Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-07-26

they re all even, anu DIV
slowly, her glance slipping along the
yelled lights Of the sconces. IN JUS
circuit II encountered Dominicks hg- {
ure in the doorway. U
"Dominick!" she cried. and stooo
staring. naively astoaishec ana dis-
mayed {
Mrs Ryan turned with start. her I
face suffused with color. The one
word seemed to have an electrify'ns
effect upon her, joyous. perturolhs- !
unquestionably exciting.
MY boy" she said. and she rusteo
across the room with her hands out
| Dominick walked toward her. lie
was grave, pale, and looked thor
oughly miserable He had his cane
in one hand. his hat in the other. AS
he approached her he moved the nat
to his left hand and took hsrs.
You've COME" she said fOndly.
knew you would. That's my boy.
knew you'd come when your mother
asked you"
Yes, I've come" he said slowly.
and looking down as If desiring TO
avoid her eyes. Yes. I've come
but"
His mothers glance fell from his |
face to his figure and saw under the /
loose fronts OF his overcoat that he
wore his business suit. Her counte-
nance instantly. with almost electric
, suddenness, stiffened into tagon!sm.
: Her eye lost its love, and hardened
I into a stony look of defiant indigna-
r ton. She pulled her hand from his
. and jerked back the front of his coat
- with it.
: whats this mean" she said sharp
y ~. why aren't you dressed? The
h people will be here in minute. You
e can't come this way
n 81 was going home to dress, ne
8 said. II am not sure yet that can
d come"
" "Why?" she demanded.
g 81 came to ask you for an invita-
W ton for Berry"
,r Hail" said his mother. expelling
" her breath in an angry ejaculation OF
confirmed suspicion. That's 1t. Is
al it? | thought as much!
Of Mammal" said the girl who had
m been standing by. uneasily listening.
n Mamma dear"
n Keep quiet, Cornie." said her
he mother. you're not in this"-turning
d. to Dominick And so your wife sent
ct, you up here to beg for an invitation
st. She's got you under her thumb to
pit that extent? Well. go back TO hel
nj and tell her that she can send yoJ
ay forty times and you'll not get it-no
Il.
ell dead you can do what you like.
err She turned away from him. her FAC
dark with stirred blood, her bod
n ouivering. Anger was not the onl
passion that shook her. Deeper thai
'E this went outraged pride, love turne
III TO gall. impotent fury that the woma
u her son had married had power owe
81 him so to reduce his pride and hun
ii BILE his manhood-her only son, IN
joy and glory of her old age, her Bel
III jamin.
Al He looked after her. uncertai
81 frowning. desperate.
IT'S not right" he protested IT
not fair. You're unjust to her an
81 to me-"
The old woman moved across II
n room to the corner where she hs
been standing when he entered. 81
did not turn. and he continued:
You're asking people to this bf
that you hardly know. Everybody
u San Francisco's going. what mar
y has Berry done that you should lea
a her cut this way"
~ 81 don't want women with that XII
I
decent people here TO meet that sor
said his mother over her shoulder.
Are you ever going to forget I
past, mother?"
She wheeled round toward him
most shouting:
"No-no-nol Never! Never! Ma
your mind up to that"
They looked at each other acre
the open space, the angry defar
a in their faces not hiding the love
nv appeal that spoke in their eyes
NH "Oh. mother!" he exclaimed, HI
\W turning away with a movement OF
NNl spair.
His mother looked at him from
der her lowered brows. her under
thrust out, her face unrelenting.
Come here whenever you like"
said, "as often as you want. It's y
home. Dominick. mine and yo'
But it's not your wife's. Underst'
that"
She turned away and again mo
slowly toward the corner, her
skirts trailing fanwise over the
ouet. He stood, sick at heart. IL
ing at the tip Of his cane as 1t ref
on the floor.
"Dominick," said his sisters "
beside him, go; that's the only II
- to do You see it's no USE" She m
a backward jerk of her head tow
their mother, and then. struck by
misery of the eyes he lifted to
muir face, said tenderly, I'm SO SC
You know I'd have sent 1t II i &C
first But it's no use. It's just the
old fight over again and not
e was gained. Tell your wife It's hope
at his Make her give it up"
hoI -,