The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-12-07
A BROKEN IDOL.



walked up the street to his home-a
little house, one Of row Of other lit
tie houses, each the replica of the
other Ronald Leslie let himself in
with his latch-key, and CROPPED in the
gloom OF the narrow, unlighted hall.
The Leslies house had a kitchen
and front parlor. Both were usually
! lighted up before the return of the
head Of the family Ronald stumbled
toward the kitchen in the dark. That
also was unlighted except for one SOL
itary candle on the dresser. A woman
who hushed fretful child in her
arms did not look up as her husband
came in. This. too, was unusual Mag
gie Leslie always met her lad on the
threshold of his home
WHATS the ihatter?" said Ronald.
Why isn't the gas lighted?"
we haven't paid the rate" said
Maggie in dull voice They've cut
it of"
To do her Justice, she tried hard to
keep reproach out of her voice. Ronald
was good husband, and she was as
proud Of his invention-the great in
yention that was going to do such
wonders-as he was himself. But
when you've two children who want
shelter and food and fire. and when
YOU see money being spent on a life
less. inanimate piece of steel and iron.
when your dress is worn beyond recog
milton, and when your jacket is too
shabby TO so out. how can you help
saying things" then?
Perhaps you won't mind getting
your own tea, said Maggie. There's
some bacon in the cupboard. It's all
I've got"
Ronald kicked CT his boots, and pull
ed chair 20 the fire and looked at the
boy asleep on his wite's knee
What's the matter with Laddie?" he
4 = don't know said Maggie. He's
ieyerish. id take him TO the doctor
+ if ] could
They looked at each other. They
were young. They loved each other
dearly but something had come be-
tween them. It was the thing thar oc-
i ounied the table in the front parlor.
and az which Ronald worked in all
his leisure Ronald was going away
.or the Weekend to see some ship
/ cwner ia Glasgow about his gear. If
he paid the water rate ne wouldn't
have enough for his Journey. and for
/ the twelfth time he told himself that
+ ii was his great chance Maggie plead
ed mntely with him, and pleaded in
4 vain.
The shop is shut tomorrow. ne
SAID, we've got a day on. I'm going
20 Glasgow BY the midnight train
( H.
A woman fought the rebellion in
her heart What was a mans ambi-
T tion to her-of what use the fortune
that might come 70 them some day
when her child lay dyingg Ladaie was
worse. The doctor who had been has
lily summoned had declared it TO be
+ pneumonia. and had said he had been
called in too late
The boy painted on his pillows. eased
only when his mother carried him.
wrapped i'm blankets, up and down the
room. He was dear burden; but he
Was two years old, and Margaret Les
lie was worn with Watching and with
the incessant toll Of her on household
work She sank into a chair and her
eyes held defiance and rejection Of an
accepted lot Margaret was a good wo-
man-rebelli0n did not come easily to
her; prayer broke from her now.
Help me no, to hate him" she muir
INJURED: help me not to blame him for
thisi"
Ronald's visit to GLASGOW had been.
as usual, 3 futile eflort. The ship
owner had accorded him a five minutes
interview. and had told him that his
idea was no good. He had come home
raging against the stupidity Of men
with money The grumhle was an old
one. For once Margaret had met ii
with indifference. almost with disdain.
This idea Of his that he was a gem
nus with an Invention that would revo-
lu3ionize the world Of ships driven by
steam was the curse of their lives.
Ronald Leslie was ne genius. merely
& level headed. plodding man who de-
saised the only ladder that would en-