The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-09

"oulu sPenu great part or my time
here. Be 10 me In this as generous as
you have been IN all things else. Is It
strange that I worship that liIy-souled
child Of nature?"
Himself dispensing, at every opportun-
ity. JOY to others. he was captivated by
| Reuel's altruistic thoughtfulness. mo.
l guess ] orter be thankful that God let
other young feller'd be as ginerus Iaik
as you. keep an old mans comfort and
happiness in balance with his own. Now.
| femme tell you what hain't never told
/ her, when she was a tiny mite Dr.
! Holmes tole me she had heart disease,
the complaint her nanny died with: he
| tole me never TO tie her down TO books
jes' let'r run wild outin doors. She took
notion to work by me in the field.
axed DR.. Holmes. he said let'r, it'd do r
good
Bless our union, Mr.. Christian. and
I'll give you my word and honor that I'll
be as careful of her as you have ever
been. You may daily witness my keep
ing Of that promise"
Il bless 1t and you both, my boy" he
replied heartily. Come to the farm and
be my son; let other work take keeE of
| Itself. 1t don't sound big to you, maybe,
but when die Dada'll have twenty thou
sand besides the old farm" Busy. each
with his own thoughts. they walked back
Dada met them in the long cool lane
She held UP basket Of rosy-cheeked ap-
pies.
BEG for one" she exclaimed rnerrily
Il will pay for one" replied the young
man, henming her In with his arms
and kissing the broad. fair brow. "The
father knows and gives US HIS blessing"
Yes. child said the father. caressing
the soft hair with his horny hand. Your
old daddy blesses you both"
Mr.. Christian sat in his big arm chair
on the piazza and smoked his pipe, while
Dada and Reuel ran races up and down
the gravel walk and played at hide-and-
seek among the shrubbery. With the
music of the youthful voices and happy
laughter echoing on his ears, he ad-
justed himself to the new order OF
things. He found content broadened and
more firmly established.
morn OF Dada Christian and Reuel Blair.
subdued but happy, they sat in the cool
little parlor awaiting the arrival of the
clergyman. Ethan Christian. in Sunday
clothes. reclined in his arm chair on the
piazza. The boy. Jim, brought Dada the
mail; there was a small, white letter for
her. She opened It and with a smile
and a blush bade ReueI look on. In
obedience he leaned over the back OF her
chair.
"A, Ga. June "a. IS.
Miss Christian: Today your father |
called upon me with a confidence as
though I knew and approved. as though 4
the wide difference in birth, position. /
and wealth counted for naught, told me :
that you and my son were to be married 1
in the near future. Reuel has told me |
nothing: he is so impetuous and willfuI. I
1 deemed IL wisest to rely entirely upon
your good sense to avert a messaliance
that would break my heart. and hope
lessly blast his future. ! have the power
and will cut him of without a penny
How long could that frail mechanism
toll for bread? He is and has long been
engaged to lady who is. in every way.
his equal. He is, as you are aware.
very fraiI, and l made him take an out
ing last summer; he was on his way TO
Banks. where his affanced wife was
when he met you.
Now If you are sensible. you will &C
cede to my wish. if you persist In mar
rylng him. the consequence be upon YOU
head I will never recognize him as m:
son again. ReueTs mother.
"INEZ BLAIR"
Infamous" Reuel grasped the sheet
with his slim. white hand. There was
again the steely CLINT of desperation IN
those soft. blue eyes. Hear me, though
she who wrote this sends to me in the
name OF mother. speaks falsely. You
are the only being I ever asked TO be.
ever wanted or ever will have for my
wife. Mother wished me 10 marry Miss
Barr. ! had never met you All women
we're the same to me. II was easier to
drift than 70 resist her iron will. II l !
me"
you should have told me all this long
ago. ReueI"
GOD pity my want OF COURAGE! Some
thing in Dada's face startled him You
10 not mean 10 cast me off?"
Il can never do that, nor can (,
marry you until the same hand that !
Iullded. raises the barriers against our {
union /
For moment his face worked convul-
5ively. then grew calm During my :
'ather's life l drank deep OF the we'll :
spring OF freedom. Ny choice OF voca- 4
ion was literature. / loved the work q
After his death my mother forced me. !
~ continued. virulent nagging. 10 give
[ W. In self-defense I concurred ,
ook refuge in my fathers line of work 7
hardly dared call my soul my own / i
What little health I had would not, 7 !
Knew brook with imPunity, the close :
application the work demanded. ! had y
.eased 10 finch from her cruelty until q
met you. and now she has stabbed me
Il the most vulnerable spot. I beg youl
will think deeply before giving me your
inal decision G
You are to me what the sun and the
ain are 10 the fOWovE-Dv Ice, 81