The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1912-02-21

and Paying

the outskirts of the town for eighty
years and Leo had had two years at
an agricultural school to prepare him
for his work on the farm when his
father should step aside. But now he
wanted to go away for good.
Just because" old Gideon had
stormed. the manager Of a cheap
theatrical company gives you a chance
to starve to death tramping around
the country, you think you're cut out
for a matinee idol! A thrashing ma
chine gives you chill and a pillow
produces a nightmare! A $40 acre
farm doesn't fall into the lap Of every
boy of twenty-five, can tell you!
want you to marry Ellen Penrose and
settle DOWN."
Leo had opened his thin lips and
thrown back his wavy hair. I'm go
ing on the STAGE" he said doggedly.
ELLEN will wait for me-"
"Then she's a fool" pronounced his
father, crisply, with Frank Alexander
only waiting for a chance to cut you
out. And Ellen is a mighty pretty
girl"
Leo thought so himself when he told
Ellen good-by. She had sat very
quietly when he had unfolded his
glowing future to her with all the van
ity Of youth. When he ended, flushed
with excitement, he had not noticed
that she was very pale.
There had been in his voice no note
OF regret at leaving her,
Almost unconsciously Ellen Penrose
raised her small, beautiful head higher
and something contracted about her
heart. Her life had been so inter
woven always with his that she was
dazed and hurt. She also was proud.
Secretly Leo was vastly relieved that
Ellen took his departure so quietly,
with no tears. In his absorption he
had said nothing about her waiting for
him. He took that as a matter Of
course.
She watched him go down the path
between the lilacs and then she went
to her room with something throbbing
in her brain. 1t was as though she
had told Leo good-by forever. Dimly
she felt it was so. The hurt and sur
prise that were hers at the first reali-
zation that she was second in his
thoughts did not depart. And she
took up her life.
Sometimes Gideon Brooke, meeting
her, would feel his anger stir afresh at
his silly son. Letters came infrequent-
ly from Leo. As the months went on
they grew vague. He said not much
about success, but great deal about
hard work.
No girl as pretty as Ellen is left
solitary long. Frank Alexander, grav-
er, older than the boy who had held
her heart for so long, developed at
fractions she had never before taken
tine to discover. There was for her
remarkable sense of rest and COM
fort in his mere presence-she could
rely upon him. The day finally came
when she wondered how she ever
could have called her youthful fond
ness for Leo Brooke by the name Of
love. But that was nearly two years
after Leo had departed, his head full
4
1t was one crisp October day that
Gideon Brooke, standing in the barn
door and glancing down the road, saw
his son turning in at the gate. Some
fitting memory OF the prodigal son
crossed his mind as he stood crushing
down the instant leap Of his heart.
There was the same old defiant tilt to
Leo's head as he came near, but there
was bitterness about his mouth and a
logged look in his eyes. His clothes
were threadbare.
I've come back" the younger man
said, and his voice was oddly clear in
the frosty air. You were right
was wrong. I've been a failure. I've
starved and shammered long enough.
At first l vowed that wouldn't come
back, buff you'll let me I'll go to
work. Behind the pillow. anything. It's
what know best. I've wasted two
years. Do you want me?"
Gideon Brooke's voice was husky.
Want your" he repeated. "This is
your home, boy. IL guess mebbe
you've got more sense than you had
two years ago. Mebbe it was all for
your good. Well forget it. It's Just
about time to water the horses"
Where were all the neighbors go
ing as l came out from town. Leo
asked a little later. Already his eyes
looked clearer, his face less bitter.
You'd have thought 1t was a conven-
ton"
Gideon Brooke leaned over and
picked up a straw. "Going to the Pen
rose place." he said, shortly. TITS
Ellen's wedding day-she marries
Frank Alexander" He slapped the
bay horse smartly on its flank Get
over!" he ordered. He had once been
very fond Of the idea Of Ellen as his
daughter-inlaw.
The oats spilled over from the meas
ure Leo Brooke was filing. Instead OF
the barn wall his eyes were seeing
Ellen Penrose's face as It was that
day two years ago. when he had told