The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-02-18
CHAPTER x

Reuben Culwick did not in any way
attempt to account for his late hours to
the inmates of Hope Lodge. He was the
master of his own actions, which no one,
he felt, had the right to criticise. Hence,
with this impression on his mind, the
deep reveries of Lucy Jennings, and the
studious stares of her brother appeared
to be taking him in far too intently, be-
came a source of irritation to him.
SIS anything the matter, Lucy2 he
asked at last, one morning
Lucy Jennings sat down suddenly in
the chair nearest to her lodger, and burst
forth with her catalogue of wrongs, max
ing amends for all past reserve in one
breath.
ut has come to you. You're not the
man you have been. You keep away from
home too much-you have been seen at
low places of amusement-you're going
ong-you-you--you never tell us any
thing" cried Lucy, passionately.
Eyes, | have been seen at low places of
amusement" said Reuben, quietly, "and
my hours of return to Hope Lodge are
somewhat irregular at present. And so l
am going wrong, Lucy?"
"You are not doing what is right"
"You jump too rapidly at conclusions,
after the habit of enthusiasts. I'm not a
sinner-that is, no more of a miserable
specimen than was three weeks ago."
why did you ask John about the girl
in the striped dress, at the Saxe-Gotha
-"
"Ah, the rascal has turned kings evil
dence. Them cried our hero.
"Why did you ask him not to tell me
why are you always at The gardens p
why had you the effrontery," she cried,
with eyes ablaze now, ito ask that
wretched. miserable girl to call here for
your"
WHAT shouted Reuben, so forcibly
that even Lucy was unprepared for his
excitement, and jumped back in her chair
some distance from him. What do you
mean?" he continued; "whO has been
here2 Speak out-don't glare at me, you
suspicious, heartless, disagreeable wom-
an. What girl called here for meY'
Lucy was very pale, but she held her
ground against his rage. though she had
never been a witness to it before. He
had been always a pleasant man till this
day, but now he was full of passion and,
perhaps, hate of her. She could under
stand more clearly now why his quarrel
with his father had been a bitter one.
ut was girl in a striped cotton
dress" said Lucy. with emphasis "She
was pert. insolent, miserably clad wom-
an. She would not answer any of my
questions, save that you had told her to
call, and she grew impertinent at last"
"You sent her awayE
"Ycs. She said that she would never
come again."
Because of your hardness and harsh
ness?"
"She carried effrontery and desperation
in her face"
Its lie!" shouted Reuben Culwick;
you don't know what you are doing,
what you have done, in your heartless-
ness. There was soul to be saved. and
you have wrecked it,"
mo" said Lucy, growing paler still
you don't mean"
Il mean that that girl is my cousin.
for whom you tried to obtain an honest
place in life" he replied, "for whose sal
walton have been struggling after my
useless fashion. | found her in Lon
don, and tried to save her from the evil
that was surrounding her. She saved
my life, perhaps, then, and rendered me
forever her debtor When there was a
chance for her, she was to come here.
She came" he said, 6ercely, land you
sent her away. How will you. with oil
your narrow views of charity, and Gods
mercy, and Gods vengeance, answer for
1t, if you have cut from her the last
thread which led her to better lifeY'
Lucy Jennings was cowed by his re-
proaches, by his vehemence. Suspicious,
awfully suspicious, as she was. she as
still a religious woman, and the horror Of
having cast back a stubborn, willful ma
ture on itself rose before her even in more
terrible colors than he had painted it.
"Why-why didn't you tell me?" she
gasped forth; "why didn't you trust me?
| will find her." said Lucy, very meekly
now. 81 will bring her back"
1T is impossible"
Il will tell her that | was wrong in
my judgment. |. will ask her pardon.
You must not charge the loss of this girl
to me. Where did you see her lastT'
I'm Potter's Court"
Il know tin the Walworth road"
said Lucy; ''it is part Of my mission to
go among the people there. What is the
number of the housef"
1.-Two"
Where the Petersons live-the Irish
people. | will go at once; don't Judge me
too harshly, till have made amends for
my mistake" she pleaded.
"It Is too late" said Reuben, gloomily;
the house was empty two days since.
There were coiners In It, and the suspi-
ciOn that might betray them. or that the
police were on the scent, led them to
leave the premises"
Il will find them" said Lucy; Il am
known. People trust me there, who know
me better than you do" abe added, al
most disdainfully again.