The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-04-03
b Drenton
Out
- MARTHA McU1LocH.wuIIAMs
(Copyright.)

Dental. The hollyhocks arrow along
the edge of the porch added a sense
of seclusion. They were tall and
lush and branchy enough to screen
the whole porch space throughout the
pleasant weather. People wondered
not little that the Greers did not
plant vines instead-vines were so
much more graceful and lasting; then,
too. since everybody had them, they
must be the right thing.
DrentoA was sick of right things;
therefore. to see the hollyhocks. at
their best In q blaze Of midsummer
sunshine, was to resolve that be would
live with them for the next fortnight
at least He turned in through the
sagging green gate with the free step
of assured welcome. It did not In
the least ast0nish him to have some
one say from out the hollyhock am
bush: Come in, though l don't be-
lieve you can have any business
here"
"You are mistaken" Drenton said.
smiling family. Settling oneself Is
always 4 fearful business. You'll help
me? Oh, I know you don't take board
eB-there IL no look Of boarders. not
the least-but you'll let me stay3"
II can't tell until Mary sees you.
She's away-won't be back for an
hour" the voice replied. 1t was a
mans voice, high-pitched and weak.
yet not unpleasant. Pesring within
the leafy shade Drenton saw . wheel.
chair heaped with pillows. among
which there sat 4 drawn figure, pitt
fully distorted. But the mans face
was ~fresh-colored. almost handsome.
and . little tanned. He held out a
knotted hand to Drenton, Al he added:
II sha'n't w . word. Shed let you
stay II she thought I wanted You even
the least bit. l should like to have
you-yOu. look new and strange.
Strangers are precious when you've
been fast in one spot for IL years"
Denton shivered. yet shook the
crippled hand warmly and sat down
facing the w~heel-chair. Il sha'nt
make trouble for-Mary." he said,
smiling, yet gulping q little over the
name. "Tell me about her-and
yourself-bsfore she comes. Then
shall know better II l ought to asl
shelter here. I want to stay badly
and yet-"
There 10 little to tell-now. Once
thought there was . great DEAL
the man, william Greer, said, sigh
ing family. That was before I un
derstood-whsn l was ready. almost
to curse God and die. You see. I mar
ried Mary partly because l was q
sorry for her. She had had hard lines
taking care Of two on IN income no
half big enough for one. 1t was he
stepmother she took care Of. and tn
woman hadn't been overly kind. Blu
she had nobody else. % whom the hua
band died, just after she fell III. Mar!
stayed by her - though 1t
thing Of course. How she did It nc
body Knows. There was only tn
house. and two hundred . year iron
Maya mother. The stepmother va
live years dying. and Mary somehov
saved enough to bury her. But tn
strain told on her; she vas faded an
ocrawny-looked nearer 50 than 81
We we're Just Of IN age. and !, tor
had been taking carr Of people II
stead Of looking out for myself. The
were. my own peopls-brothers. III
teri. and grandmother. Granny willie
the farm to the other boys, and wha
money she had 10 the girlsE'becaus
my dear grandson William 10 % We
able to take o r Of himself Tn
Others thought the will very Jus
Naybe I'd looked for something . littl
di1erent. Anyway. l married Mar!
almost out OF hand. And the yer
NEXT week came rheumatic fever-t
leave me a. You re me-"
And Nary" Drenton breathe
rather than spoke.
Greer smiled wanly. yet with .
f1lumined look. MARY didn't con
plain-then nor ever I had = trih
Or money saved-enough to buy TIL
place. Her old home had gone to p
some q her fathers debts a DON I
It No. free Of the dover RICH
There's . bit Of ground bshind-it
baen oar salvation. She plants thjnl
there, and kepes me out in the IN
shine while she 10 tending them"
"YQu look to her for-verything'
Drentun asked.
0rssr smiled again. There's new,
any question Of looking to betwee
o." 10 eaid. AT hrst-for . who
month-I prayed to die. Say. rathe
I fought to die-the idea Of . man II
ine On and ON. . clog and burden
tho woman he had married"
y" understand" Drenton Int
ruptsA "Dsath, whatever may con
SITTER, must be Joy beside that"
~Masy must talk to you-why. 70
der she comes!" Greer said. his. 81
lighting vividly. A tallish woma
sunbuSned and slightly stopped. hr
Yied along the path.
Drenton rose, holding ont his hal
To- her; he dared not raise his eyes
sAN4NA- 49, --~ So. -~- A. q