The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1913-05-01
Late n the d1y 6e went OUT u, reg

Late N the dny hp went OUT I" reg
the mercy he Ind never shown.
Katherine Hampden was alone that
evening. She was often alone nova
days. but not entirely because. AZ she
had told John Dunmeade. she had
been assigned berth on the shelf re-
served for interchangeable females.
There were many men who would have
gladly undertaken to relieve her soil
tude But thesp found her extremely
unapproach bile Those whom she
would have welcomed most gladly had
least time for dalliance In rawing
rooms.
The truth was. she was disappointed.
Mature perception. Quickened by a
glimpae of different ideal Of life. had
seen beyond the false setting Of m
nance behind which men aeek to hide
the ugliness Of the greedy. unscruIM
lous scramble for gold She would have
married Gregg had It not been for the
fact that. the acid Of his calling wus
etching more and more clearly upon
bic frank. clean exterior picture Of
what lay within AZ It was. she had
sent him away.
She was waiting for her fathers
Homecoming, While she waited she
glanced through the evening paper. lD
It the days doings on the stock ex.
change were featured. The account
had It that Hampden had been hard
hit-even vaguely limited that be might
have to fail. She was amazed at the
lack Of emotion with which she read
that their fortune. hitherto % potent.
and all sufiicing. had In q day been
sadly shaken IL not totally destroyed
She tried to picture to herself what It
must mean to them-the economies. the
psivations even. the loss Of caste among
Q set that measured worth by stocks
and bonds Somehow the picture could
not profoundly alarm. partly perhaps
because she knew too little of want to
draw convincingly. She could not even
feel deeply for her father. although
she had for him u genuine daughters
affection and knew what blow failure
would he to him.
"POor fatherv' she smiled half pity.
ingly. Il suppose nothing can persuade
him that It isn't a horrible calamity. |
ought to feel so, too. but Heigho!
II this Katherine Hampden7"
She went on turning the pages of the
paper until her casual glance was
caught by d familiar name In a satiri-
cal editorial under the caption "A Fool
Errant." 'rhe fool errant was John
Dunmeade. recently-and happily, In
the editors opinion disposed Of at the
primaries.
Her color deepened suddenly and for
another reason. Memory had recalled
to her something she had once said to
this man when you were broken
down. middle aged failure.
should be looking up at the men who
were conQnering - And should
regret"
Well. her prophecy had been fulfilled
sooner than she had expected. He had
boen cast aside even BY his own, neigh
bers. But there was something large
and One about him which forbade pity
and commanded respect. made even
such men AZ Gregg. With their vitiated
ideals. want to do him favers ION gen
sral principles.
ITO think that | could have said that
10 himv' she cried to herself. what a
cad was! II only hadn't said Up
ct the men who were c0nquering!
John Dunmeade. you tower. above them
all"
She was still dreaming Of John when
her father came in.
His face was haggard. set Ii an ugly.
bitter scowl. The sympathy that had
lagged rs she read Of the wiping out Of
Q fortune leaped when she saw the
man who had lost It.
Cleaned out" he said CURLY.
She went to him quickly. laying an
lmpulsive hand on his shoulder. "Oh.
well. dear. never mind. 1t might be so
much worse. You might have been
taken sick or had an accident. or-or
anything. I've just been thinking how
nice 1t would he to 60 back home to
New Chelsea and start all over again
ln-in something that wouldn't take all
your time. lid be so glad to get nc.
quainted with you again" She gave
little laugh.
''You talk like foolr' he replied
roughly. What could ! do In that rube
town-ruD a grocery store7 Here's
where can make money. And can
make all we need. once get things
Strengthened ont I've been broke BE-
ebrs. The immediate question y to
keep ont Of jail"
She started back from him With
gasp. ''Out-of-jail! Fathef!'
sOut Of jail. said. I'm Into the
New Chelsea bank and I've nothing left
b pay with
"Is-is It much7''
IL wasn't. but II Il now"
Tut Ne must pay It back. There are
tho bonds you gave me. And the New