The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-12-01

mere was another DTlcI Silence and
finally Lucille, rising as if by sudden
resolution, went to him. She placed
hand ON his shoulder and looked
into his eyes, sincerity evidenced in
her every action.
II don't know what t. say" she fall
tered. II should have told you all
this before, but l was afraid. l see
now that / should have told you, for
it is harder now. | am smarting with
knowledge of my deceit.
But was also afraid. had no one
to advise me but my aunt, and she
told me to say nothing Of my relatives
You never asked me anyhow.
But, Richard" here her voice vi,
brated with her sincerity, her emotion
and her Richard, it was
enough to make me afraid. | loved you
so much-so much, dear, that even
the thought of risking you was tor
ture to me. / would have gone to
far greater extremes to avoid this
risk. l would have deceived you in
more serious things. You can read
me. Sometimes l believed you knew
my every thought. Read me now
Richard, and care for me the same
won't you. l don't dare to think OF
you being angry-I"-
Hush, DEAR" he said, clasping her
to his breast. Its all right. l knew
when | overheard your conversation
why you had not told me-"
Il would not have minded, II they
had not been shiftless," she went on
1T was not false pride, but I did
not want you to know where l came
from. My mother died when was
but a month old and father married
again. When he died l went with
my aunt, his sister. l could not live
with my foster mother and her child
rem any longer. Somehow I could moi
breathe right. You understand what
, I mean.
Il often felt pity for them-I DE-
yet. It was as Tom said, just before
you spoke. There was no chance fol
him or any of the others. He was tr
the ruin a slough of environment
without the strength to pull out. HI
has been here several times before ant
l have given him money, but today
would mott could not"
She led him to a window seat ant
there she continued her story, some
times excusing her relatives for thei1
shortcomings and blaming death, cir
cumstances and conditions for theil
stunted characters, and sometime:
blaming them. She told him how
thankful she was that she had beer
taken "out Of the rut" and that this cir
cumstance led her to him. After sh'
ceased talking he kissed her and the!
both were calm.
That afternoon Tom returned ant
with nim were his mother and hi
younger brothers, one s, the other II
years old. His mother was typically
East Side, and in thus describing hef
her dress, manner and facial evidences
Of life are considered. The boys were
sturdy little chaps, who knew more o
the streets than a home. They wer'
toughened by newsboy life and thu
bumpings of Park Row competition il
newspaper sales.
They had their Thanksgiving dinner
1t was strange one. of course, lacking
in the spirit such :: mt should have
There was little t, and what there
was held no interest. The boys were
shy at first, but finally ate ravenously
One of them, unable to resist the effec
of habit, tried to smuggle napkin in
to his pocket, and Tom kicked hin
under the table. There was wine. ant
Tom, after having two glasses, looked
several times with significance at thu
decanter. The expected invitation TO-
third glass was given. 1t was cole
dinner, figuratively speaking. as coit
as the snow which still sullenly swirl
| ed past the window.
1t seemed an eternity to Lucille an,
it seemed long to everyone there, bu
at last the dinner was finished. Carl
ton took Tom into another room AM
they talked at some length. Whel
they reappeared Toms mother and tn
boys were ready to depart. The,
stammered their thanks and Lucille
kindness uppermost, took most gra
| cious leave of them She whispered t.