Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-03-14

slowly, her glance slipping along the
yelled lights OF the sconces. In It's
circuit It encountered Dominick's nS-
ure In the doorway
"Dominick!' she cried, and stood
staring, naively astonished and dis
mayed.
Mrs. Ryan turned with q start, her
face suffused 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 come!" she said fondly. 81
knew you would. That's my boy. I
knew you'd come when your mother
asked you"
yes, i've come" he said slowly.
and looking down as II 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 oTtagonism.
Her eye lost it's love. and hardened
into a stony look of defiant indigna-
tion. She pulled her hand from his
and jerked back the front of his coat
with It.
What's 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"
'T was going home to Dress" he
!. said. II am not sure yet that l can
: come"
, "Why?" she demanded.
, II came to ask you for an invita-
tion for Berny."
"Hah!" said his mother, expelling
: her breath in an angry ejaculation of
confirmed suspicion. That's II, is
1t? l 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.
n 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. It's
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
|
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 leavs
her out this way?"
I 81 don't want women with that kind
of record in my house, l don't ask
| decent people here to meet that sort. j"
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! Mako
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
| Iappeal that spoke in their eyes.
"Oh, mother!" he exclaimed. half
turning away with a movement of do
| spair.
| His mother looked at him from un
| der her lowered brows. her under liz
thrust out her face unrelenting.
Come here whenever you like" sh.
said, ''as often as you want. It's youl
home, Domnick, mine and yours
But it's not your wife's. Understand
that"
is She turned away and again movet
III slowly toward the corner. her rici
~ skirts trailing fanwise over the par
quet. He stood. sick at heart, look
st ing at the tip of his cane as it restes
'r- on the floor.
OF "Dominick." said his sisters voic'
beside him. go; that's the only thin
ag to do. You see it's no use" She mad
backward jerk of her head towar'
to their mother, and then. struck by tn
II, misery of the eyes he lifted to he
rs. face, said tenderly. "I'm so sorry
You know I'd have sent 1t If could
Dr. But it's no use. It's just the sam
ed old fight over again and nothini