Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-01-07
CHAPTER vlll-continued.

CHAPTER Vlii-continued
There was silence for a minute, and
then the man spoke again.
Il tell you there's no use talking
any more. I've begun the thing. and
I'm going through with it,"
But the danger, Willy, the dan
CERT"
I'm used to danger"
AYE, worse luck, that you are And
me like to breake me cart wi thinkin'
of You O. nights"
",rhen don't think"
"Ah, 'ow can 'elp it,, Me that
carried you in me arms when you was
little babby!"
We'll, now, will you do what ask,
or won't you?"
Don't ask it of me, Willy-don't
now
Il do ask it,
/ forgot all honorable scruples
against housekeeping, and listened
with all my ears. / can only add in
self-defense that believe any one
else in my place would have done the
same.
He muttered something l could not
hear, however, and Mary Anne gave a
stihed sob.
"Oh, you didn't use to be so 'ard!"
she exclaimed. IT'S she as changed
you. It's 'er fasllt-with 'er soft 'ands
and 'er ard, crool cart"
Don't you say anything against
Nell. 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 Lever
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 a ropes end now and
then, would make man O you. But
you'd a 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 did, Willy!"
You brought me into the world, and
found you were deceived, like many
another fool of girl-nnd serves
them right, too, for thinking a gentle.
man would marry them"
"Oh, my boy!"
There was real tragedy IL the excla
nation, and / found myself wiping
away tear, but the mans voice was
as cold as ever.
$50 l started life under handicap
Ia thoroughbred mongrel, made up OF
the worst of you and the worst of him
And l turned out bad lot, didn't /!
But whose fault was it?"
Mine, willy, mine.
Eyes, yours. Branded from the be
ginning with the bar sinister-differ
ent from other children. Don't re
member it all? Growing up with his
aristocratic tastes and your environ
ment; born with the instincts OF his
class, which make Injuries necessi
ties, and no money to crafty them
And then the cold shoulder every
-contemptuous pity from his
class, open ridicule 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 YOU
could be gentleman and no questions
asked. And loved you, 1arlin'; 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-a dangerou:
combination, mother. So ] went tC
the bad, preferring short life and {
merry one. Then 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 coult
love you like your mother?"
Then, mother, do as | tell you
without any more fuss Come ava,
from this place--it gets on my nerves
and give me something to drink, 70,
I was up all night, and have mora
work ahead Of me-"
Their voices died away, and sat fol
some time longer meditating upor