Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-06-06
.1anet Golden? No. mother. | don,t.

Il Was juSA u us ~ !
whether had heard the name before,
she said.
of course she could live with her hus
band no longer. Should she accuse hlm
and taunt him with his infdelity? Nc
her whole nature revolted at that. she
would replace the letter where II mao
fallen. on the library table, watch
from the doorway the guilty shame
mount her husbands face when he
found he was detected-and then leave
his house forever Would he be SO lost
as TO show no sense of shame? lie had
said as he left that he was going 10
directors meeting and would be back
at ten. Perhaps he was with that Wom-
an even now! The insult of II all! she
dropped her work and fed to her own
room. to await his return.
Her son Dick wandered into the j |
brary for another book little later
when his eve caught the signature
"Janet Golden" in bold handwriting |
sWhv. that's the name mother
was asking about" he said 10 himself
and before he realized just what he was
doing his ewes had taken in the letter.
II surprised him at first, then puz
zled him. But as he remembered his
mothers manner its meaning flashed
upon him. There it was, addressed 70
his father, all too plainly.
He had lived long enough, and seen
enough of the world to know its sin
but ii had never occurred to him tha'
his father could do anything wrong.
, His first impulse was to rush to com
fort his mother. But this shame thai
had come upon them held him back.
No. they could not talk about it-ho,
vet, at least. What were they to doF
or course he must stick to his mother
They had never been a demonstrative
family. though they had cared for each
other dearly. But all his affection for
his father seemed blasted now. 10"
could he have done SO? he remem-
bered that his father and mother had
sometimes auarreled-but he had at
wavs regarded that as merely one OF
the defects of weak human nature is
Il had never taken the quarrels seFi
;. ously.
OF course they would have 70 sepa'
rate now. What could they tell then
friends? What excuse or explanation
i could they offer?
/, The cold perspiration stood on M
= brow as he thought Of il all. He woul'
meet his father upon his return an
4. ask what ii meant. He felt that IN
/. family honor was now resting on HIN
- The minutes dragged themsel'e
- along interminably. 1t seemed an ag
= before he heard the gate click an
then his fathers quick, energetic trea
- along the gravel walk. A cold chi
seized him. He heard the steps noun
the porch and cross; he saw his mothe
" descend the stairs quickly, her fac
pale and drawn, and place herself whei
She could see the library table, The
~ ewes met and told their own stor
90 They both heard the peculiar gratir
sound Of the night key in the lock an
saw the father enter.
Hello" he said, unconeernedly' n
noticing their set faces nor the IA
that they failed to reply. Then
\ walked to the library and picked up Il
! letter.
INeY WaltHtA tNti AA'fN ~
held it off at arms length, as he HI
lately been forced to do when
glasses were not at hand. Then
smiled.
"oh. Mary, you found it, did you
H he said, with the utmost candor. u
II glad OF that. was afraid ! had ID
il. You remember Janet Golden, dol
A YOU? She's old Job Blacks ste
4 daughter, you know, the one tina
q crippled. Nearly everyone calls b
Black. but her name is really Code
She's trying hard TO get money to
to college and | succeeded in getti
VAS her a place on the evening force
the public library. Hasn't she an @
way of expressing herself? l gut
her III turn the job Of stopping in so
ltly evening 20 hear her thanks over
fore YOU. | don't like that sort of thin
ing. and he handed his wife the letter.
IN But he does not know TO this Z
ess' lust why it was that she threw
NIX arms around his neck and kissed h
u a instead of taking the letter.