The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-04-13
The Lion and ii10 Mouse


II It's the law. it's all right, MN. The
more the merrier" With which broad
side she hung the bags all over herself
and staggered of to the house.
Stott explained that the larger pieces
and the trunks would come later by ex-
press. Mrs. Rossmore took him aside
while Mrs. Blake Joined Shirley and
the Judge.
did you tell Shirley?" asked Mrs.
Rossmore. How did she take it,"
"She knows everything" answered
Stott. land takes it very sensibly. We
shall find he: Of great moral assistance
in our coming fight in the senate" Ee
added confidently.
Realizing that the Judge would like
to be left alone with Shirley. Mrs.
Rossmore invited Mrs. Blake to go up.
stairs and see the room she would
have, while Stott said lie would be
glad Of washup. When they had
gone Shirley sided up to her father in
her old familiar way.
"I've just been longing to see you,
father" she said. She turned to get
good look at him, and, noticing the
lines " care which had deepened dur.
ing her absence. she cried: "Why, how
you've changed. can scarcely be-
lieve it's you. Say something. Let
me hear the sound of your voice, f..
Their"
The judge tried TO smile.
"Why. nv dear girl. r.
Shirley threw her arms round his
neck.
"Ah, yes. now l know it's you," she
cried.
"Of course it is, Shirley, my dear
girl. OF course it Is. Who else would
it be?'
Eyes. but it isn't the same" insisted
Shirley. There is no ring to your
voice. 1t sounds hollow and empty,
like an echo. And this place." she add.
ed dolefully. this awful place.
She glanced around at the cracked
ceilings, the cheaply papered walls. the
shabby furniture, and her heart sank
as she realized the extent Of their mis-.
fortune. She had come back prepared
for the worst, to help win the fight for
her fathers honor. but to have to
struggle against sordid poverty as well,
to endure that humiliation In addition
to disgrace-ah, that was something
she had not anticipated! She changed
color. and her voice faltered. Her IA
Their had been closely watching for
just such signs, and he read her
thoughts.
''It's the best we can afford, Shirley"
he said quietly. ''The blow has been
complete. I will tell you everything.
You shall judge for yourself. My enc
mics have done for me at last"
"Your enemies" cried Shirley eager
ly. Tell me who they are so l may
go to Them"
Eyes, dear. you shall know every
thing. but not now. You are tired after
your journey. Tomorrow sometime
Stott and will explain everything"
VERY we'll, father, as you wish,'
said Shirley gently. "After ALL" she
added in an effort to appear cheerful,
what matter where we live so long
as we have each otber:"
She drew away to hide her tears and
left the room on pretense of inspecting
the house. She looked into the dining
room and Kitchen and opened the cup
boards, and when she returned there
were 10 visible signs of trouble in her
| face
Its cute little house, isn't it," she
said. I've always wanted little
place like this all to ourselves. Oh, If
you only knew how tired l am of New
York and its great ugly houses, its
retinue of servants and it's domestic
and social responsibilities! We shall
be able to live for ourselves now, eh,
father"
She spoke with forced gayety that
might have deceived any one but the
judge. He understood the motive of
her sudden change in manner, and
silently he blessed her for making his
burden lighter.
"Yes, dear, it's not bad" he said.
There's not much room. though"
There's quite enough" she insisted.
LET ne see" She began to count Oh
her fingers. Upstairs. three rooms,
ell, and above that three more
No" smiled the judge; then comes
the roof"
"Of course" she laughed; chow stu
pid of me "a nice gable roof, a sloping
roof that the rain runs of beautifully.
Oh, can see that this is going to be
awful!y jolly-just like camping out.
You know how love camping out
And you have piano too"
She Went over to the corner where
stood one of those homely instruments
which hardly deserve to be dignifed
| by the name piano, with cheap.
| gaudily painted case outside and tin
pan effect inside, and which are usual
~ TO be found in the poorer class of
country boarding houses. Shirley sat
down and ran her fingers over the
keys, determined to like everything.
IT'S a little old" was her comment,
'but like these either effects. It's
just like the sixteenth century spinet.
can see you and mother dancing a