The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1913-02-13

circuit it encountered Dominck's fg-
ure in the doorway.
"DominiCl1!" she cried. and stood
staring, naiyely astonished and dis
mayed
Mrs. Ryan turned with start, her
face sutfused with color. The one
word seemed to have an electrifying
effect upon her. joyous. perturbinG---
unquestionably exciting.
MY boy!" she said, and she rustled
across the room with her hands out.
Dominick walked toward her. He
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 hat
to his left hand and took hsrs.
You've GOMEZ" she said fondly. II
knew you would That's my boy. l
knew you'd come when your mother
asked you
Eyes, I've come" he said slowly.
and looking down as is 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-
r nance instantly, with almost electric
+ suddenness, stiffened into "1tagonism.
Her eye lost it's love, and hardened
into stony look OF defiant indigna-
I ton. She pulled her hand from his
/ and jerked back the front OF his coat
with il.
Whats this mean?" she said sharp
2 ly. Why aren't you dressed? The
= people will be here in minute You
cant come this way"
Il was going home to dress" he
t said Il am not sure yet that ! can
+ come"
y Why" she demanded
2 II came 70 ask you for an invita-
/ ton for Berry"
: "Hah!" said his mother, eXpelling
: her breath in an angry ejaculation OF
confirmed suspicion. That's it. is
t it? | thought as much!"
Mammal" said the girl who had
S been standing by, uneaaily listening.
Mamma dear"
J Keep quiet. Cornie." said her
/ mother, you're not in this"-turning
/ to Dominick. And so your wife sent
/ you up here 90 beg for an invitation?
| She's got you under her thumb to
| that extent? Well, go back TO her
! and tell her that she can send you
| forty times and you'll not get it-not
| while this is my house. When I'm
l dead you can do what you like"
| She turned away from him. her face
| IL. rtF vii
| quivering. Anger was not the only
! passion that shook her. Deeper than
\ this went outraged pride. love turned
/ to gall, impotent fury that the woman
|. her son had married had power over
\ him so 10 reduce his pride and hum
BILE his manhood--her only son, the
Joy and glory Of her cid age, her Ben.
jamin.
He looked after her, uncertain
frowning, desperate.
rs aot right" he protested. ITS
not fair. You're unjust to her and
to me"
The Old woman moved across the
room to the corner where she had
been standing when he entered. She
did not turn. and he continued:
You're asking people to this ball
that you hardly know. Everybody in
San Francisco's going. What harm
has Berry done that you should leave
her out this way"
II don't want women with that kind
Of record in my house. | don't ask
decent people here to meet that sort, "
said his mother over her shoulder.
Are you ever going to forget the
past, mother"
She wheeled round toward him al
most shouting:
"No--no-no! Never Never! Make
your mind up to that"
They looked at each other across
the open space, the angry defiance
in their faces not hiding the love and
appeal that spoke in their eyes.
oh, mother!" he exclaimed, half
turning away with a movement of de-
spar
His mother looked at him from I'M
der her lowered brows. her under lip
thrust out, her face unrelenting.
Come here whenever you like" she
said, "as often as you want. It's your
home, Dominick, mine and yours.
that"
IS She turned away and again moved
II slowly toward the corner, her rich
y skirts trailing fanwise over the par
quet. He stood, sick at heart, look.
81 ing at the tip of his cane as it rested
r on the floor.
'f "Dominick," said his sisters voice
beside him, go; that's the only thing
g to DO. You see It's no use" She made
a backward jerk OF her head toward
o their mother, and then. struck by the
7, misery Of the eyes he lifted to her
s. face, said tenderly, I'm so sorry.
You know I'd have sent it If l could.
r But it's no use. It's just the same
d old fight over again and nothing
s, gained. Toll your wife it's hopeless.
r Make her give it up"
s He turned slowly. his head hanging
is "All right" he said, I'll tell her.
n Good night, mother"
i~ht ipf IL ~