The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-08-21
CHAPTER XIV.
Journeys End.

I1hIItkhH ulutu ulbhfs AlN Nno ia
disgrace; he was SORE mentally as
we'll as physically; and he ate his din
ner 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 a pertecto 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
believe you are afraid of father"
81 am always afraid of him. 1t is
only because / make believe I'm not
that can get him to do anything. It
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 l wish you were"
So Nora entered the lions den fear
iessly. 'Is there anything l can do
for you, dad?"
'You can get the witch hazel and
bathe this lamp of NINE" 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
a chair, under the light; and she went
to work deftly.
1--WE got some makeup, and tomor-
row morning I'll paint it for you"
You don't ask any questions" he
said, with grimness.
Would it relieve your eye any?"
lightly.
He laughed mo; but 1t might re-
lieve 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
to-"
"I haven't taken any dislike to
Courtlandt But / saw him kiss you"
81 can take care Of myself"
Perhaps. l asked him to explain.
He refused. One thing puzzled me,
though | didn't know what it was at
the time. Now, when fellow. steals
a kiss from a beautiful woman like
you, Nora, l don't see why he should
feel mad about. It. When he had all
but knocked your daddy to by-by, he
said that you could explain. e.
Don't press so hard" warningly.
"Well. can you?"
"Since you saw what he did, do
not see where explanations on my
part are necessary"
Mora, I've never caught you in a
lie. / never want to. When you were
little you were the truthfullest thing
l ever saw. No matter at kind of
a licking was in store you, you
weren't afraid; you told the truth.
There, thatll do. Put some
cotton over 1t and bind it with
handkerchief. It'll be black all right,
but the swelling will go down. l can
tell 'em tennis ball hit me. 1t was
more like cannon ball, though. Say,
Nora, you know I've always pooh
poohed these amateurs. People used |
in New York in my prime who could |
have laid me cold used to laugh |
Well, l guess they were right Court |
landt's got the stiffest kick l ever ran |
into. A pile driver, and If he had landed |
on my Jaw, it would have been dormi |
bene as you say when you bid me good |
night In dago. That's all right now
until tomorrow. want to talk to
you. Draw up a chair. There! AS l
said, I've never caught you in lie,
but find that you've been living lie
for two years. You haven't been
square to me. nor to your mother, nor
to the chaps that came around and
made love to you. You probably
didn't look at it that way, but there's
the fact. I'm not Paul Pry; but acct
dentally l came across this" taking
the document from his pocket and
handing it to her. Read it. What's
the answer?"
Nora's hands trembled.
'Takee you long time to read It.
Is it true?"
eyes"
"And went up to the tennis court
with the intention Of knocking his
head off; and now I'm wondering why
he didn't knock off mine Nora, he's
, man; and when you get through with |