Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-03-11
PAID IN
FULL
Novelized From Eugene
Walters Great Play
JOHN ". HARDING
CHAPTER XIII.
c.,,,,las ,,ss. y 6. Y. D,,l,.sA.~ c..

this and that, met them In his old
genial way, saw them Installed in their
home. dined with them, as per Mrs.
Harris schedule and. although. the
winter was well advanced, had never
been there since. except to make q
brief call at Christmas.
At each Of these visits Emma ha6
thrilled at sight Of him and at the
sound Of his voice. 1t was with timid-
ity that she had extended her hand to
him. but neither by pressure Of his
clasp nor by any sign of manner, ex.
preston or intonation had he given
Indication Of remembrance that their
secret was known to each other. He
was the same quiet. kindly unchange-
able Jimsy. BY her alone was his pro-
ionged absence understood. Mrs. Har-
rls and Beth finally attributed 1t to a
reluctance to meet continually on an
equal footing his employer. Captain
Williams, who had taken Jimsy's place
as extra member OF the family and
usurped all his prerogatives.
To Emma the captain was no longer
an object Of fear and detestation. She
knew that his affection was purely pa
ternal, and he knew t1at she under
stood him as no one dead OF living
ever had or did. She manifested her
appreciation Of his regard by a comb
dence which was to the old fellow q
comfort ard huge delight. Not that
his delight took a demonstrative form;
that was not An his nature, and Emma
would have been greatly astonished
conld she haze known what a boos o
him her frank friendliness was.
The fact was that his good deed to
Emma had been the first striking eff
feet Of softening process that bad
been going on very, very slowly. 30
slowly as not to be noticeable to any
extent. for several years. which began
when he had been admitted to the
family circle OF his late general man
ager and with which. all unconscious
", Emma had had good deal to do.
He had anchored himself to the family
as his one connection with refinement
and home life. But It had been a
cautious anchoring, maintained with
distrust and carrying with 1t no reci-
procity In the shape of business or any
other favors. A fighter who had got
nothing out Of existence without fight.
Ing. ever on the alert to forestall an
expected treacherous blow. his hand
had flown to his hip pocket, 50 to
speak. ut the slightest movement that
appeared to him to be suspicious.
AS time wore on. however. his dis
trust had vanished. and Mrs. Harris and
her daughters had become necessity
to him. He was being civilized. He
preferred Emma to the others. which
is saying that she was the person he
liked best on earth. but his manner OF
showing 1t had been repellent because
misunderstood, In the first place she
had hated him for his supposed injus-
tice to her husband. whereas. having
read Brooks through from the start.
he despised him and would not help
him even to make her lot easier. When
reawakened distrust battling with un-
willingness to believe that his high
estimate Of her had been unmerited,
had caused him to try her out relent-
lessly on the occasion OF her appeal
for Brooks, alone with him and at
his mercy in bis rooms. she had seen
that warm heart. full Of pure re-
gard for her. beat beneath his forbid
ding exterior. From that night she
had learned to respect him and Judge
him at his real value. His actions and
iiliosyncrasies received ut last their
true Interpretation.
As for Williams. the proof that be
had not been deceived In her fortified
his faith and made him really happy.
He was getting old. He had won his
hard fought, lifelong battle with the
world and was AZ rich 40 be cared to
be. The devil was disposed to turn
monk. The yearning for affection. not
uemonstrative. but existent, which came
with the approach of lies sunset and
which was not to be found elsewhere
was gratified there. He put on slip
pers. smoked his pipe. had bis favorite
chair. expressed his views In bis au-
thoritative way and liked to be con-
suited.
but he never ceased to be impressed
with the ostentatious proclivities and
aristocratic airs Of Mrs. Harris and
Beth, though be laughed indulgently Ut
many Of the mothers fOibles. To him
the two women represented the beau
monde and were authorities on all that
pertained thereto. He deemed It q
privilege to place one Of his automo-
blles at the family's exclusive COM
lnand, and 1t was the most luxurious
vehicle money could buy. That be did
not give II outright was because he
knew their circumstances would not
enable them to maintain it.
Emma was different from her moth
er aud sister. She never gave herself
airs. He felt himself nearer to her.
aud the more intimate they grew the
nore she became endeared to him.
She had changed much since she had
left Brooks. a spirituality that he had
not, Of course. known in her In the old
days had Increased the charm Of her
personality. but her sensible. unaffect-
I'd manner. her gentleness, were al
ways the saMe. More than once he
had surprised 4 wistful. PARKWAY look
In her eyes, a neeting expression OF
melanc holy, and his solicitude had been
aroused. Something caused him to re-
frain from questioning her, but he did
considerable bordering about II,