The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-10

hold of Viola's hand.
 Mrs. Campbell turned accusingay to her guest:
 Helen, you know?"
 "Yes."
 Mrs. Campbell looked back to the young couple for further explanation and response to her gaze Clay said:
 .. And I've asked Jack' too."
 We're engaged if you say it's all right"
 And you. viola?"
 Yes" the girl nodded.
 Well, if Jacks been consulted, and you all know of it, said Alice, mak- minority"
 Why any minority?" Clay asked.
 Only the necessary consi1eratjOns'' then turning to the boys mother "Clay's prospects. his youth.'' for his firm now" Viola urged, in Q wish to eliminate what she appre- hended as the principal objection at taching to his youth.
 That is, dwellings," Clay modestly amended.
 'T should advise waiting myself un- til Clay is in the firm," Helen said, consol1ngly addressing her speech more to the boy than to the others; and l did advise delay in speaking
 'I'd "a waited, mother, only Frank Hardmuth proposed to Viola tonight"
 Tonight, exclaimed Mrs. Camp bell. for whom Surprises were coming rapidly.
 .At the opera" Viola answered.
 At the opera 2" her mother re- peated, and then in panic helplessness to Helen she complained. "One isn't safe anywhere"
 Clay. pursuing this seeming aAvan- tage. asked:
 '.And you wouldn't want &him. So you do consent, don't your" .., T q, think your mother and shall
 We'll it's. . thing fellow doesn't usually ask his mother to, arrange.
 You mean privately?" Viola ask ed.
 Yes." said her mother.
 ins young couple hesitated, doubt ing the policy of being unrepresented In the confldence; but as the mothers seemed agreed upon this condition, and as the habit of filial obedience was still strong. Clay said to his sweet
 '.we can go to the billiard-room, I
 Come on," Viola assented moving to the door.
 "You know. mother, how feel about it," Clay said.
 Helen nodded in reassuring sympa- thy. The boy and girl left their mothers together.
 1 suppose you had guessed it,'' Helen said to Alice. who was still maintaining her injured pose.
 The latter made one or two ineffect- ual gasDs at response, and, finding that her delay was adding to the un- certainty of the things she had in mind to say. she made virtue of surrender to complete frankness.
 "I had, but when the moment ar- rives, after all. it's such a surprise that a mother can't act naturally"
 "Clay is really very trustworthy for his age." said Helen. There's only one thing to discuss. haven't mentioned 1t because-well since 1t began. my dear Helen, and because the fault is in my own fam uy.''
 "Yes. Jacks fault.' Mrs. Camp bell debated a moment the propriety f1ux of resolution, she looked straight at Helen and announced. "Clay is playing"
 tClay?"
 Herewith Jacks friends"
 Clay Helen repeated. unwilling to realize that the blight which had fallen upon her own romance was pos sibly settling upon the life of her boy, "gambling?"
 ''I don't quite get used to the word'' - Mrs. Campbell winced though we've had a lifetime of it-gambling."
 'I shouldn't have thought Jack would do that with my boy"
 l 1v1l >S ~A view-and besides. Jack is calloused to it''
 "You should have talked to Jack yourself
 Talked to him? I did much more that is. as much more as a sister could do." Mrs. Campbell paused as she passed in reminiscence various in- terviews with her brother, then res- olutely going back to the beginning of the trouble. she continued, "You know, Jack really built this place for me and Viola"
 ''viola is the very core of Jacks heart. We'll, we both left the house and went into our little apartment, and are there now. A woman can't do much more than that and still take her living from man, can she ?"
 "No."
 "And 1t hurt hinn-hurt him past any idea"
 "You did that because my Clay was playing here?"
 Mot entirely Clay-everybody." And then in justification of her treat ment of the brother, between whom and herself there was Henuine affec. ton, Mrs. Campbell explained:
 '"There isn't a etter-hearted man nor ar arler one in the state than Jack Brookfield. but had my daugh- ter to consider. There were two nights under our last city government when nothing but the influence of this Frank Hardmuth''-at the mention of the name she droyped her voice and glanced cautiously toward the din- ing-room, whence Hardmuth's. harsh laughter could be heard issuing nothing but his influence kept the police from coming into this house and arresting everybody-think of it." 'Dreadful'' 'sNow, that's something, Helen, that I wouldn't tell a soul but you-Viola doesn't know 1t; but Jacks card-play- ing came between you and him years ago, and so, you may know it-you may have some influence with Jack. |" I?'' Helen sighed and smiled pa thetically. ''Oh. mo-" s'Yes," Alice answered, firmly. "this supper tonight was Jacks idea for you the box at the opera for you"
 .Why. he didn't even sit with us." "Also for you. Jack Brookheld is more notable character in Louisville today than he was twenty-two years ago. Ills company would have made you the subject of unpleasant com-