The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-04-17

ken her part or showed any real sy,o.
pathy for her position. He looked up
shecpishly under her touch. She saw
that his eyes we're swollen and blood.
shot.
You'll always despise me. Mona.
l."
mo; I'll understand. I think. Any
way, ! want you TO tell me the truth.
Gerry. We're friends, aren't wei"
He nodded. Before ! tell you" he
said huskily. II want you to feel that
I'm not all bad. I've acted the part OF
q scoundrel, but-but II was because
I'm a fool But-Ill tell you-every.
thing" And he did
Are you happy, little gall"
Winona's heart started painfully
and she bent her head to hide the In.
sistent tears. Quite. quite happy.
daddy" she answered TREMENDOUSLY.
"and-I'm so glad you've come Why
didn't you write me? ] would have
met you at the train; ! always did,
you know"
II didn't make up my mind to II till
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 misersbly. She rose
and sat down on the sofa beside her
father and leaned her head against her
shoulder. you won't do anything.
daddy. will your" she pleaded.
The old man shook his head. His
brows were drawn together In deep
iurrow and his mouth was sterner than
Winona had ever seen II. ITS a seri-
Gus matter, housekeeping n mans
name for Ave hundred dollars"
II know, dad; but lookl He
might have run away--he had all the
chance. But he wouldn't; he preferred
to make a clean breast OF his wrong
and do what he could to repair It. As
! wrote you. he told me everything;
how he had used your signature In
NJ OF desperation to cover up his short
age at the bank. His mother In old
and III: he was threatened with expo
would kill her. He-he" she broke of.
the tears running unrestralnedly down
her cheeks. Hes not all bad. Daddy;
he oughtn't to have gambled. ! know
And OF course he ought not to have
forged some ones name. but ! think
II was the result OF fright and inexpe
rience. He's too kind.hearted; he's
been too good TO me. Give him .
chance-please!"
When the old man looked down into
the girls upturned face. his own eyes
were misty. You amt happy. Mona"
he said with conviction. Il can tell
that And-he's been good to you!
Gerald hast"
"Oh. Daddy" was all she could say.
Her head fell on his knee. She sobbed
openly. But In q little while she had
dried her eyes. She looked up eager.
ly. You VIM" she urged. you will!
I've been talking to him. and feel
sure he'll square II all up In the end"
A strange smile suddenly trans
formed the old mans wrinkled face
into momentary beauty. Tits al.
ready squared. honey" he said
Tom wilkins. coming home early TO
luncheon. placed a letter In his young
wife's hands. "A line from mother"
he said: she wasn't 80 well when
they left. Let's see what she says"
Matilda tore the edge on the enve-
lope and spread out the written sheet.
II came from Oakland. Cal. and was
dated two days before. A soft glow
OF happiness overspread her face as
she read II:
MY Dear Daughter:
Il felt I Just must write and tell YOU
how charmed both Gerald and myself
are with the life out here. We have
taken a lovely apartment and ! am going
60 Keep house for us both. I am feeling "A
hundred per cent better and Gerry has
already picked up wonderfully. l believe
he would have died N We had stayed an
other week In Chicago. lie has gained ten
pounds In "a month and really has color In
his cheeks The farm belonging Ia your
father that he engaged Gerry to oversee
II IN a nourlshing condition under the new
management II really looks as II we've
come TO stay. and want you all to come
and make US visit next fall BY-that