Willmar tribune., 1909-03-17
CHAPTER Vlll-Continued.

CHAPTER Vlll-Continued.
There was silence for a minute, and
then the man spoke again.
II tell you there's no use talking
any mare. I've begun the thing, and
I'm going through with it,"
But the danger, Willy, the dan
ger!"
I'm used to danger"
AYE, worse luck, that you are! And
me like to breake me 'eart wi thinkin'
of you O. nights
Then don't think"
"Ah, 'ow can I 'elp it? Me that
carried you in me arms when you was
little babby!"
well, now, will you do what ask,
or won't your
Don't ask it of me, Willy-don't
now"
Il do ask it,
I forgot all honorable scruples
against eavesdropping, and listened
with all my ears. I can only add in
self-defense that I believe any one
else in my place would have done the
same.
He muttered something 1 could not
hear, however, and Mary Anne gave a
stifed sob.
"Oh, you didn't use to be so 'ard!"
she exclaimed. Its she as changed
you. It's 'er fault-with 'er soft 'ands
and 'er ard, crool cart"
Don't you say anything against
Nell. I won't have it"
"Oh, it's allus Nell nowadays. And
what does she care what 'appens to
you, so long as she's safe 'erself? If
only you'd took to the fishing trade,
Willy, and lived respectable 'ow 'appy
we might ave been, and Sarah Cush.
ley ready to marry you if you'd said
the word" -
Sarah Cushley indeed"
Its the bOOks-that's what done it
Many's the time I've been sorry ever
let you go to school. Many's the time
I've wished I'd listened to yer uncle
when e wanted to take you on is
sloop afore the mast. Fur e said good
ard work, with ropes end now and
then, would make man o. you. But
you'd look O. yer father, and you
'ad is fine ways
He interrupted her with an unpleas
ant laugh.
Fine ways, indeed! That's all he
ever gave his son. Don't blame me
for anything, mother-look nearer
home. I'm not saying it was all your
fault. You thought you were mar.
ried."
God knows I did, Willy!"
"You brought me into the world, and
found you were deceived, like many
another fool of girl-and serves
them right, too, for thinking a gentle.
man would marry them.'
"Oh, my boy!"
There was real tragedy in the excla.
aatfon, and I found myself wiping
sway tear, but the mans voice was
as cold as ever.
$50 I started life under a handicap
"a thoroughbred mongrel, made up of
the worst of you and the worst of him.
L
But whose fault was it,"
Mine, Willy, mine."
"Yes, yours. Branded from the be-
ginning with the bar sinister-differ-
ent from other children. Don't I re.
member it all? Growing up with his
aristocratic tastes and your environ
ment; born with the instincts of his
class, which make luxuries necessi-
ties, and no money to crafty them.
And then the cold shoulder every
where -contemptuous pity from his
class, open 7!iicue from yours"
Il sent you away, Willy. l took the
bit of money he gave me and sent you
to the states to school, where yo~
could be gentleman and no questions
asked. And I loved you, darlin'; I al
lus loved you."
You gave me what you could, sup
pose. I'm not blaming you for that.
But you turned me loose with a little
learning and no money! dangerous
combination, mother. So l went to
the bad, preferring short life and a
merry one. Then I met Nell, and was
happy, for she loved me- Don't say
she didn't-she did, tell you: she
does."
And so do I, my boy. Who could
love you like your mother?"
Then, mother, do as tell you,
without any more fuss. Come away
from this place-it gets on my nerves
land give me something to drink, for
l was up all night, and have more
work ahead of me-"
Their voices died away, and sat for
some time longer meditating upon