Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1914-12-10
CHAPTER XVI.


NiNtdN AlTo 1SF OptntOH1.
Chief among Booths virtues was his
undertaking loyalty to a set purpose.
He went back to America with the
firm intention to clear up the mystery
surrounding Hetty Castleton, no mat
ter how irksome the delay in achiev-
ing his aim or how vigorous the meth
DDS he would have to employ Sara
Wrandall, to all purposes, held the
key; his object In life now was to In
duce her to turn II in the lock and
throw open the door so that he might
enter in and become a sharer in the
secrets beyond.
A certain amount of optimistic cour-
age attended him in his campaign
against what had been described to
him as the impossible. He could see
no clear reason why she should with
hold the secret under the new condi-
lions, when so much in the shape OF
happiness was at stake. 1t was In
this spirit of confidence that he pre-
pared to confront her on his arrival in
New York, and 1t was the same I'M
bounded faith In the belief that moth
ing evil could result from q perfectly
just and honorable motive that gave
him the needed courage
He stayed over night In New York,
and the next morning saw him on his
way to Southlook. There was some
thing truly ingenious in his desire to
get to the bottom of the matter with
out fear or apprehension. At the very
worst, he maintained, there could be
nothing more reprehensible than a
passing infatuation, long since dis
PEELED, or perhaps a mildly sinister
episode in which virtue had been tri-
umphant and vice defeated with I'M
pleasant results to at least one per-
son, and that person the husband of
Sara Wrandall
Pat met him at the station and drove
him to the little cottage on the upper
road.
I'VE didn't stay long," said he reflect
lively, after he had put the bag up in
front. He took up the reins.
Not very" replied his master.
After a dozen rods or more, Pat
tried again.
Just seventeen days, make it."
Seems longer"
Perhaps you'll be after going back
soon"
"Why should you think that, Pat
rick?"
Because you don't seem to be takin'
much interest in your surroundin's
here. said Pat loftily. He delivered
smart smack on the crupper with
his stubby whip, and pursed his lips
for the companionship to be derived
from whistling.
II suppose you know why went to
Europe" said Booth, laying his hand
afrectionately on the mans arm.
Sure l do" said Pat, forgetting to
whistle. "And was 1t bad luck you
had, sor?"
"a temporary case of 1t, I'm afraid"
Well" said the Irishman, looking
up at his employer with the most pro-
found encouragement in his wink, IF
it's amy help to you, sor, I'll say that
I've never found bad luck to be any
thing but temporary. And, believe me,
I've had plinty of 1t. Mary was dom
near three years maxim up her mind
to say yis to me-"
And since then you've had no bad
luck?" said Booth, with a smile.
"Plinty of 1t, begob, but I've had
some one besides meself to blame for
it. There's a lot in that, Mr.. Bran
don. Whin a man marries, he simply
divides his luck into two parts, good
and bad, and II he's like most men he
puts the bulk av the bad luck on his
wife and kapes to himself all he can
av the good for rainy day. That's
what makes him strong man and
able to meet trouble when 1t comes
The beauty av the arrangement is that
bad luck is only temporary and WON.
an enjoys talking about 1t, while good
luck is wild us nine-tenths Of the time
whether we know 1t or not, and we
don't have to talk about It,"
This was fine philosophy, but Booth
discerned the underlying motive.
Have you been quarreling?"
Il have not" said Pat wrathfully
But / won't say as much for Mary
The point av me argument is that
have all the good luck In havin' mar
ried her, and she claims to have had
all the bad luck in marryin' me. Still
as | said before, it's but temporary
The good luck lasts and the bad don't
She'll be after tellin' me so before
shutdown. That's like all women
You'll find 1t out for yourself wan o
these days, Mr.. Brandon, and yen BIZ
dom proud ye're man and can enjoy
your good luck when We get. It The
bad luck's always fallin' behind We
and We can always look forward to the
good luck SO don't be downhearted
She'll take you, or me names moi
what 1t ought to be"
Booth was inclined to accept this
unique discourse as fair-weathel
sign.
Take these bags upstairs. Pat,
said he on their arrival at the cottage
land then come down and drive me
over to Mrs. Wrandall's."
will we be after stayin' for lunch
with her, Mr.. Brandon?" inquired Pat
climbing over the wheel.
81 can't answer that question now.