The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1910-07-30
Ole
UNNECESSARY SACRIFICE
By Marion Porter.


her own front door. BY great e1-
fort she shifted her burdens in to
one arm and tugged at her purse for
her latchkey. 1t was only then that
she 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 off very often.
Could he be sick? The last thought
frightened Molly so much that she
slipped into the front hall as quietly
as though it had already assumed real
lily. Fred did not sound sick, though
and he was evidently not alone.
81 only did what | did to save you
from being the good-for-nothing you
promised to be-" said 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 We'll agree
to bear each other no i'll will if you
want to-"
Fired, you've struck it," said the
other voice eagerly. Il tell you | did
what | did for the best. | may have
been wrong-and now l 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"
he said. I'm married, father. I'd
have to ask what my wife thinks OF
your proposition"
Married." echoed the voice, this
time in dismay.
1T was like this sad Fred After
that little scrape OF mine which led you
to turn me out, drifted over here in
search of adventure and change l
hadn't had great deal OF discipline
you know, father, you always in
dulged me in every way, until that
time when l displeased you--and
was pretty wild. wasted what
money | had. | wasn't prepared for
any work and idled my time away.
I got shabby and a little ragged-your
son ragged, father-and sometimes
was hungry. And then l got to think
ing didn't amount to anything any
way and lost what ambition I had.
don't know what would have become
Of me If, one day as l was spraying
on a 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 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 it and
by hard labor I bettered myself little
by little until l was making enough
money to take care Of two. Then |
made her leave the store and l hired
this little place and she and started
life together. That's all. What's the
matter?"
"Some provision can be made gasp
ed the voice, "a girl from 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 a panic, Molly drop
ped the bundles confesedly, and fled.
She did not know where to go, but she
walked rapidly, her mind in whirl.
She saw everything at once now. Why
had she never suspected, when she
had admired Fred's handsome per.