Semi-weekly herald., 1912-04-29
Leaning
and Paying

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 cheap
theatrical company gives you chance
to rtarve 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 plow
produces q nightmareI A $40 acre
farm doesn't fall into the lap Of every
boy OF twenty-five, ] can tell you'll I
want you to marry Ellen Penrose and
settle DOWN."
Leo had opened his thin lips and
thrown back his wavy hair. "Im go
ing on the stage" he said doggedly.
ELLEN will wait for me-"
Then she's fool" pronounced his
father, crisply, with Frank Alexander
only waiting for a chance to cut you
out. And Ellen Is 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 notc
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 80 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 80 quietly,
with no tears. In his absorption he
had said nothing about her waiting for
him. He took that as 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 1t was so. The hurt and sur
prise that were hers at the first reali-
cation that she was second In HIS
thoughts did not depart. And she
TOOK up ner lie.
Sometimes Gideon Brooke. meeting
her. would feel his anger stir afresh at
his silly son. Letters came infrequent-
ly from Leo. As tho months went on
they grew vague. He said not much
about success, but q great deal about
hard work.
No girl as pretty as Ellen is left
solitary lnp0 Franz A1avondAr uro w..
er. older than the boy who had held
her heart for 30 long. developed at
fractions she had never before taken
time to discover. There was for her
q 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
Of dreams. his self-love uppermost.
It 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
nitting 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 A. he came near. but there
was bitterness about his mouth and ,
dosged look in his eyes. His clothes
were threadbars.
I've como 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. Two
starved and shammered long enough.
AT first vowed that l wouldn't come
back. buff you'll let me I'll 90 TO
work. Behind the plow. anything. It's
| what know best. I've wasted two
years. Do you want met"
Gideon Brooke's voice was husky.
Want your' he repeated. This IL
your homo, boy. IL guess mebbe
you've got more sense thnn you had
two years ago. Mebbe II was all for
your good. Well forget 1t. It's Just
about time TO water the horses"
where were all the nsighbors 20
ing ~ came out from town. Leo
21k0Q y HUN ihucI. AucAuy Aib 0ycs
looked clearer. his face Less bitter.
you'd have thought II was . convsn-
tion."
Gideon Brooke leaned over and
| picked up straw. Going to the Pen
rose place." he said. shortly. Its
Ellen's wedding day-shs msrriea
Frank Alexander!" He slapped the
bay horse smartly ON It's flank. Get
overl" - ordered. He had once been
| very fond Of the idea Of Ellen ~ his
daughter4n-lsw.
TIE oats spilled over from the meas
urs Leo Brooke was hliing. Instead oi
the barn wall his eyes were seeing
Ellen Psnross's face ~ 1t was that
day two years ago, when hs had told
her good-by.
"A-A fellows got to pay In this
world. hasn't her he said At last Z
little harphly. And now, what worh
do start ON In the morningl"