The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-09-25


missr' exclaimed the girl. looking at
the bed in the inner room, which seem
ed scarcely disturbed.
'No, Theresa, IL couldn't sleep"
Hastily pouring out a cup of tea, she
added: IL must catch that o o'clock
train to Washington. didn't finish
packing until nearly g."
"Can l do anything for you, miss2"
inquired the maid. Shirley was as
popular with the servants as with the
rest of the household.
NO" answered Shirley, "there are
only a few things to go in my suit
case. VIII you please have a cab here
in half an hour?"
The maid was about to go when she
suddenly thought Of something she
had forgotten. She held out an en-
yelope which she had left lying on the
tray.
ooh, miss, Mr.. JOrkins said to give
you this and master wanted to see you
as soon as you had finished your break.
fast"
Shirley tore open the envelope and
took out the contents. 1t was a check,
payable to her order for $1,000 and
signed John Burkett Ryder"
A deep flush covered the girls face
as she saw the money-a flush of an
noyance rather than of pleasure This
man who had insulted her. who had
wronged Der father, who had driven
her from his home, thought he could
81
send her her pay as one settles haughti-
ly with a servant discharged for inn
pertinence. She would have none OF his
money-the work she had done she
would make him a present Of She re-
placed the check In the envelope and
passed it back to Theresa.
GIVE this to Mr.. Ryder and tell him
cannot see him"
But Mr. Ryder said insisted the
girl.
please deliver my message as give
it," commanded Shirley with authority.
II cannot see Mr.. Ryder"
The maid withdrew, but she had
opened again and Mrs. Ryder rushed
in without knocking. She was all fius-
tered with excitement and in such a
hurry that she had not even stopped
to arrange her toilet
my dear Miss Green" she gasped,
whats this I hear-going away sud
denly without giving me warningT
81 wasn't engaged by the month";"
replied Shirley dryly.
81 know, dear, know. I was think
ing of myself. I've grown so used to
you-hOw shall l get on without you?
No one understands me the way you
do. Dear me! The whole house is up
all last night Jefferson is going away,
ne threatens. If he hadn't
come and woke me up to say goodby,
I should never have known you intend
ed to leave us. My boys golng-you're
ones deserving mer'
Mrs. Ryder was not accustomed to
such prolonged flights of oratory, and
she sank exhausted on a chair. her
eyes filling with tears.
Did they tell you who l am-the
Of Judge RossmoreT" de.
Shirley.
1T had been a shock to Mrs. Ryder
that morning when jefferson burst !
into his mothers room before she was
up and acquainted her with the events !
of the previous evening. The news |
that the Miss Green whom she had |
grown to love was really the Miss |
RossmOre of whose relations with JEFF |
ferson her husband stood in such |
dread was far from affecting the |
wife as 1t had Ryder him |
self. To the mothers simple and in
genuous mind, free from prejudice and |
Interior motive, the girls character |
was more important than her name, |
and certainly she could not blame her
son for loving such a woman as Shlr- |
ley. OF course, 1t was unfortunate for |
Jefferson that his father felt this BIT
terness toward Judge Rossmore, for
she herself could hardly have wished
for a more sympathetic daughter-in-
law. She had not seen her husband |
since the previous evening at dinner,
so was in complete ignorance as to
what he thought OF this new develop
ment, but the mother sighed as she
thought how happy 1t would make her
to see Jefferson happily married to the
girl of his own choice, and in her heart
she still entertained the hope that her
husband would see it that way and
thus prevent their son from leaving
them as he threatened.
That's not your fault, my DEAR" she
replied, answering Shirley's question.
You are yourself. that's the main
hing. You mustn't mind what Mr..
Ryder says. Business and worry
make him irritable at times. If you
must go. of course you must; you are
he best judge of that, but Jefferson
wants to see you before you leave"
She kissed Shirley in motherly fashion
md added: "He has told me every
hing, dear. Nothing would make me
happier than to see you become his