The Washington herald., 1909-06-27

whore. 20 make her more comfortable
'Ill do all can" Mrs Sp-ague an
swered. I've made her some chicken
soup and jelly. and tried 20 tempt her
appetite a little. But Il isn't food nor
yet fire that she wants. Mr. Travis"
Then she went out OF the room-his
supper had been laid in the parlOr-and
left him % himself.
Il was partly uneasiness about her that
drove Richard Travis ont Of the house. II
seemed impossible 70 let her 20 alone or,
rather 20 leave her here the next day
for his train 10 the East left before hers
TO the West-without settling something
II she had had a home 10 90 back 70,
some one 20 take care Of her on the Jour
ney. Il would have been easier. he made
Up his mind that he must see her IN the
morning and find out just what the situa-
ton was IN her home. All he knew was
that II had been unhappy. She seemed
quite resigned 10 going back But just
now he saw she did not care where she
went nor what became Of her. She was
crushed by her misfortune. Perhaps she
had really cared very much for George
This somehow had not occurred 70 him
( before. and he felt more kindly toward
her and more sOlicitous about her. After
all, In any case her situation was a hard
one.
lie was a man who could not bear the
idea Of a just claim upon him resting IN
satisfied But. strong as was his sense Of
responsibility. his emotions were strong
er- Both had rather a narrow range he
cared for and felt responsible for only
those beings who We're directly connected
with himself, who were extensions OF his
powerful egOtism But a claim upon him
for feeling which he could not satisfy
was torment TO him. He was more than
willing TO open his purse to any just de-
mand or appeal: TO give his time his
personal help. when necessary. But he
could not give his affection on demand
he could not pretend to Ysabel that hs
cared about her personally. He had be-
gun with a prejudice against her, and
prejudice died hard in him. Yet her for
lorn situation made him extremely IN
comfortable. II irritated him 10 be dis
turbed IN this way He wanted 10 De
alone with his dead Now that all inter
est was gone out OF lie for him, II waz
hard to have practical cares for an In
different person thrust upon him.
he could not feel that Ysabel was IN
any way connected with him. He could
hardly realize her connection with George
George had written very little about her.
and this with the curious constraint that
had always marked his relations with his
father. II was as though he counted IN
advance on his fathers dlsapproval OF
anything he did Thus Ysabel had not
figured in the old mans mind at all, ex-
cept as an embodied disappointment He
had wanted to get her out OF his mind as
speedily as possible. And now he was
aware that this could not be done COM
Dietelv He had no desire 70 think ~ hsr
as a member OF his family-but after all
she was. she bore the name.
And to what end wOuld she bear Il?
helpless as she was. left 10 herself? How
would George feel this II he could know
Now. as another idea occurred 10 him.
for the first time with any real fcrce, he
stopped short. staring before him into the
darkness. She, Georges wife was to bear
. child. who also would have the name
who would be OF his family. his blood.
and the only representative left OF the
direct line OF the Travises when he him
self was gone Ysabel herself hardly
counted. but this child was Georges. was
his. II struck him with almost
stunning force, and for the first moments
the thought was all pain. II was not
thus that his grandchlld. the future of
the family. should be born-of q mother,
as IL were, unrecognized, IN mean cir
cumstances, and with the probable handi-
cap OF its fathers weak health Il would
have been better that Il should not be
born, he thought And then. in spite OF
reason. instinct surged up mighty within
him and denied this. and he felt strange
glow kindling in his heart Georges
child. George had not gone completely