The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-10-02

MOlnef SdlO she ndu put every luluB
right" he began. 81 guess she was
mistaken"
"Your mother does not understand,
neither do you" she replied seriously.
Nothing can be put right until my
father is restored to honor and posi-
ton"
But why should you punish me be-
cause my father fails to regard the
matter as we do?' demanded Jeffer-
son rebelliOusly.
"Why should l punish myself-why
should we punish those nearest and
dearest2" answered Shirley gently.
1.-THE victims of human injustice al
ways suffer where their loved ones
are tortured. Why are things as they
are? l don't know. know they
are-that's all"
The young man strobe nervously up
and down the room, while she gazed
listlessly out of the window, looking
for the cab that was to carry her
away from this house Of disappoint-
ment. He pleaded with her:
II have tried hOnOrably and failed
You have tried honorably and failed
Isn't the sting of impotent failure
enough to meet without striving
against a hopeless lover He ap-
preached her and said softly: 81 love
you, Shirley-don't drive me to des-
peration. Must l he punished because
you have failed2 It's unfair. The
sins of the fathers should not be visit
ed upon the children"
"But they are-its the law" said
Shirley, with resignation.
1.-THE lawY he echoed.
Eyes, the law" insisted the GIRL
'man's law, not Gods, the same IN
just law that Furnishes my father
mans law which is put into the hands
of the powerful of the earth to strike
at the weak"
She sank into chair and, covering
up her face, wept bitterly. Between
her sObs she cried brOkenly:
II believed i'm the power of love to
soften your fathers heart, l believed
that with Gods help could bring him
to see the truth. | believed that truth
and love would make him see the light,
but it hasn't. | stayed on and on, hop
ing against hope until the time has
gone by and it's too late to save him
too late! What can ! do now? My go
ing TO Washington is a forlorn hope, a
last, miserable, forlOrn hope, and in
this hour, the darkest Of all, you ask
me to think Of myself-my love, your
love, your happiness, your future, my
Al .
selfshnessT
jefferson kneeled down beside the
chair and. taking her hand in his. tried
to reason with her and comfort her.
Listen, Shirley" he said; do not do
something you will surely regret. You
are furnishing me not only because
have failed, but because you have fail
ed too. It seems to me that if you be-
lieved il possible to accomplish so
much, if you had 50 much faith-that
you have lost your faith rather quickly.
l believed in nothing. | had no faith.
and vet I have not lost hope"
She shook her head and gently with
drew her hand.
1T is useless to insist, Jefferson.
our lves-yOurs and mine-must lie
apart"
Some one cOughed, and, startled, they
both looked up. Mr. Ryder had entered
the room unobserved and stood watch
ing them. Shirley Immediately rose to
her feet indignant, resenting this In
trusion on her privacy after she had
declined to receive the fnancier. Yet,
she reflected quickly, how could she
prevent IL? He was at home, free to
come and go as he pleased, but she
was not compelled to remain in the
same room with him. She picked up
the few things that lay about and, with
treated into the inner apartment, leav-
ing father and son alone together.
Hum" grunted Ryder senior. II
rather thought | should find you here,
but didn't quite expect to find you on
your knees-dragging our pride in the
mud"
That's where our pride ought to be-"
retorted Jefferson savageIy. He felt in
the humor to say anything, no matter
what the consequences.
$50 she has refused you again, EN-"
said Ryder senior with a grin.
Yes" rejolned Jefferson, with grow
ing irritation. "She objects to my
family. | don't blame her"
The financier smiled grlmly as he an
swered:
Your family i'm general-me in par
ticular Ell? l CLEANED that much when
/ came in" lie looked toward the door
OF the room In which Shirley had taken
refuge, and, as II talking to himself, he
added: "A curious girl with an invert-
ed point Of view; sees everything diff
ferent to others. I want to see her be-
fore she goes"
He walked over to the door and rails
ed his hand as If he were about to
knock. Then he stopped as If he had
changed his mind, and, turning toward
his son, he demanded:
"DO you mean to say that she has