Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-07-14
CHAPTER XIX.

PUSHES after Greta into the study.
At bis table sits the rector, his
head bowed upon his hands, Beside
him stands Jack with his hand upon
the old mans shoulder, while Greta is
kneelrlg at lis feet, trying to draw
the trembling hands from before his
face.
What is it?" demands LOrrie, pale,
startled. "Pupsie, are you ill?' and
she pushes Jack gently OF one side
and takes his place.
ooh, my children, my poor child
rem" be means, and his head sinks
lower.
what is it?" says Lorrie, looking
from ore to the other imploringly.
What has happened? Can't either OF
you speak? Pupsie, tell ne. What is
it?' :t. =" :"
For a moment there is silence, then
Creta draws herself up, and winds
Ter arms lovingly round the OLD
mans neck.
Tell her, DEAR she whispers.
Don't give up all hope, dear! See,
here is Jack and Lorrie with you,
dear, dear papa!"
How can / tell them means the
poor old man. "My children" and
he raises his head and looks at them
with an awful look of misery. i have
ruined you. Your father who should
have guarded and succored you, has
robbed you!"
Lorrie's face grows white. Has he
gone mad? is the dreadful thought
that ashes through her mind.
The rector shakes lis head, as if he
read the thought in her eyes.
"No, Lorrie, no. 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 Lorrie's.
1--WE are in great trouble, dear"
she Says, TREMENDOUSLY. But it is not
of ourselves we must think, but of
our dear father"
Yes. But what is it? 1t can't be
very dreadful! We are all here alive
and we'll! Papa is not ILL.,"
"Lorrie, papa has lost all his
money"
I'VE are ruined, and / have done
tt"
Ruined! How can we be ruined?
We are poor, l know, but-but we
have always been poor"
"Lorrie," says Greta, gently, poor
OF
has-he has been-speculating.
Jacks face grows long and dismal.
Specializing" echoes Lorrie, be-
Wildered,
Yes, who should have guarded
my poor children's money as / should
have guarded my own life, have flung
il in the gutter! | ann justly punished.
but my poor children! my poor child
rem" means the rector. Jack, can
you ever forgive me? Lorrie-Oh,
Lorrie, Lorrie, l must have been
mad"
Hush, hush!" murmurs Greta.
But what is it?' says Lorrie. &
| don't understands! Jack, can't you
tell me?"
BE quiet" he says, and he draws
her on one side and whispers, Father
has been doing something with some
stocks and share, and they have bit
him-they always co, you know. He
has lost every penny of the money
mother left him, and we are"-he
shrugs his shouders-'in bad way"
Ruined, utterly, utterly ruined!
Greta, my child, let them know the
worst. l have told you; cannat go
over ii again. It'll would kill me-"
Yes, papa, l will tell Them" says
Greta, soothingly. "Lorrie, We shall
have tC leave the rectory, you, and
Jack ard I, anG--and dc our best in
the world to help poor papa. We shall
be very, very poor for a time; but we
must not lose heart. Papa Will take
some pupils, and-and We must all
CO our best to cheer HIM up! 1t was
done for our good-what he did-and
We love him better than ever, dear!"
Jack draws Lorrie outside.
That isn't the worst of ii Lorrie,"
AZ soy SAOoi1ilIN. lltS
tied company father has been going
in for, and he will lose more than he
he's got. The bishop will interfere.
and'-he shrugs his shoulders-"Im
afraid, Lorric, We shall all-the poor
old father as well-have to turn out"
Lorrie sinks On to 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-
numbed to fully realize it.
And yet through al the numbness
come the words Seymour Melford has
inst spoken:
II will guard and watch over yours
~ if they were my own-as they
snail be! Think of your father and
Jack and Greta.'
The words were meaningless and
empty in her ears then; but how full
CT significance are they now.
Jack goes up to her, fumbles for