The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1901-10-01

|
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 Ohair all to yourself, and
sing reveries and cradle-sOngs and
love-songs-oh yes, especially love-
sOngs-to you till you shut your
mouth wi III kisses-what am l saying?
No, no, ,et 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 1 bid
you farewell, Tommy dear Hope for
letter next week. 1t will mean my
luck is in. Your Fleurette.
VI.
CHEZ PAPA.
cts no good, Dad, I've stuck to it
six months and it's killing me by
inches. I'll have to 60"
They were seated in the big book
lined library Thomas Grifiths, SEN
ior, upright in his red leathern chair,
calm and dignifed, observed his son
from beneath acute, shaggy eyebrows.
$50 1 see. It's the young blood again,"
he sighed. 81 thought you had sown
your oats, but it seems there's stin
plentiful crop"
Indeed, dad, you're wrong. I'll
be as steady as the Inchcape Rock,
butt must get away. I'm choking"
Cant brook restraint. Home ties
what are they? Brittle as paper,
solid as water. My sonl' 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 a woman. Will
you tell me who and what she is?"
The roots of Tommy's hair blushed
quivering red.
''There's no woman" he said after
pause.
"'And before the cock crows We
shall deny me thrice!' o love!"
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. "My way or thy way.
There is no going back. Ny fortune
goes to your sister if you thwart me-
[ can allow you nothing any more"
81 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 agricul-
ture.'
"You are not in the army?"
1.-THE battle-cry of life, dad, of the
world-the struggling swimming
to shore, the huzzas, the champagne.
l must get back to it, sink or SWIM"
Mr.. Griffiths rose. 81 don't speak
your language Thomas. ] belong to
the old school, 1 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 Grifiths, senior, un-
locked an escritOire. Drawing out
miniature of little lad in a Scotch
suit, he held it to the light, while dag
onal lines from nostril to mouth
deepened into ploughed burrows.
'He should have been named Alb
salon." he said bitterly.
VII.
FLEURETTE.
A familiar knock drew Fleurette
bolt upright. She waited breatblessly.
The door handle wes irnpatiently
turned sud sHnburnt 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, Fleurette?"
She laughed, but the blood flared in
her cheeks.
What an awful time since I've seen
you? L 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-gdws, frills and things.
Wher0 are they?"
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 tel! me all you've seen
and done. I've been hungering for
you"
''Is that true?"
''Of course not. Do you think 1
should say so if it was? 1 want to be
polite"
They sat down, and strained ST.
lence fell between them. Tommy
broke it diffidently.
''I've got billet with Il chap who
came out on my boat. He's on
Change A speculator, rich as Croe-
sus. 1 get $50 month and pros