The Falls City tribune., 1911-01-13

appears-without a special provl-
denee. Please send one-quick-kind
Fate. Life without Nell is duller than
diteh-water."
Ellen had o meant to SO to the
rally. but o a sense that going was
imperative fell upon her. So she was
there, very fine. very gay, with Johnny
Goold at her elbow, He had begged
to fetch her. but she had come alone
in the family carriage, save for
Nanny Nance.
Johnny's tender mercies we're over.
tender-he had been mad about Nell
ever since they met. lie was not
b~ad-looking, nor ~bad-hearted, only
lax and coarse of fiber, also easily
beset with a craving for liquor. Ellen
had never seen him save strictly
sober-she vas ~pardonable for fail
ing to understand his high color, his
glib speech, his all-embracing affee-
ton for the universe. lie was gallant
to every p%ettieoat, but he never got
far away from Ellen.
Long before the speaking ended,
though she had not fully sensed his
condition. she had begun TO be un-
easy.
Prejudieed as she was, uneasy as
she was, she had had to admit that
General Peabody was worth hearing,
not so we'll worth It as Frank Clay
ton. to be sure-but still he was clio
quent, and had sense no less han
sound to what he said, Deep down
she began to wonder-she had been
regretting 1t ever since the day of the
quarrel. If only she had left a loop
hole-but she knew how futile 1t was
to think Frank would ever come back,
Wont you find nanny, please?'
she asked Johnny. Il think we had
better go home before dinner. Tell
her so-and to come at once"
You're going to dine. not at this
measly barbecue-but with me-up
at the club" Joining said, strenuous
ly, clasping her hand, tucking 1t over
his arm and striding toward his big
motor car. We'll get there In no
time-I hate crowds like this" he ran
on, half carrying Ellen as he strobe
along.
She was wildly angry, still more
frightened. Pull as she might, she
could not free her hand. To scream
meant a scene-and anything was
better than that. Desperately she
hung back, casting appealing chances
toward the place where Clayton had
been standing a minute earlier. He
had vanished, but tall old General Pea
body was in evidence-he caught
Ellen's anguished eye. In three
strides he was beside her, saying as
he laid a heavy hand on Johnny's
shoulder.
Pardon me. my young friend, but
l must speak to Allan Buttons daugh-
ter. Your father and |, my dear
young lady, were, | regret to say,
lifelong enemies. And all over a tri-
flea trife moreover in which late
ly, | have found that | was wrong.
So | offer him through you my sin
cere apology, and beg pardon. Will
you grant it?'
"Oh, general" was all Ellen could
say.
Clayton. behind the general, caught
her trembling hand as it fell from
the generals clasp, and said, smiling:
Il am sure she is in a forgiving
mood. Johnny Goold nearly always
provokes one to repentance and re-
mission"
Il am very glad-to-to-forgive-
everybody" Ellen said In a small,
tremulous voice.
The general smiled, shook hands
again, and bowed himself away.
did you really find out you were
wrong?" a crony asked him as the
two stood apart filed with JOY and
barbecue an hour later. The gen.
erals eyes twinkled. Il have quite
forgotten what Burton and | hated
each other about" he said, but |
shall never be old enough TO forget
the appeal of a girls yes when she's
badly worried-today | saw 1t, and
acted accordingly"
Yet folks say you are less man
than politician the crony said, ad-
miringly.
The general chuckled mildly. Il
hope I'm pretty much all there is OF
-.