Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1909-01-14

~ j" to the curb In front
" III The lawyer did not look
[ o. back, but turned the
nearest corner as if eager to disappear
from sight as quickly as possible.
Closing the door of his smoking
room behind him, David Gable dropped
YEARLY into a chair without removing
his hat or coat. His blood was run
ming cold through his veins, his jaw
was set and his eyes had the appear
ance of one who has been daZed by
blow. For many minutes he sat and
stared at the andirons in the ember lit
CRATE. From time to time he swal-
lowed painfully and his jaw twitched.
Things began growing black and green
before his eyes. He started up, with
an oath.
He was consumed by the fires Of
jealousy and suspicion. The doubt that
had found lodging In his mind SO re-
Gently now became a cruel certainty.
Into his grim heart sprang the rage of
the man who finds himself deceived,
despised, dishonored. He was seeing
with his own eyes, no doubt, just what
others had seen for months-had seen
and had pitied or scorned him as the
unfortunate dupe. With the thought
of it he actually ground his teeth; tears
Of rage and modification sprang to his
eyes. He recalled his own feelings in
instances where shame had fallen upon
other men; he recalled his own easy
indifference and the temptation to
laugh at the plight Of the poor devils.
1t had never entered his mind that
some day he might be the object Of
like consideration In others more
or less fortunate, according to their
friends.
BY the time dinner was announced
he had succeeded In restoring himself
to state of comparative calmness. He
did not dress for dinner, as was his
custom, nor did he stop to ask Frances
Cable If she were ready to go down.
He heard Jane playing the piano as
he descended. She nodded to him, but
did not stop, and he paused near the
fireplace to look at her strangely. Some
where back in his brain there was
struggling. unknown to him, the old
time thought that this child bore him
no likeness whatsoever. He only knew
he was crushing down the fear that
evil or SANDER or pain might come to
her If he were rash, yet just. He was
wondering If he could face his wife
without betraying himself.
Jane played softly, lifelessly. She.
on the other hand, was wondering
what Graydon would think or say IL
she spoke to him of what she had
seen. She wondered If he would blame
her mother as she was beginning to
blame his father.
Mother won't be down to dinner"
she finally said
as she MP he asked after a mo-
ment
''She is lying down. Margaret will
take some tea up to her."
Father and daughter had but little
to say to each other during the meal.
Their efforts at conversation were per
functory, commonplace. an unusual
state of affairs, of which neither took
notice.
You look tired, father. Has 1t been
q hard dayT'
"A rather trying one, Jane. We're
having some trouble with the bliz-
yards out west. Tying up everything
that we are rushing to the Philip
pines"
rs 1t settled that you are to he made
PRESIDENT
ut looks like It," There followed a
long silence. by the way, have good
news for you. Mr.. Clegg told me today
that they are going to take Graydon
into the firm. Isn't 1t great? Really. 1t
is quite remarkable. You are not the
only person, It seems, who thinks lot
Of that boy"
"A partner Reallyr Oh, isn't 1t glo-
rious? l knew he could-I told him
he'd be a partner before long" She
waited a moment and then added,
His father was here today for a cup
Of tea" Cable caught the slightly al
tered tone and looked up. She was
trifiing with her fork. palpably preoc-
cupied.
'T'm-rm sorry I missed him." said
he. watching her closely.
"You like him very much. don't you.
fatherr'
Certainly. and I'm sure your moth
or does" The fork shook In her fingers
and then dropped upon the plate. She
looked up In cenfusion. Cables syss
were bsnt upon her intsatiy. and phs
had never seea % queer rgAt n
them. Scarcely more than ~ fraet1on
q . second $1,000 before hs i0wsssd
hh sase. BIT ~ uysasstsn tnseUa-
~ e - MID ~ 49, - $4,000