Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-05-03

known anything, she certainly "ouiu
have denounced them. OF what use
was loyalty. since none OF them
sought It in her?
The Major was wiser than be 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 It could he
have seen where 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 it 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-
heard's. A here again the question
why? Was ii 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 It! And why should she
approach him the very first day and
recall the incident. II not with the Ill
terror purpose OF using him further
As a ball strikes a 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 tor
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; II was as cold
and passionless as that by which sculp
tors represent their interpretations Of
Justice.
Natter" Fortune spoke. in a tone
that did not reassure the other. III
the first place | have. only one rea
question to ask. 1t depends upon how
you answer it. Am really YOU
daughter"
Really my daughter" Mrs. Ched
soye stepped back. genuinely aston
ished. Really my daughter? The
child is mad" as IL addressing an i'm
aginary third person. What make
you ask such silly question:" Sh,
was in a hurry to change her dress
but the new attitude Of this child o
hers warranted some patience.
THAT is no answer" said Fortune
with the unmoved elaboration OF
prosecuting attorney.
Certainly you are my daughter"
Good. II you had denied It.
should have held my peace; but sine
you admit that | am Of your flesh an
blood. | am going to force you to rec
ognize that in such capacity | hav
some rights. did not ask to com
into this world; but insomuch as al
here, | propose to become an ind
vidual, not thing to be given brea
and butter upon sufferance. | hav
been talking with Horace. | met hi
in the bazaars this morning. He sal
some things which you must answer
Horace? And what has he sal,
pray tell?" Her expression was fiji
pant, but a certain inquietude pen
trated her heart and accelerated II
beating. What had the love-lorn fo'
said to the child?
HE said that he was not a GOO
man, and that you tolerated him b
cause he ran errands for you. VIII;
kind of errands?"
Mrs. Chedsoye did not know whet
er to laugh or take the child by Il
shoulders and shake her soundly. Il
was laughing when he said that. T
rands? One would scarcely call
that"
Why did you renew the acQuaiI
ance with Mr.. Jones, when you kne
that you never intended paying bat
that loan?"
Hara wac n ouoefion Mrc Chadao,
realized. from the look of the chill
that would not bear evasion.
What makes you think / never 1
g tended to repay him."
= Fortune laughed. II did not SOU
a grateful In the mothers ears.
l. "Iother, this is a crisis; 1t can n
e be met by counter-questions nor
e fippancy. You know that you d
not intend to pay him. What (
e mand to know is. why you spoke
e him again. so affably. why you seem
,e so eager to enter into his good grac
n once more. Answer that"
IS Her mother pondered. For once s
Is was really at loss. The unexpect,
,t ness Of this phase caught her of
r. balance. She saw one thing vivid
o. regretfrlly: she had missed valual
Is point in 10 .--ne by not adjusti
h her play to the growth Of the chi
t. who had. with the phenomenal 81
,e denness which still battles the p
lie biologists, stepped out Of girlho
a into womanhood, all in a day. WI
pr a fool she had been not to have ]