm sorry to cross you,
but the fever's in my blood. The bat
theories drown the voice of agricu1-
ture.''
"YOu are not in the army?''
''The battle-cry of life, dad, of the
world-the struggGng-the swimming
to shore, the huzzas, the champagne.
r I, L. -
Mr.. Griffiths rose. 81 don't speak
your language Thomas. I belong to
the old school, I suppose. You have
gone beyond me. Unless you change
your mind before tomorrow week our
ways lie apart. Do not seek TO alter
my decision. You know my-shall we
call it-obstinacy? Goodnight"
Upstairs in the boudoir of his dead
wife Thomas Griffiths, senior, I'M
| locked an escritoire. Drawing out
| miniature of little lad in Scotch
suit, he held it to the light, while dag
onal lines from nostril to mouth
deepened into ploughed burrows.
sHe should have been named Alb
salon." he said bitterly.
VII.
FLEURETTE
| A familiar knock drew F1eurette
bolt upright. She waited breathlessly.
| The door handle was impatiently
| turned and sunburnt man stood
bareheaded in the middle of the room.
| Tommy
| Tommy didn't say anything. He
devoured her with his eyes, from the
| sober serge gown to the bangleless
| wrists.
.'What does it mean, F1eurette?'
She laughed, but the blood f1ared in
her cheeks.
| what an awful time since I've seen
you? I believe you've grown"
what does it mean, Fleurette?"
what does what mean? Don't be
so silly, Tommy. You look as if you
were going to eat me-
''Tell me, please
"Don't you like it?''
Tommy spoke slowly. mo, like
the gew-gaws, frills and things
Where are they9''
'I've changed-tired of them. I'm
capricious. You haven't said you're
glad to see me-
He looked at her with such intensity
that she stirred uneasily.
"Come and tell me all you've seen
and done. I've been hungering fol-
you
"Is that true?''
"Of course not. Do you think ]
should say SO if it was? want to be
polite
They sat down, and strained 81
lence fell between them. Tommy
, broke it diffidently.
1--WE got billet with chap who
came out on my boat. He's OF
. change A speculator, rich as Croe
sus. I get ESQ a month and pros
pects.'5
| 1T will keep you in tobacco"
I'm not sure. It Will give us oys