Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1912-10-22
At CROSS PURPOSES
Two Of a Trade in One Small
Poor Family.
~ MARTHA M'cuLLocH Will
LIAMS.

was handsome, further as s'aiuiy
rroDer as he was wild. Therefore. he
told him self, inevitably she, not he'
would inherit Grandmother Vanes
money-grandmother had clingins
to her blood, and had set her heart
since their childhood upon making a
match Of the two.
Unwisely she had tried to bring
Allonby I'D with that in mind. by
nature rebellious, also by nature
beauty-loving and wilful, he had been
as nearly insolent over the matter as
his fathers son could show himself
His father was the one thing in lire
he reyerenced-and discourtesy 10
any woman John Allonby, the elder
could not forgive. A real man, saiu
he. owed such courtesy to himself
regardless of whether or no the
woman deserved 1t.
So his son had only said "lmpos-
sibIe. granny" not trusting himself TO
explain the impossibility. Dad was
told: IL wouldn't look at Lura one
year. let alone my whole life through
Tor all the money in the Bank OF Eng
land-let alone granny's little hand
ful."
That was before the crash came
by several years. The crash beggared
John AIlonby the elder. and brought
q stroke that left him but a living
shadow of himself. But when after
months OF silence he could speak with
difficulty, he said: "Son-it is-worth
--everything-to find you-what you
are" Ailonby muttered something
gruff, and turned away his head
blushing like a girl. Later when MS
father slept In his wheel chair. he got
up from his desk and fondled the
withered right hand as a mother
might fondle her sleeping baby.
He had not been bred to work-his
profession, the law, meant years OF
starvation, waiting for clients. In
extremity he had turned to writing
the returns we're precarious enough
yet he could do the work, and keep
with his dear invalid. The dear IN
valid must lack nothing. AS to him
seIf-it did not matter. A small
house remained to them-the sole
relic of their once great possessions.
BY the help of his fathers sometime
valet, now cook, chamberlain, gard
ner. and man of all work, the estab-
lishment kept going in ramshackie
fashion. Grandmother Vanes weekly
hamper helped lot; also, her weekly
dinners. Allonby went to them by
his fathers express orders.
''It Is the least return you can de-
Gently make for your mothers moth
er's Kindness" said his elder.
Lura was rarely at the dinners.
managing some way to have other
engagements. At first Allonby had
been glad.
Later he had come to resent her
absences They we're not cousinly-
and he was bent upon keeping up a
surface Of amity such as should pre-
vail among folk Of one blood
He had not spoken with her for
three months. An impulse he did try
to understand, sent him to cross her
path. He waited there, still sneering
Q little. but also smiling.
accept my Fluctuations" he said,
half extending his hand. This Is no
place to offer them-that know well
but you give me no other chance"
IL am not sure I understand you,
Lura said, coloring family. She was
slight and dark, with an oval face,
and eyes deep set under heavy brows.
you surely have not heard" she
went on, breaking off uncertainty.
Allonby smiled more confidently
Il did not need to hear" he said.
sTt flashed over me that you and Dick
Helm were made for each other the
very minute / saw you together Let
me know when the wedding is to be
so may turn you out a love-verse.
having nothing else to give"
I'm Just a little afraid you will
suffer from suppressed poesy if you
wait for that occasion" Lura an
swered-and now she smiled. "But
don't be downhearted-it is a secret
but Dick and Lesta Mills have come
to an understanding at last There
fs no talk of marriage yet-but dare
say you will be warned in time"
when the scoundrel has been at
your apron strings this year and
more! AS your next of kin, ought
@o coll hin, IN account" AIlonhv said
The sneer was quite banished, the
smile sunny. 81 was jesting." he ran
on. you know that. You are not
the sort of girl man plays fast and
loose with. Did you know about
Lesta all the timer"
Everything. And did my best to
bring them together. They had quar-
relied over such a little thing" Lura
answered, making as though to pass
on.
AIlonby flung open the gate, say
ing. entreatingly, Dad wants to see
you, are you big enough to shame me
by coming in"
Lura laughed-a low, pleasant laugh.
you think I'm high and naughty still
over your refusing me-" she said when
she could speak Don't you know I'm
grateful-every day of my lifeg Think
what 1t would be--two OF a trade in
one poor, small family!'
Ailonby looked mystified. Lura
aglin. I've are surely play