The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-03-13

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ments in her elaborateiy-dressed graz
hair. .F
"Therel" said CorneliA 'Noy
they're all even," and she wheeled
slowly, her glance slipping along th'
yelled lights OF the sconces. In III
circuit 1t encountered Dominick's ng
ure in the doorway.
"Dominick!" she cried, and stool
staring, naiVely astonished and dis
mayed.
Mrs. Ryan turned with a start, hel
face suffused with color. The onS
word seemed to have an electrifyinl
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 hal
to his left hand and took hsrs.
You've come!" she said fondly. "1
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 rntagonism.
Her eye lost Its love, and hardened
into a stony look of defiant indigna-
ton. She pulled her hand from his
and jerked back the front Of his coat
with it.
whats this mean?" she said sharp
ly. "Why aren't you dressed? The
people will be here in a minute. You
can't come this way"
Il was going home to Dress" he
said. Il am not sure yet that l can
come"
"Why?" she demanded.
Il came to ask you for an invita-
tion for Berny."
Hail" said his mother, expelling
her breath in an angry ejaculation of
confirmed suspicion. That's it, Is
It? thought as much!"
Mammal" said the girl who had
been standing by, uneasily listening.
Mamma dear"
Keep quiet, Cornie," said her
mother, you're not in this"-turning
to Dominick. And so your wife sent
you up here to 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
dead you can do what you like"
She turned away from him, her face
dark with stirred blood, her body
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 to reduce his pride and hum
BILE his manhood-her only son, the
Joy and glory of her old age, her Ben.
jamin.
He looked after her, uncertain
frowning, desperate.
''It's not right" he protested. TITS
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 Franciscos going. What harm
has Berry done that you should leave
her out this way?"
Il don't want women with that kind
Of record in my house. l 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 .houting:
"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.
ooh, mother!" he exclaimed, half
turning away with a movement Of de-
spair.
His mother looked at him from un-
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.
But it's not your wife's. Understand
that"
She turned away and again moved
slowly toward the corner, her rich
skirts trailing fanwise over the par
quet. He stood, sick at heart, look
ing at the tip of his cane as 1t rested
on the floor.
"Dominick," said his sisters voice
beside him. "go; that's the only thing
to do. You see it's no use" She made
a backward jerk Of her head toward
their mother. and then. struck by the
misery of the eyes he lifted to her
face, said tenderly, I'm so sorry
You know I'd have sent 1t il could.
But it's no use. It's just the same
old fight over again and nothing
gained. Tell your wife it's hopeless.
Make her give it up"
He turned slowly, his head hanging.
"All right" he said. "Ill tell her.
Good night, mother"