The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-02-14


him that it isn't horrible calamity.
ought to feel so, too, but Heigho!
Is this Katherine Hampden?"
She went on turning the pages of the
paper until her casual glance was
caught by familiar name in a satiri-
cal editorial under the caption "a Fool
Errant." The fool errant was John
Dunmeade, recently-and happily, in
the editors Opinion-disposed Of at the
primaries.
Her color deepened suddenly and for
another reason. Memory had recalled
! to her something she had once said to
this man. "When you were a broken
down. middle aged failure. 1
should be looking up at the men who
were conquering. And l should
regret"
Well, her prophecy had been fulfilled
sooner than she had expected. He had
been cast aside even by his own neigh
bors. But there was something large
and fine about him which forbade pity
and commanded respect made even
such men as Gregg, with their vitiated
ideals, want to do him favors ION gen
eral principles
ITO think that l could have said that
to him. she cried to herself. "What
cad was If only 1 hadn't said up
at the men who were conqueringp
John Dunmeade. you tower above them
ALL"
She was still dreaming of John when
her father came in.
His face was haggard, set in an ugly
bitter scowl. The sympathy that had
Jagged as she read of the wiping out of
fortune leaped when she saw the
man who had lost it.
Cleaned out" he said curtly.
She went to him quickly, laying an
impulsive hand on his shoulder. "Oh,
well, dear, never mind. 1t might be so
much worse. You might have been
taken sick or had an accident, or-or
anything. I've just been thinking how
nice it would be to go back home to
New Chelsea and start all over again
in-in something that wouldn't take all
your time. I'D be so glad to get ac-
quainted with you again" She gave
little laugh.
"You talk like foolr he replied
roughly. "What could l do in that rube
town--run Il grocery store? Here's
where | can make money. And I can
make all we need. once l get things
Strengthened out. I've been broke be-
fore. The immediate question Is to
keep out of jail"
She started back from him with a
gasp. "Out-of-jail! Father"'
! "Out of Jail, l said. I'm into the
New Chelsea bank and I've nothing left
to pay WITH
Isis it much?"
ut wasn't. but it is now"
but we must pay it back. There are
, the bonds you gave me. And the New
Chelsea houses that mother owns-she'll
give those up. And
''Not third enough"
} She dropped weakly into a chair, star
, ing at him fooIishly. she was very
: pale, daZed by the sudden new calam-
ity that had fallen.
but surely" she insisted anxiously,
THE bank won't press you. They know
you'll pay it all back when you can"
"What do you know about it? 1t
isn't the bank; it's the government that
will make the trouble That fool Blake
, is in worse than l am. The banks gut
ted, cleaned out. And the bank exam
iner is overdue. If he comes around
: now With a gesture he sketched
. the impending catastrophe.
stephen, what is the matter now? ?"
came a languld voice from the door.
way. And please, for my sake, lower
your voice. It's so vulgar to talk loud
, ly before servants" Mrs. Hanpden
entered and, with an air of utter ex-
, haustion, deposited her substantial
self in an easy chair
Father" Katherine explained, with
cruel brevity, has lost his money"
1t was an unexpected tonic. The in
, valid suddenly sat bolt upright and al
most shrieked. Lost our money? Do
you mean to say, Stephen Hampden,
that you've been selfish enough to gam
, BILE our money away after ali I've suf-
fered and denied myself
She threw her hands aloft and fell
back moaning. "Oh in my weak con-
, dition, when my heart
Maria, you're fraud. Even with
, your laziness and indulgenceS you're
the picture of vulgar health"
! Mrs. Hampden rose. She managed
, a stagger that would have done credit
to Bernhardt, clutching at tables and
chairs for the dOubtfully necessary
support out of the room.
, Hampden growled again, unintel-
ligibly.
Father, isn't there something to be
duneY
''Murchell. I've an appointment with
him in New Chelsea tomorrow. Some
Of his rascally politicians are in as
deep as Blake and l."
a "Can he help?"
LIIn nd hc,s. not 10 -