The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-12-17

| I@kNI room. Harry's breath
| !" .W caught in his throat,
| l and the old mans eye
again impaled the hap
less son. Hugh threw up his head
with an attempt at jauntiness, but
with furtive apprehension in every
muscle, for he could not solve the look
he saw on his fathers face, and said:
"You act as If it were cool million.
I'm no worse than lot who have bet
ter luck than l. Suppose l did draw
the five thousand. You were going to
give me ten for wedding present. l
had to have the money then. and you
wouldn't have given it to me. You
know that as we'll as do. Besides. l
was going to take it up myself. and
you would never have been the wiser.
He promised to hold it. It's low
trick for him to round on me like this.
Ill pay him off for it some time.
don't see that it's anybody elses BUSH
ness but ours anyway" he continued,
with a surly glance at Harry.
Harry had been staring at him, but
with vision turned curiously back
ward-a vision that seemed to see
Hugh standing at carpeted dais in a
flower hung room. while his own voice
said out of lurid shadow, "Wilt thou
have this man to be thy welded hus-
band''-
"Stay, Sanderson," said the old man;
then turning to Hugh, "Who advanced
you money on this and promised to
hold tip"
CDR. Moreau."
"He pro6ted by it?''
HE got his Margin" said Hugh sui
lenly.
"How much margin did he get?"
"A thousand"
"Where is the restY' David Stires'
voice was like whip of steel.
Hugh hesitated a moment. He had
still few hundreds in pocket, but he
did not mention them.
II used most of it. I-had q few
debts"
debts of honor, presume?"
Hugh's sensibility quivered at the
fierce, grating irony Of the inquiry.
IF you'd been more decent with
spending money" he said with a flare
Of the old effrontery, I'D have been
all right! Ever since l came home
you've kept me strapped. was
ashamed to stick up any more of my
friends. And Of course I couldn't bor-
row from Jessica?"
ASHAMED" exclaimed the old man
with harsh sternness. you are with
out the decency of shame! II you were
capable Of feeling it you would not
mention her name now!'
Hugh thought he saw a glimmer
through the storm cloud. sJessicaswas
his anchor to windward. What hurt
him would hurt her. He would pull
through!
"Well." he said, Its done, and
there's no good making such a row
about it. She's my wife and she'll
stand by me. if nobody else does!'
No one had ever seen such a look on
David Stires' face as came to it now
sudden blaze Of fury and righteous
scorn that burned it like a brand.
'You impudent blackguard! You
drag my name in the gutter and then
try to trade on my self respect and
Jessica's affection. You thought you
would take it up yourself and would
be none the wiser! And if did find
it out you counted on my love for the
poor, deluded girl you have married
to make me condone your criminality.
to perjure myself, to admit the sig
nature and shield you from the conse-
quences. You imagine because you
are my son that you can do this thing
and all still go on as before. Do you
suppose don't consider Jessica? Do
you think because you have fooled and
cheated her and me and married her
that will give her now to a caught
thief, common jailbird?'
In the thoughts that were darling
through Hugh's mind there was none
now Of regret or of pity for Jessica.
His fear was the fear of the trapped
spoiler who discerns capture and its
consequent penalties in the patrolling
bullseye flashed upon him. He studied
his father with hunted, calculating
eyes as the old man turned to Harry
Sanderson.
"Sanderson," said David Stres once
more in his even, deadly voice, "Jessi-
ca is waiting in the room above this.
She will not understand the delay.
Will you go to her? Make some ex-
cuse-any you can think of-till l
come"
Harry nodded and left the room,
shutting the door carefully behind
him, carrying with him the covering,
helpless look with which Hugh saw
himself left alone with his implacable
Judge. What to say to her? How to
say It. He mounted the stair as il a
pack swung from his shoulders. He