Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-01-25

though suppressed mirth He looks
so uncomfortable in his shining broad
cloth and glittering diamonds, SO
pompOus and so absurd, and so con-
scious of his absurdity.
"Er-have you finished, my dear?"
he says q trust you enjoyed it. Car
rie-er-run into the drawing-room"
Carrie walks slowly instead of run.
ming, and Mr. Dalton closes the door,
and stands warming his back at the
empty CRATE
May, incorporating as ever, sits,
and looks, and waits. After one or
two blasts on the red bandana, over
which he eyes her with covert nerv-
BUSINESS, he clears his throat and be-
gins:
4 need not say that l am glad to
see you back, May"
Thank you, papa comes softly,
but calmly, from the red lips
And I-er-hope that you are glad
to get back Your late occupation
ahem-was scarcely appropriate and
suitable to the sphere into which we
have moved, and-I am glad you are
back"
mo doubt Carries letter gave you
a full account of the changes which
have come over our fortunes"
at would have done, if had receiv-
ed it." says May, cheerfully, But
Carrie has made up for the loss She
has been telling me all that has hap
pened. am very glad, papa"
"Yes-yes says the millionaire,
complacently at is a wonderful
change: but if you remember. l al
ways said that I should make great
it."
May does not remember it, but is far
too wise to say so.
"Of course, am very pleased and
gratifed, too, not on my account
so much as on that of my two chill
dren"
"Two?" says May, in a low voice.
Mr.. Dalton blows his nose loudly
and browns the obnoxious exclama-
zion.
1T is, Of course, a great comfort
to me to feel that l have raised them
by my eXertions Cexertions' is a good
word for speculationsD- my own ex-
ertions to positions which-er-to
positions which will place them in
position-that is to say, in short, you
understand, May the old life has
gone forever; that what we have TO
do is to forget it, and endeavor to fill
the place we have made for ourselves
in the world, And-and-tha we may
thoroughly understand each other, I
think it well to remind you of the
condition upon which you"
Are allowed to return"
If you like to put it SO, well, you
must. What I want to say is that
will not have the old cause of quarrel
and pickering in this new life"
What you mean, papa" says May,
lis that We are not to mention Sgd
ney's name, that we are to forget that
we ever had a brother, and are to
make ourselves comfortable in all
this luxury. without giving . thought
as TO whether he is starving or dead"
That's just what l do mean" says
Mr.. Dalton 81 wash my hands of-of
your brother. I have done with him
done with him What said two
years and six months ago, l say now
a vagebond spendthrift, he is no son
of mine. Starving or dead, it matters
not to me. He is no son of mine.
And-and l forbid anyone to mention
his name in my hearing. l think l
have spoken plain enough"
Quite, and-I promise to obey you
in part. l will not speak of him.
but-but-I cannot forget him.
"You can please yourself about
that. If it's any pleasure to remem-
Der that you have brother who is a
disgrace to the name he bears l know
you too Well my dear May to think
that you will debar yourself that
pleasure for my sake. Think of him
as much as you like, but don't let me
hear the scoundrcIs name"
May springs to her feet and stands
painting for a moment, her beautiful
eyes blazing with wounded love and
indignation.
Then do not you speak of him to
me, papa, she says, "at least until
sinking down again and shaking with
suppressed tears-"until you can
speak more like a Christian and less
like heather of your own son. Oh,
Syd-Syd."
Old Dalton goes from red to white,
but he stands with his hands thrust in
to his pockets and his lips pursed dog
gedly
Now when you've finished, hy
says sullenly.
May chOkes back a sob. and stands
with her red. ripe lips set as firmly
as a spasmodic culver or two viii a.
low.
7 have quite finished, she says.
the bright light shining through the
tears in her beautiful eyes.
-Then-then." says papa Dalton. q
think | have finished too, at least on
that subject ,.nd-and, May" he add
ed, little hurry and break in his
voice. we never quarreled on any
other stretching out his red, far
hands; do be a good girl and let that
this shameful matter rest"
C0mpunction smites the girl. With
a quick step she goes up to him ana
puts her arms around his neck and
presses his nose-painfully. if the
truth must be told-against the but
tons on her dress.
4 will, papa win, indeed. And