The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-12-19

TO fury. At that moment, had she
known anything, she certainly would
have denounced them. OF what use
was loyalty, since none Of them
sought it In her?
The Major was wiser than he knew
when he spoke of the hundredth dan.
ger the danger unforeseen, the danger
against which they could make NO
preparation. And he would have been
first to sense the irony Of 1t could he
have seen whore this danger lay.
Why should they wish the pleasant
young man out Of the way? Why
should Ryanne wish to inveigle him
into the hands Of this man Mahomed?
Was 1t merely self-preservation, or
something deeper, more sinister
Think! Why couldn't she think Of
/ something? 1t was only little pleas
ure trip to Cairo, they had told her,
and when she had asked to go along,
they seemed willing enough. But they
had come to this hotel, when formerly
they had always put up at Shep-
heards. A here again the question
why? Was 1t because Mr.. Jones was
staying here? She liked him, what lit.
tie she had seen Of him. He was out
OF an altogether different world than
that to which she was accustomed. He
was neither insanely mad over cards
nor a social idler. He was a young
man with a real interest in life, a
worker, notwithstanding that he was
reputed to be Independently rich. And
her mother had once borrowed money
OF him, never intending to pay it back.
The shame Of 1t! And why should she
approach him the very first day and
recall the incident, II not with the ul.
terror purpose of using him further?
As a ball strikes wall only to re-
bound to the thrower, so 1t was with
all these questions. There was never
any answer.
Tired out, mentally and physically,
she laid her head upon the cool top
Of the stand. And in this position her
mother, who had returned to dress
for tea, found her. Believing Fortune
to be asleep, Mrs. Chedsoye dropped
a hand upon her shoulder.
Fortune raised her head.
"Why, child, what Is the matter?"
the mother asked. The face she saw
was not tear-stained; it was as cold |
and passionless as that by which sculp.
,ors represent their interpretations Of
Justice. .H.
Natter" Fortune spoke, in a tone
hat did not reassure the other. "In
he first place I have only one real
question to ask. 1t depends upon how
Tou answer it. Am l really your
Really my daughter?" Mrs. Ched-
'oye stepped back, genuinely aston.
shed. Really my daughter? The
;hild is mad!" as if addressing an i'm
lglnary third person. What makes
1ou ask such silly question:" She
vas in hurry to change her dress,
nut the new attitude Of this child of
lers warranted some patience.
"That is no answer" said Fortune,
With the unmoved deliberation of a
attorney.
Certainly you are my daughter"
Good. If you had denied it, l
hould have held my peace; but since
ou admit that am of your flesh and
lood, am going to force you to rec
gniZe that in such capacity have
ONE rights. l did not ask to come
lto this world; but insomuch as am
ere, propose to become an indi-
idual, not thing to be given bread
nd butter upon sufferance. l have
cen talking with Horace l met him
l the bazaars this morning. He said
ONE things which you must answer"
Horace? And what has he said,
ray tell?" Her expression was flip
ant, but certain inquietude pene-
'ated her heart and accelerated its
eating. What had the love-lorn fool
aid to the child?
He said that he was not a good
ian, and that you tolerated him be-
ause he ran errands for you. What
ind of errands?"
Mrs. Chedsoye did not know wheth-
r to laugh or take the child by the
loulders and shake her soundly. "He
as laughing when he said that. Err
ands? One would scarcely call it
lat"
why did you renew the acquaint-
nee with Mr.. Jones, when you knew
lat you never intended paying back
lat loan?"
Here was question, Mrs. Chedsoye
ealiZed, from the look Of the child,
lat would not bear evasion.
What makes you think never in =,
ended to repay him?" -
Fortune laughed. 1t did not sound "
rateful in the mothers ears.
Mother this is crisis; it can not -
2 met by counter-questions nor by
ippancy. You know that you did
ot intend to pay him. What / de-
and to know is, why you spoke to
IN again, so affably, why you seemed G
eager to enter into his good graces
ice more. Answer that"
Her mother pondered. For once she
as really at loss. The unexpected
ess Of this phase caught her OF her 81
llance. She saw one thing vividly, D
gretfully: she had missed valuable O
'int in tho game by not adjusting s,
er play to the growth Of the child, t.
ho had, with the phenomenal sud-
,nness which still battles the psy- m
lologists, stepped out Of girlhood a,
to womanhood, all in day. What
fool she had been not to have left n
e child at Mentone! d
al am waiting" said Fortune. There $,
Q more questions; but / want this b
lie answered first" Il,
This is pure insolencal"
"insolence Of kind. yea." II