Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-05-15

by sending word. through Leslie. that
she would be pleased II Mrs. Wrandall
would issue invitations to as many Of
Challis' friends as she deemed advis-
able. As for herself, she had no wish
in the matter; she would be satisfied
with whatever arrangements the fam
lily dared to make.
1t is not to be supposed. from the
foregoing. that Mrs. Wrandall, the
elder. was not stricken to the heart
by the lamentable death of her idol.
He was her idol. He was her first
born, he was her love-born. He came
to her in the days when she loved her
husband without much thought Of re-
speeding him. She was beginning to
regard him as something more than
lover when Leslie came. 30 1t was diff
ferent. When their daughter Vivian
was born. she was plainly annoyed but
wholly respectful. Mr.. Wrandall was
no longer the lover; he was her lord
and master. The head of the house Of
Wrandall was q person to be looked
up to, to be respected and admired by
her, for he was q very great man. but
he was dear to her only because he
was the father Of Challis. the first
born.
In the order Of her nature, Challis
therefore was her most dearly beloved.
Vivian the least desired and last In
her affections a. well as In sequence.
Strangely enough. the three Of them
perfected a curiously significant rec
ord of conjugal endowments. Challis
had always been the wild, hayward.
unrestrained one. and by far the most
lovable; Leslie. almost a. good look.
ing but with scarcely a noticeable
trace of charm that made his brother
attractive; Vivian, handsome. selfish
and as cherries as the wind that
blows across the icebergs in the north
Challis had been born with q widely
enveloping heart and an elastic con
science; Leslie with a brain and q
soul and not much Of heart, as things
go; Vivian with q soul alone, which be
longed to God. after all. and not t.
her. OF course she had q heart, but II
was only for the purpose of pumping
blood to remote extremities, and had
nothing whatever to do with anything
SO unutterably extraneous as love
charity or selfsacrifice.
As for Mr.. Redmond Wrandall hi
was a very proper and dignified gentle
man, and old for his years.
ho "A
that II the house of Wrandall had mo-
been 30 admirably centered under III
own vine and fig tree. 1t might hav,
become divided against itself withou
much Of an effort.
Mrs. Redmond wrandall was tn,
vine and fig tree.
And now they had brought her dear
ly beloved son home to her. murdere,
| and-disgraced. II 1t had been eithe
of the others, she could have said
Gods win be DONE" Instead. Oh,
cried out that God had turnbd agains
her.
Leslie had had the bad taste-o
perhaps 1t was misfortune-to blur
out an agonixed Il told you %" at
time when the family was sittinl
Pnumb and hushed under the blight o
the first horrid blow. He did not meal
to be unfeeling. It was the truth burst
ing from his unhappy lips.
II knew Chal would come to this
I knew It," he had said. His arm wa
about the quivering shoulders Of hi
mother as he said II.
She looked up. sob breaking 4
her throat. For long time she locke
into the face Of her second son.
How can you-how dare you "a
such q thing a. thatr" she criet
aghast.
He colored. and drew her closer Z
him.
II didn't mean It," he faltered.
you have always taken side
against him." began his mother.
Please. mother" he cried mise
ably.
you say this to me now" she wer