The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-05-08
CHAPTER Ix.-icontInued.l

CHAPTER K.-(Contlnucd.)
At dinner that evening Gene was
very talkative. He told OF his life or
the ranch. Of its methodical monot
ony, Of its seclusion, for he saw little
OF his neighbors and seldom went in
to the town. Rose listened with eager
interest, and the old man with sulky
Elowering attention. At intervals he
shot piercing look at his boy, eying
him sidewise with cogitating intent
ness Of observation. His remarks
We're few. but Gene was so loQuacious
that there was little opportunity for
another voice to be heard. He prat,
tied on like happy child, recounting
the minutest details Of his life after
the fashion Of those who live much
alone.
In the light of the crystal lamp that
spread a ruff1ed shade Of yellow silk
over the center of the table, he was
seen to be quite unlike his father or
sister. His jetblack hair and uniform
iy pale skin resembled his mothers.
but his face in its full, rounded con-
tours, slightly turned-up nose, and
eyebrows as thick as strips of fur,
had q heaviness hers had lacked.
Some people thought him good-looking,
and there was sort of unusual, Latin
picturesqueness in the combination Of
his curly black hair, which he wore
rising up in bulwark of waves from
his forehead, his white skin. and the
small, dark mustaChe, delicate as an
eyebrow. that shaded his upper lip. It
was one Of his fathers grievances
against him that he would have made
a pretty girl. and that his soft, afTec-
tionate character would have been
quite charming in a woman. Now,
listening to him, II seemed TO the
older man as II 1t were Just the kind
of talk one might expect from Gene
The father had difficulty in suppress
ting a snort Of derision when he heard
the young man recounting to Rose his
troubles with his Chinese cook.
Before dinner was over Gene ex-
FUSED himself on the plea that he was
going to the theater.
I'm such Il hayseed now" he said
as he rose. that | don't want to miss
thing. Haven't seen a play for six
months and I'm Just crazy to see any
thing. Monte Christie" Uncle Toms
Cabin" East Lynne" I'm not par
ticular, anythingll suit me-"
Don't you &C over to San Luis?"
growled his father sulkily They
have plays there sometimes, | sup
pose"
"Oh, yes. but I'm keeping out Of
harms way. The boys in San Luis
don't understand and I'm not going to
put myself in the way Of temptation.
You know, father, want that ranch"
He turned laughing glance on his
father; and the old man, with a sheep
ishly-discomhted expression, grunted
an uniptelligible reply and bent over
his plate
He did not raise his head till Gene
had left the room. when, looking up,
he leaned back in his chair and said
with a plaintive sigh:
What a damned fool that boy isl"
AeocS was up III dIIuS at once,
Why, papa, how can you say that!
Especially when you see how he's i'm
proved It's wonderful. He's another
man. You can tell in a minute he's
not been drinking, he takes such an
interest in everything and Is SO full
OF work and plans"
is he?" said her father dryly.
Maybe SO. but that don't prevent him
from being a damned fool"
You're unjust to Gene. Why do
you think he's fool?"
Just because he happens to be one.
You might rs well ask me why think
the sun rises in the east and sets in
the west. That's what It does, and
when say 1t does, I'm not criticizing
or complaining, I'm only stating the
plain facts"
Rose made a murmur of protest and
he went on.
You're queer cattle, you women. |
suppose feller could live In the
world hundred years and not under.
stand you, There's Della RYAN. for
example, tho brainiest woman I know
could give most men cards and spades
and beat EN- hands down. Last night
at Rocky Bar they were telling me
that she's written to the operator there
and told him she'll get him a posi-.
tion here in the Atlantic and Pacific
Cable Company, In which she's a large
stockholder, that'll double his salary
and give him a chance he'd never
have got IN this world. She wants ia
pay Off mortgage on a ranch Perley
has in the Sacramento Valley and
she's sent Mrs. Perley a check for
five hundred dollars. She's offered
Wiiloughby tirst-rate Job on the Red
Calumet group of mines near Sonora
In which Con mad a controlling inter
est. and she's written to the doctor to
come down and become one Of the
house physicians OF the st. Filome ena
Hospital, which she practically runs.
She's ready to do all this because Of
what they did for Dominfck, and yet
she, his own mother, won't give the
boy q cent and keeps him on starva.