The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-08-15

something deeper, more sinisterf
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-
heard's. And here again the question
why? Was it 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 social idler. He was a young
man with real interest in life, q
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 it! And why should she
approach him the very first day and
recall the incident, If not with the ul-
terror purpose Of using him further?
AS 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 natter"
the mother asked. The face she saw
was not tear-stained; it was as cold
and passionless as that by which sculp-
tors represent their interpretations Of
Justice.
Natter" Fortune spoke, in tone
that did not reassure the other. "In
the first place / have only one real
question to ask. It depends upon how
you answer 1t. Am really your
daughter?"
Really my daughter" Mrs. Ched-
soye stepped back, genuinely aston
ished. Really my daughter? The
child is mad!" as if addressing an i'm
aginary third person. What makes
you ask such silly question:" She
was in a hurry to change her dress,
but the new attitude of this child Of
hers warranted some patience.
THAT is no answer" said Fortune,
with the unmoved deliberation Of
prosecuting attorney.
Certainly you are my daughter"
Good. If you had denied it, I
should have held my peace; but since
you admit that I am of your flesh and
blood, am going to force you to rec
ognize that in such a capacity I have
some rights. I did not ask to come
into this world; but insomuch as am
here, I propose to become an indi-
vidual, not thing to be given bread
and butter upon sufferance. I have
been talking with Horace. I met him
in the bazaars this morning. He said
some things which you must answer"
Horace? And what has he said,
pray tell?" Her expression was flip
pant, but certain inquietude pene-
trated her heart and accelerated its
beating. What had the love-lorn fool
said to the child?
"He said that he was not a good
man, and that you tolerated him be-
cause he ran errands for you. What
kind of errands?"
Mrs. Chedsoye did not know wheth-
er to laugh OF take the child by the
shoulders and shake her soundly. "He
was laughing when he said that. Err
that"
why did you renew the acquaint
ance with Mr.. Jones, when you knew
that you never intended paying back
that loan?"
Here was a question, Mrs. Chedsoye
realized, from the look Of the child
thas would not bear evasion.
What makes you think l never in.
tended to repay him."
Fortune laughed. 1t did not sound
grateful in the mothers ears.
Mother, this is crisis it can moi
be met by counter-questions nor by
flippancy. You know that you die
not intend to pay him. What de-
mand to know is, why you spoke to
him again, so affably, why you seemed
so eager to enter into his good graces
once more. Answer that"
Her mother pondered. For once she
was really at loss. The unexpected
ness of this phase caught her off her
balance. She saw one thing wildly,
regretfully: she had missed valuable
point in the game by not adjusting
her play to the growth Of the child,
who had, with the phenomenal sud
denness which still battles the psy-
biologists, stepped out of girlhood
into womanhood, all in day. What
q fool she had been not to have left
the child at Mentone!
Il am waiting" said Fortune. There
are more questions: but want this
one answered first"
This is pure insolence!"
"Insolence of a kind, yes"
"And l refuse to answer. have
some authority still"
mot so much, mother, as you had
yesterday. You refuse to explain?"
Absolutely"
Then l shall Judge you without
mercy" Fortune rose, her eyes blaz-