The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-01-30
Copyright, 1919 by G. W. Dillingham; Compan,

expressive grimace ana a writhe.
"Who named hat hotel?"
The Grand?"
He nodded with another s%erio-comic
facial antic.
She laughed. 'Is II as bad as that 90
There are men in prison for doing
less h a running a hotel like that"
Almost he made the revelation of their
startling midnight ~wanderings, but
caught himself in time.
why don't you open your uncle's
homer"
MY uncle's homer" he said, q little
startled.
He had not thought of that The
suggestion probably did more to drive
home definitely to his inner mind the
true significance of his decision to
take up the business than anything
which had previously occurred. His
uncle's home!
After his fathers death 1t had been
his home; II had been the only semb-
lance of a home which he remembered,
and his memories of 1t were harsh
enough, In some details almost repel-
lent. His uncle had been hard; he had
had but little understanding of boy ma.
ture; the house had been q sort oil
prison from which he could escape al
intervals each day.
He had not even thought of opening
1t; 1t never had occurred to him that
he could ever live another day of his
life there.
But, now she spoke of 1t, why not?
The place was grim, ld-fashioned. in
hospitable, f%orbidding. as so many old
New England houses are, and as SO
many more New England houses were
ten years ago: but that atmosphere
al more that OF it's occupant than
that OF the old place itself. 1t must
have been a joyous and free-minded
Jones who chose the site for Il. for II
was very beautiful; 1t must have been
an artist Jones who chose the plans
for Ii, for Its design was OF that beau
tiful, pure old colonial which (barring
skyscrapers) Is the only architectural
merit America has yet originated. and
than which nothing Is more truly
beautiful; IL must have been a social
Jones who added the great wing to It,
for In that wing were bedrooms. ait
ting rooms, and a great dining-room
quite plainly meant to welcome many
guests.
His memories of the house were
gloomy and u~nattractive. for from II
both his father and his mother had
been taken to their final resting places.
and In 1t he had spent few joyous
hours. All the happiness of his youth
In Jonesville were associated with the
nm OF others, public places. out-of.
doors; he had heard very little laugh
ter In the old homestead. But might 1t
not house happiness? He realized that
1t would make an ideal setting for
pure Joy. Still, II was In %Jonesville!
That made him vince.
You don't think II will be necessary
for me to live In this town. do your"
She nodded. She was rather glad
to feel that II was right for her to.nod.
She would have shrsns from revc.:.
tons of the sorrow which would Ger.
tainly have filled her heart II 1t had
~transpired. now. that Broadway was
not to remain In ~Jonesville. She even
shrank from an acknowledgment OF
this In her own heart.
The business will need your atten-
tion," she said gravely.
He waved a hand which he tried to
make appear as II dispensing privi-
ieges. but which, he knew, seemed
o that of a shirker.
Go right On with the business. Don't
pay any attention to me-"
She looked at him very grayely.
Then, dropping her eyes. she took
some papers from the desk, went to a
filing cabinet. deposited them with
care In their allotted places, and slow.
ly went back to her desk. As she re-
turned she did not again raise her eyes
to his.
Have you thought of what we
talked about last night" she asked.
She made him most uncomfortable.
he had begun to wonder. for the first
time In his life, II, possibly, he did not
nave a conscience. He had never tn
ken n obligation very seriously; sud.
denly 1t seemed necessary for him to
consider many things with solemn.
bordering mind. He did not like It. II
distinctly made him nervous. What
was the use Of being heir to all his
uncle's property II riches brought the
very thing which he had thought they
might preserve him from-duIl care?
Had he thought of what she had
said last night? He had thought of lit
tie else! Had that train Of thought
been started by any human being other
than herself, he would have bitterly
resented the intense discomfort It had
caused him. Even now his voice was
peevish when he answered:
Have l thought of 1t! All I dreamed
about last night was poverty stricken
families crying for their food. Thou
sands OF men, women and children
chased me through the streets. out Of
the town and into q wild forest-where
there was nothing but chewing-gum
treeosy'
She let her head fall back. and
laughed. He was so funny! Yet she
plainly felt that there was truth In his
RIO BR CONTINUED