Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-08-25
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI
Ezra Cameron sat In the sitting
room as he always did, waiting for
Zelda to come to breakfast; but as she
stood upon the threshold, whence she
had often called her good morning. he
did not look up from the newspaper
with his usual smile. She was touch
ed by the pathos of his figure. He
seemed older, more shrunken; his pro-
file. as the early light gave 1t to her.
was less hard. His lean cheeks had
the touch Of color they always wore
in the morning from his careful shaw
ing, and his long hair was brushed
back with something more than It's US
ual uncompromising smoothness. A
certain primness and rigidity In him
only her pity now.
"Fatheri"
He rose and turned toward her with
pathetic appeal in his eyes.
Good morning. Zee" he said. Hab-
it was strong In him and they usually
went to breakfast as soon as she came
down. He took a step now toward the
dining room.
y
moment" she said, kindly; and he
paused. Il am sorry for what hap
pened last night. 1 was not quite my
self; I said things that will always
trouble me if you-unless you can for
give me. 1 was wrong-about every
thing. You must let me help, If I can
help you-in any way"
He said nothing, but stared at her.
What angered me was that you
weren't quite frank, father. l didn't
care about the money. 1t wasn't that
but if things haven't gone well with
you, wish to share the burden. No
I mean it-that 1 am sorry-let US be
quite good friends again.
She went up to him quickly and took
his hand.
Father" she said.
zee, my little girl-ny little girl"
he began brokenly, touching her cheeks
with trembling hands.
Yes, father" she said. wishing to
help him.
Il have been very wicked; have led
a bad life. l must not harm you; I am
not fit"
You are my father" she said, and
touched his forehead with her lips,
wondering at herself.
She led him to the table and talked
to him brightly on Irrelevant matters.
The situation was now in her own
hands and she would not fail again.
She usually visited the kitchen after
breakfast to make her list for the gro
Ger; but this morning she went back to
the sitting room with her father. The
autumn morning was cool, and she
bent and lighted the fire.
Now" she said, rising quickly and
smiling at him, there are those both
ersome business matters that we were
talking about last night. / wish to sign
that paper"
He shook his head.
you can't do 1t, Zee" The deed had
been torn to pieces and thrown upon
the kindling in the grate-half had al
ready been destroyed.
THAT is probably just as well. We
shall make a new one" she said, in a
matter Of course tone II wish you
would tell me, so that I may under
stand, just what it is that has hap
pened."
It's a long story. I thought I should
be able to make a great fortune for
you. 1t was my greed-my greed.
What l proposed about the deed was
purely SSlIlSD-lO shield II. II IS
grave matter have betrayed you
have betrayed your mothers trust l
have robbed you"
Il haven't been robbed father, and /
don't intend that anybody shall use
such words to me- We shall make the
deed; no one need ever know that any
thing has happened"
You are kind; you are more than
Ipn- hllf 7 7
asked you to re-create the trust last
night. I am a bad man: 1 must face
r-y sins; I have lived lying, evil life
I am a thief, worse than a thief"
MY father can't be a thief" she
said.
II am a thief-your uncle will see
that I am punished. And IT will be
better Soft only I did not drag you
down, smirch your name"
Her strengthen readiness to meet
the situation grew as she saw his
weakness
How bad is 1t, father: have we any
thing left? Don't be afraid to tell me.
It's concealment you must avoid. II
we haven't a thing"
Her tone treasured him; he lifted his
head with more courage.
This house-the place in the coun-
try-they are free. They are yours to-
day. My investments"-he hesitated
and blinked at the word-"they can not
come back to injure you
Then this house and the farm are
still ours"
They are yours, not mine. I have
wasted so much! 1t was a fortune
nearly half a million dollars when I
began throwing it away"
Il don't believe that's very much.
When you haven't million you're
you're not in it," and she laughed.
The loss of anything else isn't worth
crying oyer. And then, you might
have made a great deal more out of
it."
He finched, knowing how culpable
he was; but her generosity and kind
ness were lifting his spirit
Il have given you an option on
piece of ground-you may know it
out by the creek, and have received a
thousand dollars on account of it. It
may be binding on you. 1t grew out
of my necessity. It is not fair for me
to talk to you of these things at ALL
You should take advice of some one
else-just is though there were no sort
of tie between u.s."
We are not going to do It that
way" said Zelda, decisively. we are
going to understand this between our
selves. Now this strip of ground that
has been practically sold. What is
there about that?'
The money should be returned, or
offered to them. Balcomb was manag-
ing it.
Mr.. Jack Balcomb ?-then of course
1t wasn't regular"
TT was my fault, Zee"
Il don't believe 1t. He was contriv-
ing a pitfall-that is what might have
been expected of him. And he came to
our house and pretended to be our
friendl"
Yes; he pretended that: but I pre-
tended much more. Deceit is some
thing that feeds on itself"
Ito be continued,
Tests made by army officers indi-
cate that nr0iecfiIeS fred from the