Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1910-07-28

the paperf" he asked then. the man
who wrote you the letter you got to-
nightr~
YES" she said. Listen. Tomor-
row night he will be here. He II COM
ing to see us he says and he wishes
to take US back to England with him.
II all rests with you. Wouldn't you
like to go away with this brave, good
man whom king even loves to honor.
this prince-kind of a man?"
with this Englishman?" he asked
In hostile voice. NO" The OBJ
stinacy OF his face disconnected her.
"Why?" she asked. Why? II has
been very hard for me to be father and
mother both to you! Do you not wish
me to give you father dear?'
II will not have an Englishman for
father" he said decisively. when
there are Indians and Dutch and Irish
to choose from why should you go and
choose an Englishman?"
Because, next to Americans. they
are the incest people on earth" she
said, and this Englishman In particu-
lar Is very nice indeed. Why do you
object to Englishmen?"
The same humorous Difference she
always showed to his opinion, and
which had made him old beyond his
years. was In the question.
WELL" he said. do you think want
a father whom you can smell all over
the house? should be ashamed"
In spite of herself she laughed. she
who had always been careful never to
laugh at him. What on earth do you
mean?" she asked, but he had fed
from her in passion Of tears.
Coupled with his fear Of this terrible
thing that was coming to pass was the
sting of his pride that she had ridi-
culed him with her laughter. In the
hall she caught him, pathetic. fearful
cherub, with one foot on the lowest
chair.
Come back" she pleaded in her
winsomest voice. holding out her arms.
NO." he choked You would only
laugh" With a sob he fed up the
stairs. At the top his nurse met him
and he suffered her ministrations. His
mother respected her dismissal. He
was fast asleep when she tiptoed into
the nursery, and an hour later when
he awoke he drew her head down to
his with his baby arms when she went
In to kiss him goodnight.
"Oh, mother, need have another
father?" he sobbed Need II"
She had been sitting there dreaming
below and had forgotten everything
except that for some reason her boy
did not want another father.
mo, baby" she whispered. mo.
Mother will just go on being both
father and mother to you" A tear fell
on his cheek. He lay awake a long
time worring over that tear.
In the morning he saw that she was
troubled and sad. He fluttered about
her, showering upon her a hundred
small attentions He even conde-
scended once to place tiny speck up
on her cheek, but she seemed oblivi-
Gus. Try as he would he could not
make her happy. Near noon he went
into the conservatory by himself and
sat there thinking long time. He
wished to make her happy, but he
could not come to 1t.
1T would be a disgrace" he moaned.
dry-eyed. For the rest of the day he
avoided her. playing by himself in the
grounds about the house. Once he
stole quite near the porch and saw her
reading the letter that had come the
night before. There were tears In her
eyes. They burdened him.
After lunch he went voluntarily up
stairs and gave himself into his
nurses hands in preparation for his
nap. she" was nowhere about when
: he came downstairs after his bath, and
1t was not until she was dressing for
dinner that his tiny tap came upon her
door. He gave little cry when he en-.
tered and saw her.
You look so pretty" he told her
cycling her gravely. II almost think
you look prettier than ever saw you
!, Are you dressing for that English.
, mann"
} She saw that he was still hostile and
she stopped down to him and he laid
, his soft cheek lovingly against her
, white neck with a federation of the
caress that was new. After dinner
when they we're both sitting together
! In the big. leather chair, he said. 81
I want to ask favor. mother. l want
to sleep on the couch In the music
,, room tonight, and want you to leave
the door open SO that l can see the
: Englishman."
So he was put to bed there and the
door left open, as he wished. A little
i after eight she tiptoed in. but he was
, taking sleep and she went softly GU,
, again.
When the door bell rang at eight
' thirty the Cherub. watching through
: the door, saw her spring out of hel
chair and then sink down again. He
thought she was going to faint, she
D suddenly looked so white. In another
r moment the curtain of the drawing
A room parted and the tallest man the