The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-08

eyes wandered away from him around
the room without seeing any outward
object. She was calling up in memory
the little house in which she had been
born, and in which her father had died.
She saw the office as it used to be, open
on spring morning, with flowers where
her father had placed them on desk and
window-sill. She saw the grape-arbors
he had made, the fower-beds he had
planned, the blue myrtle-blossoms in
the grass about the steps. Each neat
before her mind as tho in farewell.
Then her thought returned to the one
who would suffer most in leaving that
home. It was some time before she
could trust her voice to ask, What
did my mother say when you told hers'
Ferdinand was relieved at the ques-
tion. It indicated returning reason
ableness. .She took it very sensibly, -
he said. ~ think the first thing she
move He felt that his mother-in-
laws conduct, whatever may have been
her lack Of discipline in The past, in
this transaction had been exemplary.
Like any fair-minded person she had
refrained from foolish complainings and
had realized the validity Of his mo-
tives at least she had not questioned
them. He went on considerably, COZ
course I told her she could have all the
time she wanted. -.
He waited, half expecting Agnes to
come to herself.
AS she made no reply, he proceeded
to explain the advantages Of the ar
rangement: 1T isn't only the. money
I was thinking of when did this. You
see it really relieves your mother in
many ways. Your aunt's own relatives
will be compelled to look after her now,
if I could have had my way. I am 60
ing to make suitable arrangements for
your mother to spend the remainder of
her life in some good family, and in
tend the $4,000 to go toward her board.
She WON have the care Of house,
and she will be looked after herself
when she needs it. I told her that
you and I would talk that over together.
I want to please you in the place we
select. Perhaps the Talbots will take
her, he said refectively. "You said
they were old friends of both your
parents. - @,s.
Agnes looked at him so curiously that
he thought she was going to say some
thing, but she did not. Instead she
walked over to the window and looked
out.
He occupied little time straighten.
ing up some papers on the table, and, as
she still did not speak, he turned to
60 out into the hall.
Instantly her voice arrested him.
"You have not told me yet to whom
you sold my father 8 house. -
Her mind had leaped forward from
hor Of bo hp,,oa 10 Ia
tion upon its future possessor. Who
was there in Kent besides Quinn who
wanted the old place, and wanted il
enough to pay so much for it,
Ferdinand turned back to her. "I1
is man who has written ME severa
1 times about it. His name is Nautilus
He is doctor" %
There was pause. A look of abhor
renee and incredulity came into Agnes
face. The name Nautilus had been as
ISOLATED in her mind all her life will
everything that was shameful AS i
grew upon her that the one man II
their native place whom her fathe
would have been glad to disgrace hat
gotten possession Of DR.. Sidney's offic
and home and had done this expressl,
because it was DR.. Sid1ey's home AM
would cast cloak Of respectabilit,
over his own name, all her pride AM
self-control were merged into denial O.
the intolerable truth.
q Mol No! Ferdinandl'' she brok
out. tPlease-not that! you don It know
what you are saying. Indeed yo1
i can t know. A good doctor can II
| can't bear it! can't bear It'll"
, + !. +
,, She went up to him and seized hi
hands, wringing them as she stammere
on. He thought as he looked at he
, that her face had withered and grow
old, while the eyes vaguely alarme
him. st
90 My fathers life was spent for hi
profession she said brokenly. GA
: Kent will tell you that--the honor o
} the profession. No man living has di.
graced it more than DR.. Nautilus has
3 Ny mother will not speak to hin
Ferdinand, I cannot live to see him g
into my father house"
i She slid down to his feet and he'll
r herself there, choking down sentenc
: after. sentence as they fought for e,
Q preston. Ferdinand was thoroly di