The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-03-21

His reply had been characteristic
my mother is old and practically an
invalid, dear. ] could not think of de-
serting her now, even II she is a bit
peculiar. Try to be a little more pa
tient"
And Winona did But by degrees
she grew bitter, resentful and finally
jealous. In every affair. great or small,
Tom made a point of siding with his
mother against her, yielding first to
the older woman's judgment and find
ing fault with his wife for her oppo-
sitiOn. But never a word of her un-
happiness went home to the loving old
daddy who believed her the most con-
tented girl In Chicago.
Winona had Just passed through
one of the disagreeable encounters
with her mother-in-law. and the tears
were standing thick on her laahes.
Her eyes we're flashing and scarlet
circles throbbed in either cheek. She
crossed to one Of the windows and
stood there a long time staring into
the rose-bloomed court below. A quick,
nervous rap on the door brought her
" hcIbcll 4Oup III dll hh0lluOOu,
come to rebuke her for his mothers
unreasonableness. she mused bitterly
She went to the door and turned the
knob. Gerald Wilkins staggered into
the room.
"Are you all by yourself. Nona?" he
asked hoarsely
YES, quite alone and likely to be
all afternoon. Gerry. What-what is
1t? You look like a ghosti"
The boy dropped heavily into q
chair and buried his face In his hands.
His body shook convulsively.
Winona regarded him uneasily for a
moment; then she went up to his side
and laid a gentle row of white finger
tips on his shoulder. Tell me what
is wrong. Gerry" she said, perhaps
/ can help you" OF all the Wilkins.
Gerald was the only one who had ia
ken her part or showed any real SYM
pathy for her position. He looked up
sheepishly under her touch. She saw
that his eyes were swollen and blood.
shot.
You'll always despise me. Mona
T."
mo; III understand, think. Any
way, want you to tell me the truth
Gerry. We're friends. aren't wet"
He nodded. Before l tell you." he
said huskily, 'T want you to feel thai
I'm not all bad. I've acted the part oi
a scoundrel, but-but 1t was because
I'm fool. But-IU tell you-every
thing" And he did.
Are you happy, little gal?"
Winona's heart started painfully
and she bent her head to hide the In
sistent tears. quite. quite happy
daddy" she answered tremulously
"and-Im SO glad you've come. Why
didn't you write me? l would have
met you at the train; I always did
you know"
Il didn't make up my mind to 1t TIL
the last minute. Your letter brought
me. And-then the check came In too
about the same time"
"And-and you've come Toto
The girl broke of miserably. She rose
and sat down on the sofa beside heI
father and leaned her head against hei
phOOAuOEs IOu WOu I uO any Suihe 3
daddy. will your" she pleaded.
The old man shook his head. Hi
brows were drawn together In deeI
furrow and his mouth was sterner thar
Winona had ever seen it. TITS q seri
GUS matter, honey-forging a man.
name for five hundred dollars"
IL know, dad; but lookI HI
might have run away-he had all thu
chance. But he wouldn't; he preterre'
to make a clean breast Of his wronl
and do what he could to repair It. Al
l wrote you, he told me everything
how he had used your signature In |
iit of desperation to cover up his short
age at the bank. His mother Is oil
and Ill; he was threatened with expo
sure. and he knew that the shocl
would kill her. He-he" she broke on
} the tears running unrestrainedly dow
her cheeks. Hes not all bad, Daddy
! he oughtn't to have gambIed, know
: And of course he ought not to hav
! forged some ones name, but l thin
: 1t was the result Of fright and inexpe
rience. He's too kind-hearted; he
been too good to me. Give him
chance-pleasel"