Mexico Missouri message., 1903-04-02

Onb lb uuI 70 De NuuubHl VI db a
'wife--for one moment"
"Sir, you are not so unjust as to
make such a statement without CIV
ing me a reason for It."
Giving you a reasonl Look east,
and west, and north, and south-all
these rich lands were bought with
your Uncle Williams money. He
made himself poor to make me rich.
Tell me now what child is left to
your uncie?"
"Only his daughter Annie, a girl Of
fourteen or fifteen years"
"Well, then, sir, what is you duty
to Annie Hyde?"
Il do not conceive myself to have
any special duty to Annie Hyde"
Upon my honor, you are then per
versely stupid! When your uncle
wrote me that pitifdl letter which in
formed me of the death Of his last
son, my first thought was that his
daughter must be assured her right
in the succession. There is one way
to compass this. You know what
that way is. Why do you not speak?"
Because, sir, If confess your evi-
dent opinion to be just, l bind myself
tqScarry it out, because of its justice"
US it not just?"
1T might be just to Annie and very
unjust to me-"
mo, sir. Justice is thing abso-
lutte; it is not altered by circum-
stances. What are you going to do?"
81 know not. must think"
81 am ashamed of you! In the
name of all that is honorable, what is
there to think about? Have / a son
with so little proper feeling that he
needs to think moment when the
case is between honor and HIMSELF"
"Sir, you are more cruel and un-
reasonable than l could believe pos
sible."
"The railings of a losing lover are
not worth answering. A man mad In
love has some title to my pity"
"And, sir, If you were any other
man but my father, would say Con
found your pity!' Our conversation is
extremely unpleasant, and desire
to put an end to it. Permit me to
return to the house"
LET it be so. l will see you to-
morrow in town"
He stood in the center of the road
way watching his sons angry car
riage and his rapid, uneven steps.
HE is in naked temper, without
even civil disguise" he muttered,
"and l hope that he will keep away
from his mother in his present unrea-
son."
His mother was, however, Georges
would sanction his sacrifice to Annie
Hyde. When he reached the house
he found that his mother had gone to
the pond to feed her swans, and he
decided to ride little out of his way
in order to see her there. Upon the
soft earth the hoofs of his horse were
not audible, but when he came within
her sight, it was wonderful to watch
the transformation of her counte-
nance. A great love, a great joy,
swept away like gust of wind, the
peace on its surface, and a glowing,
loving intelligence made her instant
ly restless. She called him with
sweet imperiousness, "George! Joris!
Joris! My dear one!" and he an
swered her with the one word ever
near, and ever dear, to a woman's
heart-"Mother!"
81 thought you were with your
father Where have you left him?"
"In the wilderness. There is need
for me to go to the city. My father
will tell you why. l come only to see
you-to kiss you"
"Joris, l see that you are angry.
What has your father been saying to
your"
HE will tell you"
Money, is it?"
"It is not money My father is gem
erous to me-"
"Then some woman 1t is?"
kiss me, mother. After all. there
is no woman like unto you"
She drew close to him and he
stopped his handsome face to hers
and kissed her many times. Her
smile comforted him. for it was full
Vi NOAnhD4ADa 60 DAAN DclAus
Trouble not yourself, Joris. At
the last, your father sees through
my eyes. Must you go? Well, then,
the Best of Beings go with you!"
She lifted her face again and
George kissed it, and then rode rapid.
ly away.
He hardly drew rein until he reach
ed his grandfathers house. The
ticking of the tall house-clock was
the only sound he heard at first, but
as he stood irresolute, a sweet, thin
voice in an adjoining room began to
sing a hymn.
Grandmother grandmother!
Grandmotherll!" he called and be
fore the last appeal was echoed the
old lady appeared.
"Oh, my Jorisi" she cried, "JorisI
Jorisl am so happy to see thee
But what. then, is the matter? Thy
eyes are full Of trouble
Il win tell you, grandmother" And
Il