Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-03
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Wayne Visits His Fathers House.

was not sure that he had still the right
to use it. He had come reluctantly, and
the sight of the house did not intensity
his zeal for an interview with his father.
Near the hedge that marked one of the
Craighill boundaries stood a rustic sum-
mer house. 1t had been a favorite re-
treat of Waynes mother, and as he de-
bated afresh whether he should see his
father he left the path and walked to-
ward it. His step on the grass was noise
less AS he stood in the low doorway of
the little house Mrs. Craighill sprang up
from the corner, where she had been
idling.
"Oh, Wayne. have you come back?"
I'm back unexpectedly. and only for
the night. How are you-hOw s father?
He CROPPED for chairs in the dark.
Your fathers not himself at all. How
| could he ever be after that?'
Let us not talk of it. l didn't come
| for that
"But-you know what happened" Her
voice fell to a whisper HE let the doc
tors pass the old mans death-and
said nothing. They took his word for it.
And. of course. what you offered to DO
he didn't take advantage of that.
He didn't have to; the doctors verdict
made it unnecessary. And SO We'll never
know just what would have happened.
Well give him the benefit of the doubt.
Well. how are things gOing?'
your fathers business affairs have
troubled him. He never talks to me Oh
them. but I know he worries. Mr.
Walsh has been helping him. and he mas
been very kind to me. too-in many ways.
Since he began to help your father ne
has come to the house a good deal. He
thinks your father will pull out in time:
he's trying to get the dead horses out OF
the stabe-that's what he calls the poor
Investments
TON can straighten father out if any
body can Has father SPOKEN of me since
that night
mo; rot once
Hasn't mentioned me at all?'
I'm sorry, but he hasn't, Wayne.
Where's Fanny
"She's at York Harbor. She was ter
ribly cut up over your going away; but
MIR. Walsh knew where you were all the
time and what you were doing. so ne
told me and l told her Your man Joe
kept Mr.. Walsh posted"
He did, did he?" and Wayne laughed.
I've been at work. Addie. I've been
driving mules up there in the anthracite
country to try to get the general cussed,
ness out of my system / haven't tasted
drop Of anything for so long that I've
| forgotten the rames of the drinks L used
| to lap up so abundantly- / saw a tray
| full Of cocktails go by me in the club to-
night and the sight of them tickled my
| throat for minute, but I poured gal
| Ion Of ice water into the serpent and was
| all right. AS soon as m dead sure I've
| got a grip on myself I'm coming back &c
go into the mercantile company with
walsh
| In the dim light Of the summer house
she studied this new Wayne Craighill
puzzled by deeper changes than those OF
outward person. A new simplicity and
directness. a certain sei1-connoence ,; ano
def1niteness of aim that had been lacking
| In the Wayne she had known or old set
him apart. She wished to let him know
that she realized the wide sweep of the
change.
That night that awful night in the
library, you were fine: it was splendid OF
you to offer to take-that-on yourself.
| have thought OF 1t every hour since"
"Oh Addie. Addie. Please never speak
of that. You didn't understand 1t;
him. but to punish him. l hated him
He had done a foul thing in striking
old Gregory. but by taking TIE blame Tor
1t I thought ! should be revenging my
self on him-my own father-that was II;
You see my mind had got strange twist
or I should never have thought of such
a thing: but when the opportunity offered
| there that night / was ready for 1t. l
knew that If once he let the moment
pass and I took his crime on my own
shoulders, / should have him in torture
all the rest of his days. 1t was an ugly
| thought: l had other and uglier thoughts
about him, but l hope I'm not going to
think that sort of thing any more. I've
hold on
Have you seen Jean Morley?' she
asked, after a silence. He did not know
that this question had been on her lips
| from the moment he appeared.
Yes, once: to talk to her.
"Fanny's asked her to York; she's 60
ing there for September
I'm not going to York Harbor now or
In September" he answered, shortly.
But don't you suppose Fanny expects
70 wi there
has been crazy to go to Denbelgh to see
you You know how perfectly devoted
she is to YOU"
Eyes, dear old Fanny! It's a good
thing she didn't see me up there. 1t
would have given her stroke
Fanny Is fond Of Jean-and proud OF
her." Mrs. Craighill persisted. and her
note was plaintive. Her presence In the
teahouse at that hour expressed her iso-
lation. The tone in which she had
spoken of Jean had its pathos and it did
not escape him. And the remembrance
of his own attitude toward her when Sc
had come home. his fathers wife-his
hope that he might make her the in
strument OF his vengeance upon his
father. wrenched him now. This sudden
revulsion brought him abruptly to his
feet.
needn't be afraid of what 1 shall say to
him. There must be peace between us
all"
She was near to tears, and she was
| loath to have him go. These were dreary
DAYS for Adelaide Craighill; but Wayne
| had eaten of the fruit of the tree of wis
dom and knew the danger that lies in
| woman's tears. Their hands touched and
| he left her.
Col. Craighill sat empty-handed by the
library table, staring with unseeing eyes
| at the wall He did not recognize his
son at once, and Mrs. CraiShilfs lntima-
lions had not prepared Wayne for the
| broken figure before him; his fathers
| rosy complexion had given way to sick
pallor and he had lost flesh. He sprang
| to his feet and flung round with a pitiful
| look of fear in his eyes.
Good evening. father. I'm sorry
| startled you: please sit down again.
can stay only a few minutes.
| Col. Craighill sank back into his chair
the big leathern seat that had been his
fathers as long as Wayne could remem-
| ber
"You have been away. Wayne. They
| told me you had been west. 1 didn't
know you had come back"
have seen Walsh, and he has gone over
your affairs with me. He is sanguine
| OF the outcome and believes that you will
vet save a good part Of your estate.
| don't mean to trouble you by discussing
| these things with you. / came to help. -
| 1.-The banks have acted ungenerously, -
Jared the colonel. MEN I had thought
nv friends have turned against me. The
| worst of the depression passed long ago
but they are not satisfied to carry me
| until l can make a turn.
IT understand 1t all perfectly. I have
| seen the figures"
| .~T,bo Hercules National peonle have