Sunday morning globe., 1901-09-29
CHAPTER Xviii
BACK TO THE OLD HOME

A.ANAN ~" aa-
The December wind, with the thor
ough soaking 1 received at the hands
of the rain, had pierced, it seems, my
very bones. For three days l was con-
fined to my room with an alternating
affection of a cold and a fever. Mrs.
Grant was extremely kind; this, too,
In the face Of the fact that her pay
ment was purely prospective
When had reached the GONZALES.
cent stage she handed me two letters.
One was from Colonel Gates, the pro
prietor of the New Grand telling that
every attorney i'm town during court
week had asked for me; that he felt
certain that my business the coming
winter would be equally remuneratlye
with the last one and further, TO make
it an induCement for my return, ne
would be glad to furnish accommoda-
tiOns, gratis, for my little girl and my.
self at his hostelry This was indeed
ray OF light out Of the darkness.
But then. the Keokuk county might as
well have been Alaska so far as the
state of my finances or my possibilities
OF reaching the haven We're concerned.
The other piece of mail was from
Violetta. asking me TO call at my earl
lest convenience, as she desired to nave
a talk with me.
On the first sunshiny morning after
Mrs Grant had bundled me up well, /
started on my visit to Violetta. Den
ME put a strip of car tickets in my
hand as / passed through the hall
Securing a transfer at Ninth, a short
ride brought me to her residence.
After removing my wraps, l said, Il
gave you my name and address, but
70 date your name is unknown to me.
I only know Violetta.'
"Violetta is a nickname the Judge
gave me some years ago, born Of an in
cident So far as I know, he is the
only person ever using tt. Just how
you came i'm possession of it is as great
a mystery as a letter sent through the
city postofiCe some months since to
that address from a party saying he
was hopelessly in love with me. !
sent him a scathing note i'm reply.
Since you were over, I had long talk
with the Judge He says he is positive
he never mentioned the name NiOletta
to anyone; to you i'm particular.
don't believe the man would deliber-
ately lie. Have you met him?'
mot yet, I replied. This is the
first morning for me to leave my room.
I will see him, though, in a few days.
He is TO get me a position, you know
I'D rather he wouldn't" she replied.
81 was Of material assistance to the
Judge during his last Congressional
campaign. His confdant l may say,
located in what he called the enemy's
country. Nobody knows and appreci-
ates that fact more than the Judge
himself, He will, l believe, so tell
you"
"He has. But I am not speaking Of
the payment Of political debts. To
come to the point, / don't want him
TO get you a situation, and, further, ]
will see that he dOesnt!'
This was a thunder clap from a clear
sky Frustrated for the second, / re.
gained my composure and nerve at the
same time.
"Give me just one valid reason for
such action on your part and l Will
cease TO press the claim
"Well III you must have 10, two wOm
en- and one man In the same town
/ laughed-the first hearty laugh
had enjoyed for months to be exact
since Mr.. Baxter and / took "a street
car ride into the northeastern suburbs
My reception of the proposition was
so different evidently, from what she
expected that she was for some mo
ments disconnected.
'I am positive e he Judge would
never fall i'm love with me. and as fol
my falling in love with him, I'd as
soon think of going down 20 a dry
goods store and attempt the purchase
OF a pair Of wings"
On second thought, they may keeI
wings i'm dry goods stores. inasmuch as
Mr. Baxter said he knew couple OF
angels at Kanns To be serious, her,
was one Of my chickens coming HON,
20 roost I had, you remember ig
ured that If Zaida left the city Mr.
Stivers would be more attentive to hi
wife, and had held to that line Of ar
gument until she took up her abodl
in another part Of the country. For al
most the identical reason, because an
other woman imagines I am going Z
fall In love with q man over whom sh
eNerts some lnnuence, / am not only u
lose a possible position but am to re
side elsewhere. Certainly plot an,
CounterplOt with a vengeance.
1.-TWO women and one man in IN
same town." said I, repeating he
words.
He wanted to see and have tall
with you. / told him I'd rather h
wouldn't. He was, I thought too SO
licltous Of your welfare Every won
an has a streak Of jealousy, suspicion
call it what you will She wouldn't b
woman II she didn't" she added, hal
apologetcally. And then there ar
Other cities. You are comparativel
young. ambitious; the world befor
you. do not care TO open old wound
by going into a recital Of my life
something you know nothing about