The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-06-09
Obe
UNNECESSARY SACRIFICE
By Marion Porter.

one arm and tugged at her purse for
her latchkey. 1t was only then that
che saw that the front door was al
ready ajar and marvelled greatly
thereat. Could it be possible that
Fred had come home so early? He
didn't get an hour of very often.
Could he be sick? The last thought
frightened Molly so much that she
slipped into the front hall as quietly
as though II had already assumed real
lity. Fred did not sound sick, though
and he was evidently not alone.
'T only did what did to save you
from being the good-for-nothing you
promised to be-" said a strange voice;
an old, sharp voice. Il should think
by the appearance that I'd partially
accomplished my end"
you're wrong" Fred said very
quietly. 1T took someone else to do
that" There seemed to be an elo-
Quent silence. Then Fred spoke
again
"Sit down." he said. Wen agree
to bear each other no i'll will IL you
want to-"
Erred, you've struck it." said the
other voice eagerly. 81 tell you l did
what did for the best. | may have
been wrong-and now | want you
back. It's hard thing for an old
man not to have his son to gladden.
his old age. want you to come home.
I've crossed the water to look you
UP myself and tell you. Will you
come back with me?"
Fred was silent again for moment.
Things have changed for me in
more ways than one since We parted"
have to ask what my wife thinks Of
your proposition"
Married." echoed the voice, this
time in dismay.
at was like this sad Fred. After
that title scrape of mine which led you
TO turn me out, / drifted over here in
search of adventure and change.
hadn't had a great deal of discipline
you know, father, you always in
dulged me in every way, until that
time when I displeased you-and
was pretty wild. wasted what
money | had. | wasn't prepared for
any work and l idled my time away
got shabby and little ragged-your
son ragged, father-and sometimes
was hungry. And then got to think
ing didn't amount to anything any
5way and lost what ambition had. /
don't know what would have become
Of me If, one day as l was sprawling
on bench in strip of parkway near
here, girl hadn't seen me and taken
pity on me. She knew l was hungry
and she shared little lunch that
would have been pretty scant for her.
self. And then she told me how she
worked in a dry goods store, early and
late, to take care of herself. She told
me to brace up and try. And some
how. when l saw the brave little thing
and heard her talk, got courage to
put my pride in my pocket and go
look for honest work. And | got II and
by hard labor bettered myself little
by little until was making enough
money to take care of two. Then l
made her leave the store and hired
this little place and she and | started
life together. That's all. What's the
matter?"
Some provision can be made" gasp
cd the voice, "a girl from q store your
wife! Something must be done. We
must settle with money"
None of that" Fred said. sternly.
Don't ever say thing like that in
connection with her again"
Someone rose hurriedly. You must
give her up or I'm through with you.
You'll never get penny of my money.
The old place will go to my nephews.
Think 1t over, Fred. I'm going now.
When you get your senses back and
can come and tell me that you will
make some arrangement, I'll see you
again, not before"
He was evidently about to come out
OF the room. In panic, Molly drop
ped the bundles confesedly. and fed.
She did not know where to 60. but she
walked rapidly, her mind in wbirl.
She saw everything at once now. Why
had she never suspected, when she
had admired Fred's handsome per-
son and his gay gallant ways. 50 DIFF
ferent from those OF the men she had
met. that he belonged to different
class than she represented? Why had
she ever let him marry her? Her one
collected thought at last was that on
no account would she hold him down.
She must get away somewhere--some-
where that he would not think to look
and keep herself there until ne ceased
to feel any obligation to her.
"Of course he'd stay with me-" she
thought proudly. "He wouldn't be the
Fred love and am SO proud OF. II he
wasn't as loyal as he could be. But
won't let him sacrifice himself"
The thought that she had no money
to make 9 journey did not trouble her
Already she had formed plan OF 90.
ing to New York; she had some rela'
tiyes there Of whom she was sure
pred knew nothing. She could get the
little money required for the trip from
come friends ct the other sid6 Of the
city. she took her way toward their
house, stu revolving her trouble IN
her mind. II secmed long time
before sho reached the house and then
10 her fear and disappointment, there
was NO one II home.