Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-07-13
CHAPTER XIX.

AT his LdDlG SltS Tie LONbOAs A'AS
head bowed upon his hands Beside
him stands Jack with his hand upon
the old mans shoulder, while Greta is
kneeIi.lg at lis feet, trying to draw
the trembling hands from before his
face.
What is it?" demands Lorrie, pale,
startled. ''Pupsie, are YOU ILL.," ana
She pushes Jack gently on one SIDE
and takes his place. -
"Oh. my children, my poor cnlio-
rent" he means, and his mead siiiAS
lower.
what is it?" says Lorrie, looking
from one to the other imploflngly:
What has happened? Can't either Oh
YOU speak? Pupsie, tell me! WHAT Is
it?'
For a moment there is silence, then
creta draws herself up, and winds
Eer arms lovingly round the ola
mans neck.
Don't give up all hope, dear! See'
here is Jack and Lorrie with you,
dear. dear papa!"
How can l tell them" means the
poor old man. my children and
he raises his head and looks at Cnem
with an awful look of misery. i have
ruined you! Your father, who should
have guarded and succored you mas
robbed youi"
I,orrie's face grows white. Has he
gone mad? is the dreadful thought
that ashes through her mind.
The rector shakes his head, as il ne
read the thought in her eyes.
mo, Lorrie, no. l am sane enough.
1t is quite true, alas! Tell her, Greta
il cannot" and she shrinks back
and covers his face with his hands.
Greta lays her hand upon LorIies.
1--WE are in great trouble, dear,
she says, TREMENDOUSLY. But it is not
Of ourselves we must think, but OF
our dear father"
Eyes. But what is it? 1t can't be
very dreadful! We are all here alive
and well! Papa is not ILL"
"Lorrie, papa has lost all his
money"
I'VE are ruined, and I have done
it"
Ruined! How can we be ruined?
We are poor, know, but-but we
have always been poor.
'Lorrie," says Greta, gently, poor
papa has met with misfortune. He
has-he has been-speculating.
Jacks face grows long and dismal.
vildered
Yes, l who should have guarded
my poor children's money as should
have guarded my own life, have flung
it in the gutter am justly punished,
but my poor children! my poor child
rem" means the rector. Jack, can
you ever forgive me? Lorrie-Oh,
Lorrie, Lolrie, I must have been
mad"
Hush, hushl" murmurs Greta.
But what is it?' says Lorrie. 81
don't understand! Jack, can't you
tell me?"
BE quiet!" he says, and he draws
her on one side and whispers, Father
las been doing something with some
stocks and share, and they have bit
him-they always Go, you know. He
has lost every penny of the money
mother left him, and we are'-he
shrugs his shOulders-''in a bad way"
Ruined, utterly, utterly ruined!
Greta, my child, let them know the
worst. have told you; / cannat go
over il again. lit would kill me"
Yes, papa, l will tell them" says
Greta. soOthingly. 'Lorrie, We shall
have &c leave the rectory, you, and
Jack and l, and-and dc our best in
the world to help poor papa. We shall
be very, very poor for time; but we
must not lose heart Papa Will take
some pupils, and-and we must all
q our best to cheer HIM upI 1t was
done for our good-what he did-and
We love him better than ever, diear!"
Jack draws Lorrie outside.
That isn't the worst of 1t Lorrie,"
he says gloomily. This is an unlim-
tied company father has been going
in for, and he will lose more than he
has got. The bishop will interfere.
and'-he shrugs his shoulders-"Pm
afraid, Lorric, We shall all-the poor
old father as well-have to turn out.
Lorrie sinks on to a chair in the
hall, and sits staring before her. This
second blow has come upon her so
suddenly, so quickly after the first,
that she is too bewildered and be-
pumbed to fully realize it.
And yet through al the numbness
come the words Seymour Melford has
inst spoken:
7 will guard and watch over yours
Il if they were my own-as they
shall be- Think of your father and
Jack and Greta!'
The words were meaningless and
empty in her ears then; but how full
Of significance are they now.
Jack goes up to her, fumbles for
his pipe and lights it, then lays his