Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-01-22


And-wnen you come to think Of
it-wouldn't it be better to be
friends?"
Fer YOU" said Miss FerriDg CHAM,
with a spice of malice.
Montfort sat silent. He had swift
brief vision of Archie as he used to
be before a dramatic passion for the
star who had dazzled his father had
put a new, unnatural enmity between
them-Archie as a little boy in a
white suit, with a toy cricket bat in
his hand; Archie, who always looked
upon him as his best friend-until
now. And the vision hurt.
He looked quietly across at the
beautiful woman slipping her tea with
a fine air Of unconcern.
You mean you can separate us"
There was a sudden hard sound IN
his voice. Miss Ferringham had, per-
haps, heard it before. She nodded
silently.
81 know that. Well, you must do
it."
you mean-if I've the heart" Miss
Ferringham said softly.
Its a question of-heart?" he ask
ed. In the light of his former knoWt
edge Of the lady it hardly seemed
possible. ''Why, he's a boy!" he cried,
with monent airy evaporation. Hes
young enough to be your
'My-son!'' said Miss Ferringham.
"Oh-I suppose he is. But is it quite
pretty of you to say so? In my pro-
fessiCn"-she spoke a little bitterly
its so difficult to grow old. Our
youth means so much to US. The
stage wasn't made for old women.
And you tell me I'm old enough to
be Archie's mother?'
I'm old enough myself" he point
ed cut, TO be Arches father l
have Cutgrown a boyish fancy for
debutantes-if l ever had one. You
and Archie can't have two ideas in
common"
We've one" she said. "Archie
loves me. And +"
She stopped. Not in any embarrass-
ment-he felt that. Rather in pass
ing uncertainty as to the word she
wished to use
You don't-you can't-love him,
Montfort said gravely.
She looked up at him. Her fatC
was moved and softened.
4 love his love for me" she said.
Its a passing fancy-I know that.
It's foolish know that, too. And
you've just told me what 1 knew be-
fore-that I'm old enough to be his
mother. But he loves me-and I've
done without that sort Of love so
long. 1 love him for caring about
me in the kind Of way l haven't found
since you"
She was silent. For a moment
Montfort was silent. too.
I'm too old for him." she went on.
Il know tive known it all the time.
But it's temptation, and I'm not
strong enough to send him away.
listened to the-the voice of rea son
once; but it's too much to expect me
to do that again. But you needn't
be afraid for him. I'll make him hap.
py-Tll practice all the arts Of il
lusicn And he hasn't your brains
you know" she ended
You're marrying him." Montfort
said, because you didn't marry me?"
I'm marrying him." Miss Ferring-
ham said frankly, because he's the
next best thing to you I've met.
Yes"
There was a long silence. And
then Montfort put down his teacup.
Flo" he said, there's a chance for
him still-the last chance. You
might marry-some one else. Som,
one who listened to the voice of rea
son-and is deuced sorry for it,
Some one?" she wondered, with
the ghost of a smile. The last chance?
Archie's last chance or. yours?"
'Mine," said Montfort. Let him
go-he'H get over it. In six months
time he'll thank us for saving him
from himself. But if we miss this
our last chance is gone, as well as
his"
after ALL" said Miss Ferringham
moment later, ''it's not my fault
that I'm old enough to be his
"Stepmother," ended Montfort prompt
j ly.-From the New York Evening
! Journal.
As 70 ArpIes