Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-15
CHAPTER XIV.
Locked Out

earth for several minutes and then
walked slowly away out OF sight OF the
house There was a chair beside the
GriudStone under the Porter apple tree.
and she sank into ii. crossed her arms
on the back and. bowling her head On
them. burst into n ft OF weeping as
fempestuous and passionate as II was
silent. for. although her body fairly
shook with sobs, no sound escaped
The minutes passed. perhaps an
hour: sine did not take account Of time.
The. moon went behind clouds. the
night grew misty. and the stars faded
one by one There would be rain to
morrow. and there was a great deal OF
hay cut. so she thought in a vsgrant
sort OF way.
Meanwhile Patty upstairs was in a
state OF suppressed excitement and ter
ror. II was a quarter of an hour be
fore her father settled himself in bed.
then an age IL seemed 20 her before
she heard his heavy breathing When
she thought II quite safe she slipped
on a print wrapper, took her shoes in
her hand and crept noiselessly down
stairs. out through the kitchen and
into the shed Lifting the heavy bar
that held the big doors in place. she
closed them softly behind her. stepped
out and looked about her in the DARK
ness. Her quick eye espied in the dis
lance near the barn the bowed figure
IN the chair. and she flew through the
wet grass without a thought of her
bare feet till she reached her sisters
side and held her in a close embrace.
My darling, My own, own poor
darling she cried softly. the tears
running down her cheeks. How wick
ed, how unjust, TO serve my dearest
sister so, Don't cry, my blessing,
don't cry, You frighten me, I'll take
cnre OF you, dear. Next time I'll inter
fere I'll scratch and bite, yes, I'll
strange anybody that dares to shame
you and lock you out Of the house
you, the dearest, the patientest the
BEST"
Waitstill wiped her eyes. LET us go
farther away where we can talk" she
whispered.
Where had we better sleep?" Patty
asked. "On the hay. ] think. though
-ve shall stife with the heat" and
Patty moved toward the barn.
NO, you must go back TO the house
at once, Patty, dear. Father might
make matters worse It's beginning to
drizzle or l should stay out in the air.
Oh. wonder II fathers mind is going
and If this is the beginning OF the end:
II he is in his sober senses he could
not be so strange, so suspicious, so
unjust
He could be anything, say anything,
do anything exclaimed Patty. Per
haps he is not responsible and perhaps
he is; IL doesn't make much difference
TO US. Come along, blessed darlingi
III tuck you in and then I'll creep back
TO the house IL you say 1 must I'll go
down and make the kitchen FIRE in the
morning; you stay out here and see
what happens. A good deal will hap
pen, I'm thinking, II father speaks to
me OF you! / shouldn't be surprised
70 see the fur flying IN all directions
I'll seize the first moment TO bring
you out a cup Of coffee and well con-
suit about what TO do. may tell you
now I'm all for running awayT'
WaitstilIs first burst OF vretched-
ness had subsidized and she had recov-
cred her balance. I'm afraid we
must wait a little longer, Patty she
advised Don't mention my name TO
father, but see how he acts in the
morning. He was so wild, so unlike
himself, that / almost hope he may
forget what he said and sleep IL on. |
Yes. We must just wait
NO doubt he'll be far calmer in the |
morning If he remembers that, II he !
turns you out, he faces the prospect OF 4
three meals a day cooked by me-" said l
Patty. That's what be thinks he |
would face; but, as a matter Of fact, |
I shall tell him that where you sleep |
I sleep. and where you eat / eat, and
when you stop cooking / stopl He /
won't part with two unpaid servants
In a hurry. not at the beginning OF
haying.7 And Patty, giving Wsitstill
a last hug and a dozen fearful kisses.
stole reluctantly back 70 the house by
the same route through which she had
left #
Patty was right She found the IRE
lighted when she went down into the
kitchen next morning. and without a
word she hurried breakfast on 10 the
table as fast as she could cook and
serve il. waitstiH was safe In the
barn chamber. she knew. and would
be there quietly while her father was
cows, or perhaps she might go up in
she woods and wait until she saw him
driving away.
The deacon ate his breakfast In 81
IeEef, looking and acting very much as
Ils1ai, for he was generally dumb at
meals. when he left the house. how
ever, and climbed into the wagon. he
turned around and said in his ordinary
crUn manner: Bring the lunch up 10
Tic field yourself today. Patience. Tell
your sister ] hope she's come 10 her
senses fl the course Of the night
Y ou've got 10 learn. both ~ you, that
MY say So must be law in this house.
You can fuss and you can fume II II
smuseS you any. but won't do no
good. Don't encourage WaitstiH in