The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1903-09-18
her, pressed her to his breast and fond
ly kissed her.
CHAPTER XVIII.

pictured 1t; he had expected to see her
bundle OF prejudices thrown down like
Christians load; and therefore the
dignity with which she looked Upon the
establishment of his honor was a dis
appointment to him, but she invited
him to stay for dinner, and this argued
that her reserve could not much long
er maintain itself. With pleasure he
recalled that she had given him her
hand. but in this he feared that there
was more of haughtiness thar of gen.
erosity. And at the table, and later in
the library, he was made to feel that
after all she had accepted him merely
on probation; still, her treatment OF
him was so different from what it had
been, that he took the courage to build
up a hope that he might at last subdue
her. To what was passing the Major
was humorously alive, and, too keenly
tickled to sit still, he walked up and
down the room, slyly shaking himself.
Mrs. Cranceford asked Gid If he had
read the book which she had loaned
him, the prince of the House of Da-
vid," and he answered that when at
last he had fallen asleep the night
before the precious volume had drop
ped beside his pillow. There were
some books which he read while sitting
by the fire, and some whose stirring
qualities moved him to walk about as
he gulped their contents; but with a
godly book he must lay himself down
so that he might be more receptive of
its soothing influence. Then he re-
viewed the book in question, and did
it shrewdly. With the Jewish maiden
and the Roman centurion going to see
the strange man perform the novel rite
OF baptism in the river of Jordan, he
looked back upon the city of Jerusa-
lem; and further along he pointed out
Judas, plodding the dusty ro%ad-sqaut,
sullen and with a sneer at the marvel
he wa destined to see.
81 believe you have read it," the Ma
jor spoke up, still slyly shaking him.
self
Read 1t! Why, John, I have eaten
With a nod she pronounced her for
%giveness. The slip was but a pre-
tense, foisted to change the talk to
suit his purpose. "Ah," said he, 81
have not yet welded out all my idle
words, and it grieves me when l am
surprised by the recurrence of one
which must be ~detestable; but, ma'am,
I try hard, and there is always merit in
a sincere trial"
"Yes, in a sincere trial." she agreed.
"Yes, ma'am; and-now there's John
laughing at me fit to kill himself; and
bless me, ma'am, you are laughing, too
Am never to be taken seriously? Are
you thus to litter true reformation out
Of c~ountenance? But l like it. We
are Eve tired Of a man so long as We
can laugh at him; we may cry our
selves to sleep, but who laughs himself
to slumber? Ma'am, are you going to
leave us?" he asked, seeing that Mrs.
~Cranceford was on her feet. But Of
course you have duties to look after,
even though o might not be glad to
escape an old mans gable"
A dignified smile was the only reply
she made, but in the smile was legible
the progress his efforts were making.
John" he said, when she was gone,
that sort Of a would have
made a man of me-"
But perhaps that sort of a woman
wouldn't have undertaken the job" the
Major replied.
"Slow, John; but I guess you're
right"
81 think so. Women may be persist
ent, but they are quick to recognize
the impossible"
Easy. But again I guess you're
right. l CAD, when the teaching of a
mans mother leave him unfinished,
there isn't a great deal of encourage
ment for the wife. A man looks upon
his wife as part of himself, and a man
will lie even to himself, John"
"By the way" the Major asked, sit
ting down, have you seen that fellow
Mayo since he came back?"
eyes; / met him in the road once,
but had no words with him"
ut would hardly do for me to have
words with him." the Major replied;
and after a moment of musing he add
ed: 81 understand that he's organizing
the negroes, and that's the first step
toward trouble. The negro has learn
ed to withdraw his faith from the poll
tician, but labor organization is a new
thing to him, and he will believe in it
until the bubble bursts. That fellow
is a shrewd scoundrel and there's no
telling what harm he may project"
Then why not hang him before he
has time to launch his trouble? There's
always a way to keep the cat from