The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-12-12
CHAPTER XIV.
Journeys End.

Harrigan dined alone. He was in
disgrace; he was sore, mentally as
well as physically; and he ate his din
uer without relish, in simple obedi-
ence to those well-regulated periods
OF hunger that assailed him three
times a day, In spring, summer, au-
tumn and winter. By the time the
waiter had cleared away the dishes,
Harrigan had perfecto between his
teeth (along with a certain matrimo-
NAL bit), and smoked as II he had
wagered to finish the cigar in half the
usual stretch. He then began to walk
the floor, much after the fashion OF a
man who has the toothache, or the
earache, which would be more to the
point To his direct mind no diplo-
macy was needed; all that was neces-
sary was a few blunt questions. Nora
could answer them as she chose.
Nora, his baby. his little girl that used
to run around barefooted and laugh
when he applied the needed birch!
How children grew up! And they
never grew too old for the birch; they
certainly never did.
They heard him from the drawing
room; tramp, tramp, tramp.
Let him be. Nora" said Mrs. Harri-
gan. wisely. HE is In a rage about
something. And your father is not
the easiest man to approach when he's
mad. If he fought Mr.. Courtlandt. he
believed he had some good reason for
doing So"
Mother, there are times when 1
believe you are afraid of father"
Il am always afraid Of him. 1t is
only because / make believe I'm not
that can get him to do anything. 1t
was dreadful. And Mr.. Courtlandt
was such a gentleman. could cry.
But let your father be until tomor-
row."
"And have him wandering about
with that black eye? Something must
be done for It I'm not afraid OF him"
Sometimes I wish you WERE"
So Nora entered the lions den fear
lessly. "Is there anything I can do
for you, dad?"
"You can get the witch hazel and
battle this lamp of mine," grimly.
She ran into her own room and re-
turned with the simpler devices for
reducing a swollen eye. She did not
notice, or pretended that she didn't.
that he locked the door and put the
key in his pocket. He sat down in
. chair, under the light; and she went
to work deftly.
/ "Tve got some makeup. and tomor-
row morning I'll paint it for you."
You don't ask any questions" he
hid. with grimness.
Would 1t relieve your eye anyr
lightly.
He laughed. mo; but it might re-
1ieve my mind"
well, then. why did you do SO
Foolish a thing? At your age! Don't
you know that you can't go on whip
ping every man you take a dislike
tot"
Il haven't taken any dislike to
sCourtlandt. But l saw him kiss you"
n can take care Of myself"
Perhaps. I asked him to explain.
he refused. One thing puzzled me.
though l didn't know what 1t was at
~ time. Now, when q fellow steals
u hiss from a beautiful woman like
ron. Nora, / don't see why he should
tel mad about It. When he had all
Ut Knocked your daddy to by-by. he
nd that you could explain. !.
Oont press SO hard" warningly.
Well. can your"
Since you saw what he did. do
- see' where explanations on my
INT are necessary"
Nora, I've never caught you in q
ue. never want to.< When you were
nttle you were the truthfulleet thing
4 ever saw. No matter what kind OF
~ licking was in store for you. you
weren't afraid; you told the truth.
rs There. thatu do. Put some
keotton over 1t and bind 1t with a
nndkerchief. It'll be black all right.
- the swelling will go down. ! can
"a EN- tennis ball hit me. It was
IRE like q cannon ball. though. Say.
"a you know I've always pooh
eohed these amateurs. People used
+ ~ that there were dozens OF men
34ew York IN NV y,r4rnA vho c0uld