The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-04-10


show girl. You know that And you
must not forget that your mother was
foreigner"
His eyes fell I'm sorry said
that" he exclaimed. hoarsely.
Lydia, leaning rather heavily
against the door, spoke to him in a
low, cautious voice
Did you tell Mr.. Dawes and Mr.
Riggs"
He stopped short. mo! And they
waited up to see if they could be OF
any assistance to him in an hour OF
peril! What a joke! Poor old beg
CARS! I've never felt sorry for them
before, but, on my soul, | do now.
What will she do to the poor old
chaps? ! shudder to think of it. And
she'll make short work of everything
else she doesn't like around here, too.
Your mother, Lydia-why, God help
US, you know what will just have to
happen In her case. It's"
Don't speak so loudly, dear-please.
please! She is asleep. OF course.
We've shan't stay on, Freddy. Wen
have to go as soon as"
His eyes filled with tears. He seized
her in his arms and held her close.
ITS beastly, beastly shame, darling.
Oh, Lord, what fool man can make
of himself"
you must not say such things" she
murmured, stroking his cheek with
cold, trembling fingers.
But why couldn't he have done the
fine, sensible thing, Lydia? Why
couldn't he have-have fallen in love
with-with your mother? Why not
have married her if he had to marry
someone in"
Freddy" she cried, putting her
hand over his mouth.
She kissed him swiftly. Her cheek
lay for a second against his own and
then, with a stified goodnight, she
broke away from him. An instant
| later she was gone; her door was
| closed.
The next morning he came down
earlier than was his custom. His
night had been a troubled one. For
| getting his own woes-or belittling
i them-he had thought only Of what
this news from the sea would mean
to the dear woman he loved so well.
No one was in the library, but huge
fire was blazing. A blizzard was rag
ing out-of-doors. Once upon a time,
when he first came to the house, a
piano had stood in the drawing-{oon.
His Joy at that time knew no bounds:
he loved music. For his years he was
no mean musician. But one evening
his father, coming in. Unexpectedly.
heard the player at the instrument.
For a moment he stood transfixed in
the doorway watching the eager, al
most inspired face of the lad, and
then, pale as a ghost, stole away with
out disturbing him. Strange to say.
Frederic was playing a dreamy waltz
of Ziehrer's, a waltz that his mother
had played when the honeymoon was
in the full. The following day the
piano was taken away by storage
company. The boy never knew why
1t was removed.
He picked up the morning paper.
His eyes traversed the front page rap.
idly. There we're reports of fearful
weather at sea. The Lusitania was
reported seven hundred miles out and
in the heart of the hurricane. She
would be day late.
He looked up from the paper. Mrs
Desmond was coming toward him, q
queer little smile on her lips. She
was q tall, fair woman, an English
type, and still extremely handsome
Hers was an honest beauty that had
no fear OF age.
"She is a stanch ship. Frederic" she
said, without any other form Of greet
ing. "She will be late but-there'l
really nothing to worry about"
I'm not worrying" he said con
} fusedly. Lydia has told you the
the news"
YES"
Rather staggering, isn't it," he sait
with a wry smile. In spite Of himself
} he watched her face with curious In
tentness.
! Rather" she said briefly.
81 suppose you don't approve Of tn
} way /"
81 know Just how you feel, poo
, boy. Don't try to explain. l know
you always understand" he said
lowering his eyes.
mot always" she said quietly.
well, it's going to play hob wit
. everything" he said, tanning hi
hands deep into his pockets. HI
} shoulders seemed to bunch forwar
and to contract.
81 am especially sorry for Mr.. Dave
and Mr.. Riggs" she said. Her voic
}. was steady and full Of earnestness.
d do they known"
D "They were up and about at da,
y break, poor souls. Do you know
- Freddy, they were starting of in thi
i blizzard when met them in the hall!
J. THE deuce! IL hope 1t wasn't o
l. account of anything may have sal
! to them last night" he cried, in gen,
d Inc contrition.
: She smiled. mo. They had thei
9 own theory about the message. Tn
y storm strengthened 1t. They wer
t positive that your father was in gres
r peril. They were determined to cha
n | <ar a yooool ~ oov,,a o0rf and ~ N