Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24
Luck of the House of Ford
Continued from page s

if deliciously conscious that they two were
alone and adrift in that ocean of moonlight
"Yes!" said she encouragingly. TEL me
what is she ike?"
"She is like youth looks" He gave curt
laugh. But not at all like Cyrus sideways
Now there was frank scorn of her in the look
he bent upon her. Il know you wouldn't
have me; but please note that | would not
have you. How it angers me to look at you'll
You painted shell! / was in love with you for
a whole week last October. Then found you
out"
She was smiling with mockery, but could not
altogether hide that he had hurt her, as only
the truth has power to hurt. "Am l really a
fraud?" inquired she.
Worse. You're a-a-"
"Say It'll"
"a coward!"
She WINGED, and hid in the shadow again.
The train rushed several miles through that
mellow, misty landscape before she spoke.
How did you find that out? 1 thought no
one knew"
He shrugged his shoulders. "What does it
matter?"
Tell me. I ought to know"
1t was when you hesitated a month, then
wore the Jewels your father bought you with
the money he took from that insurance COM
pany."
81 knew it." she said under her breath.
81 was in love, but suspicious and expert
enced. And the first time you wore them
1t was in your face. You didn't look lovely
to me that night. You haven't looked lovely
since until tonight"
She hid her face. Sam" she confessed in
muff1ed voice, 81 have never been able to
meet my own eyes in the glass since. l know
how"
DO interrupt"
They both startled, and she stood up as
Ford's voice. calm but icy, came from the
opened door behind them. He took a small,
thin jeweled case from pocket in his dinner
coat.
Give me one, old man." said Sam.
"Will your" Steve extended his case toward
Anne, who was eying him soberly.
Thanks. no." said she. I'm off to bed"
And she flashed through the door and was gone.
At dawn the express dropped Ford's car be-
fore lonely, dreary mine station in the Blue
Ridge. Steve was up at once. As he came
out to breakfast he was astonished to find
Anne Sulloway her coffee before her, her gaze
rowing from the desolation wrought by man
near at hand to the grandeur of untouched
nature beyond. IT, great masses of fog, as
yet but family lighted by the morning sun.
seemed the past nights secrets of mystery and
terror. They were rolling sullenly from peak
to peak. were swaying uneasily in the valleys.
like the shrouds of monsters struggling to rise
from the grave and roam and ravage the earth.
Anne shuddered.
1t is little bit cold" said Ford sympathetic
cally.
She seemed not to have heard. so this is
Marysville?" she asked.
Ford flushed, replied apologetically, "Melan-
choly, isn't it? Pity we capitalists have to
make such mess in developing the resources
of the country"
"Why Marysville?" pursued Anne, still abb
sently. WHO was Mary?"
Ford Redeemed to the edge of his carefully
groomed hair. "My-mother," stammered he
Father named the place for her when he
opened the mines"
Anne made no comment: but Ford knew she
must be thinking how coarse an imagination
named that sore upon the fair face of the
earth. Father felt he was doing noble work
in developing this region and giving SO many
people the opportunity to live He thought
his enterprise worthy to bear mothers name"
This was said unconvinciugly; he was afraid
Anne might know something of the history of
the Selling of those lands and the reduction of
the people to serfdom.
In came Persall with "Gad, Steve! that's
good stockade your father built up there He
knew how to deal with labor troubles. If we
had more men with his nerve, the laboring
class would have some respect and gratitude"
Anne turned interested eyes on the glisten-
ing white walls from which the sun had just
stripped the wells of mist, els it stockade?"
she asked. "Why?"
Because most people don't know when
they're well off," replied Steve, restrained irri-
tation in his voice. Its not for protection
against our laborers, but against their igno-
rance. It's really for their benefit
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