The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-12
BY.
A. G. Garrigus


He died a year ago. Tom has never been
quite the same since. He did not drink
before that not much; but now it is every
night and he stays out so late"
Yesterday he brought mortgage on the
farm for me 20 sign; he would not tell me
why 1t was none of my business. he said
could not do that; father told me I must
never mortgage the place
MY child, who was your father?' asked
the judge.
''Lindell Robertson" she replied proudly.
''Ah," he said musingly-"Lindell Robert
som Then you must be related to Tom
MY father and Toms mother were own
cousins" she answered.
''Of course of course" The judge nodded
his head. why 1 know that. And you
would not sign the mortgage?"
mo" she said, mot then. l was afraid;
/ wanted time to think about it. could not
bear to lose the farm. 1t was my fathers
and he and my mother are buried there,
and little Rob, too If he had told me what
he wanted with the money it might have
been different. but he cursed me when 1
asked him, and when / refused TO sign it
he struck me and said-and said-he hated
me-
She began to weep silently.
Judge De Haven extracted his handker-
chief and busted himself with it, pacing
up and down the floor, a favorite habit of
his when perturbed.
Suddenly he brought up at the window
with a sharp turn and peered out and
across the street. You will excuse me a
few minutes he said courteously. II wish
-
main here. 1 shall return shortly"
Tom Appleby, in the midst of convivial
gathering, was just about to take second
drink when he felt heavy hand upon his
shoulder He set the glass down and turned
about.
why, how do you do. judge" he said,
reddening little under the direct gaze that
met his own.
Drink that and come along with me-"
said the judge.
This can watt" answered Tom: what
do you want?''
II want you to come along with me-" the
judge repeated.
They went around the corner and sat
down on bench under a honey-locust tree.
tom, you can't guess who is up in my
Office"
NO." said Tom very carelessy.
Your wife, replied the judge; and you
can't guess what she is there for?"
mo. L can't guess that either" an
swered Tom doggedly.
"a divorce, replied the judge. 'Gad,
Tom, how proud your father would be of
you
Tom WINGED as if struck. and then his
face hardened, and, pushing his hat back
upon his head, he thrust his thumbs in his
vest with an ill-becoming air of bravado.
''She said you struck her." continued the
judge.
81 was drunk" said Tom between his
teeth.
You must have been,' said the judge
distinctly. "She tells me 1t is because of a
| mortgage. Now look here, Tom, what do
| you want with so much money!"
| Tom did not reply.
LAS man to man, as father to son, Tom,
my boy, what do you want with that
money!"
The old man leaned closer to the young
one and touched him on the shoulder.
"well. then, if you must know, it is to
pay off George Forbes"
"Ah," exclaimed the Judge sharply; ito
| pay that hound, that cheat! You shall not
| do it."
81 WILL" cried Tom, striking his fist upon
| the bench. 1T was fair game. / lost; it
| is debt Of honor
"a debt of honor" sneered the Judge
strange name for such a transaction. A
| fair game; the wolf and the lamb, the hawk
| and the dove, an old down-the-river pirate
and a young, innocent boy: a fair game,
bah! You know, Tom, 1 warned you
against him."
WELL said Tom bitterly, land IL you
did it is too late now"
ut is not too late" The old man stamped
his foot. do you know what you are
| going to dor?
| The young man regarded him narrowly.
"You are going down on your knees to
that little wife of yours and beg her
pardon like gentleman. You are going
to promise her never to touch another
card or drink another drop of whiskey."
II am not" said Tom fiercely.
| You are" said the judge hoarseIy; be
fore God you arel'
Presently the young man quailed under
the gaze that met his eyes.
There must be a mortgage" he per-
sisted. digging in the dirt with his toes.
81 will let you have the money my
| SELF
But what security can I give your
your word" said the Judge, "the word
of an Appleby is as good as gold to me-"
Toms back involuntarily Strengthened.
Listen. my boy; your father and 1 were
friends and boys together. We went To
school together, and both graduated in the
same class at the University of Virginia;
we fought side by side, and both of us
| went TO see your mother. She preferred
your father: he was a handsome man then
| tall and straight and black-eyed and
afraid of nothing but dishonorable act
You are very like him. my boy. 1t was his
| dying request that i should be your guar
| dian. Look after him when / am gone
Ell, he said-he always called me El.-'be
a father to my motherless boy THE
old man clicked and stopped.
Il will come said Tom with something
like tear in mis- eye.
The Judge walked up and down the cor
| rider outside his Office, smoking d cigar
| explosively, his coat and vest unbuttoned
| his collar limp. and much disheveled as 10
his hair.
Presently the door opened and they came
out together, the woman radiant, the man
shamefaced. but happy. 81 have told Mfnta
| all about it, said Tom, nervously mopping