Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1911-01-17
The Healing of a Breach
By MARIAN C. WALTON
Copyright. 1910. by Associated Literary PressJ

guess she had so much of that old
fire-eater. her daddy2 Games up, it
appears-without a special proyi-
dence. Please send one-quick-kind
Fate. Life without Nell is duller than
ditch-water."
Ellen had not meant to 20 to 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 were over
tender-he had been mad about Nell
ever since they met. He was not
bad-looking, nor bad-hearted, only
lax and cNarse 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 UNI
easy.
Prejudiced as she was, uneasy as
she was, she had had to admit that
General Peabody was worth hearing;
NOT CO uaI worth It &c EN,oply CLAW
ton, to be sure-but still he was elo-
quent, and had sense no less than
sound to what he said. Deep down
she began to wonder-she had been
regretting it ever since the day of the
quarrel II only she had left a loop
hole-but she knew how futile it 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 ne-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 a heavy hand on Johnny's
shoulder:
Pardon me, my young friend, but
l must speak to Allan Burtons daugh-
ter. Your father and /, my dear
young lady, were, regret to say,
lifelong enemies. And all over a tri-
flea tribe moreover in which late
So l offer him through you my sim
cere apology, and beg pardon. VIII
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 GoOId nearly always
proyokes one to repentance and re-
mission"
Il am very glad-to-to-forgi
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 filled with Joy and
barbecue an hour later. The gen
erals eyes twinkIed. Il have quite
forgotten what Burton and l hated
each other about" he said but |
shall never be old enough to forget
the appeal of a girls eyes when she's
badly worried-today / saw it, 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
BOTH" he said, for the credit of my
country, no less myself"