The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-01-20

. Affff"ff
she snatehed away the hands say.
ing scornfully; mo doubt you think
I'm elay-to be nodded as you choose.
But this ! tell you-and you may be.
lieve 1.-THE day you shake hands
with General Peabody, that day you
cease to be-eyen an acquaintance of
mine"
After the last word she turned
away. Clayton whistled. and took an
instant departure. He felt he had
made the grand mistake of arguing
where he should have entreated But
Nell was always so sensible--until
now" he told himself How could
T guess she had so much of that old
flre.eater. her daddy? Games up, IL
without special provi-
dence Please send one-quick-kind
Fate. Life without Nell is duller than
dltch-water,"
Ellen had not meant TO go 10 the
rally. but now 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 He was not
bad-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 was pardonable for fail
ing to understand his high color, his
glib speech, his all-embracing affec-
ton for the universe. He was gallant
to every petticoat, 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.
Prejudiced as she was, uneasy as
she was, she had had to admit that
General Peabody was worth hearing;
not so well worth it as Frank Clay
ton, to be sure-but still he was elo-
AhChNB anu AAtAn btAAat hO AGs1 NAAfAA
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 loop |
hole-but she knew how futile 1t was
to think Frank would ever come back. |
Won't you find nanny, please?"
she asked Johnny. 81 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" Johnny said, strenuous
ly, clasping her hand. tucking it over
his arm and striding toward his big
motor car. Wen 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 glances
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 heavy hand on Johnny's
shoulder:
Pardon me, my young friend, but
| must speak to Allan Burton's daugh.
ter. Your father and l, my dear
young lady, were, regret to say,
lifelong enemies And all over a tri.
flea trife moreover in which late
y, have found that was wrong.
So offer him through you my sin.
,ere apology, and beg pardon. VIII
you grant. it?"
"Oh, general" was all Ellen could
say.
Clayton, behind the general, caught
ler trembling hand as it fell from
he generals clasp, and said, smiling:
Il am sure she is in a forgiVing
mood. Johnny Goold nearly always
one to repentance and re. ,
mission"
Il am very glad-to-to-forgive-
Ellen said in a small,
remulous voice.
The general smiled, shook hands
gain, and bowed himself away p
did you really find out you were +
yrong?" a crony asked him as the 3
wo stood apart filed with Joy and t
an hour later. The gen.
rails eyes. twinkled. "I have quite /
what Burton and l hated /
ach other about" he said, but I !
hall never be old enough to forget {
he appeal of a girls eyes when she's !
adly worried-today saw it, and Z
cted accordingly"
yet folks say you are less man
han politician" the crony said, ad-
liringly
The general chuckled mildly. Il I
ope I'm pretty much all there is Of {
oth," he said, for the credit of my
ouutrv M less mvseIf" 4