Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-12-17
CHAPTER xxnl.


The Vletor7
They didn't seem exactly to be
hankering after my society In there"
observed Wanda Kelly, 80 / came
back"
Jim Blake turned from the window
at sound OF the telephone girls pur.
posely raised voice. Just within the
threshold from the inner rooms OF the
suite. Wanda, with elaborate care. was
shutting the door behind her
Blake glanced quickly about the
room.
Yes" said Wanda, answering the
question In his look and jerking her
pretty head back In the direction Of
the rooms she had just quilted. in
there. wouldn't worry II we're you"
Jim Blake's grim face took on
light as incongruous as the play OF
sunset rays on a mummy. The mask
Of age and defeat seemed to melt be
meath II. He took an eager step to.
ward the inner door.
Just a minute" Wanda halted him.
You asked me to wait. II you don't
need me here any longer"
Yes" hesitated Blake, trouble nit
ting across the new light In his eyes.
Il wanted TO ask you-to-not 10 let
Tom know about this. His sister"
I'm never tell him." she promised.
Il sent him away so he wouldn't find
out"
You're white, clear through" grudg-
ingly admitted Blake. "Will you do
one thing more?"
"What?"
Bring him back - me-"
IF meet him again." she assented
primly, IN send"
81 didn't say send corrected
Blake, Il said bring"
That's different. ="
I'm out Of politics. My own game
has broken me at last. I'm old. l
know It now. never did till tonight.
I'm old and want my children around
me-"
"I'll tell Tom" she agreed, softened
despite herself by the new suppliance
in voice that had never before been
turned to the uses OF entreaty. "I'll tell
him. I'm sure he'll come back to you
when he understands. Good night,
Mr.. Blake"
There's another thing" he broke
in roughly, staying her departure. "a
thing that isn't easy to say"
Then, why say it,"
Because" he growled, like all
things that aren't easy to say, it's a
thins that's got to be said. Miss Kel-
ly, hasn't tonight pretty nearly squared
the old debt between you and me?
You and yours have suffered lot at
my hands. But, after what's hap
pened here this evening, guess you'll
admit, as far as suffering goes, you
haven't got much on me. Haven't
paid? Won't you say we're squares"
"We're-we're square, Mr.. Blake,
she returned in a tone she could not
make wholly steady nor impersonal.
And" pursued Blake, "and-Tom? p
That's different, too" she faltered
q"
The jangle of the telephone inter
rupted her. Blake, who was beside
the desk, picked up the instrument
Hello" he called into the transmit
ter. "Ye-yes-she's here. Who
wants her? Oh! Yes, put him on this
wire"
He lowered the telephone.
Some one to speak to you, Miss
Kelly" he reported.
Mechanically, she took up the re
ceiver, and, by long habit, her voice
took its professional drone:
"Hello!" she called.
Then, turning on Blake, in surprise
she cried:
"Why, it's Toni"
Yes" drawled Blake. so l gath
cred from the name. I'm glad. Glat
clear down to the ground For boil
of you. Tell him so, won't you?"
The winter sun was butting its wa.
over the eastern skyline. The dawl
was bitter-cold, mercilessly clear.
And into the track of the first whit
glittering rays walked tired man.
man who that night had won a might,
victory. A victory that foreshadowe
the richest gifts his country could be
stow. Before him the future stretches
bright as that winters dawn. AS da1
zlingly brilliant, and as cold and starR
/ ly empty.
In Matthew Standish's ears, as h
returned toward the loveless abod
, that he hated to call home, still ran
echoes of the pandemonium that ha
: broken loose in the house when tn
| Mullins bill had gone down to defea
? There is only one lasting victory,
I he muttered disjointedly to himsel
, as he moved onward in the dazzlin
t ice-cold trail of light. "At the last,
won't be the worlds applause that tn
D worlds great men will remember
will be the love smile of Woman
, And shall never have known tina
i memory. What is the rest WORTH
! (THE END
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