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

there was nothing else left for him to
do. But, for all that, he desplred
so, no doubt, II one
bears in mind the fact that they slgrl-
fed more to James Brood than dlo
his long-neglected son.
The cold reserve that extended to
the young man did not carry beyond
him in relation to any other MEMBER
of the household so far as James
Brood was concerned. The unhappy
boy. early in their acquaintance. came
to realize that there was little in COM
mon between him and the man he
called father After while the eager
light died out of his own eyes and ne
no longer strove to encourage the In
innate relations he had counted upon
as a part of the recompense for so
many years of separation and loneli-
ness. 1t required but little effort on
his part to meet his fathers indifer-
ence with a GOODNESS quite as pro-
nounced; he had never known the
meaning Of filial love; he had been
taught by word of mouth to love the
man he had never seen, and he had
learned as one learns astronomy-by
calculation. He hated the two old men
because his father loved them.
The patient butler. Jones, had made
no less than four visits to the library
since ten o'clock to awaken them and
pack them off to bed. Each time he
had been ordered away, once with the
joint admonition to mind his own
business"
But it is nearly midnight" pro-
tested Jones irritably, with a glance
at the almost empty decanter.
Jones'" said Danbury Dawes. with
great dignity and an eye that de-
ceived him to such a degree that he
could not for the life of him under
stand why Jones was attending them
in pairs, Jones, you ought to be in
hic-bed, d-n you-both Of you. Wha'
you mean, sir, by coming in-hic-
here thish time o. night dis-disturb-
ing"
You internal migrate" broke in Mr..
Riggs fiercely, don't you dare to touch
that bottle, sir. Let 1t alone!"
ITS time you were in bed" pro
nounced Jones, taking Mr.. Dawes by
the arm. Mr.. Dawes sagged heavily
in his chair and grinned triumphantly.
He was a short, very fat old man.
Take him to bed, JONES'" said Mr..
Riggs firmly. Hes drunk and-and
utterly useless at time like this
Take him along"
Who the dev-hic-il are you. sir?'
demanded Mr.. Dawes, regarding Mr.
Riggs as II he had never seen him
before.
you are both drunk" said Jones
succinctly.
The heavy front door closed with q
bang at that instant and the sound OF
footsteps came from the hall-a quick
firm tread that had decision in 1t.
Jones cast furtive, nervous glance
over his shoulder.
I'm sorry to have Mr.. Frederic see
you like this" he said, biting his lip
"He hates 1t So"
The two old men made q commend
able effort to stand erect, but no eff
fort to stand alone. They linked
arms and stood shoulder to shoulder
SHOW him in." said Mr.. Riggs. mag
nificently.
Now well find out wass in tele
gram OF briny Deep" said Mr.. Dawes
spraddling his legs a little farther
apart in order to declare a stanch
/ front.
ITS worth waiting up for" said Mr.
Riggs.
Absolutely" said his staunch friend
Frederic Brood appeared In thu
door, stopping short Just inside tn,
heavy curtains. There was a momen
tary picture, such as stage director
would have arranged. He was still
wearing his silk hat and top-coat, an,
| one glove had been halted in tn,
process Of removal. Young Broo,
stared at the group of three, a franl
stare Of amazement. A crooked smil
came to his lips.
Somewhat later than usual, see,
he said. and the glove came OF with
jerk. Whats the matter. Jones? Re
bellion?"
mo, sir. It's the wireless, SIR"
"Wireless?
"Briny Deep" said Mr.. Dawes
vaguely pointing.
"Oh," said young Brood, crossin
slowly to the table. He picked up tn
envelope and looked at the inscriy
ton. "Oh," said he again, in quit
a different tone on seeing that 1t wa
addressed to him. From father,
dare say" he went on, a fne line al
pearing between his eyebrows.
The old men leaned forward, fixin
their blear eyes upon the missive.
Les hear the worst. Freddy" sal
Mr.. Riggs.
The young man ran his finger unde
the flap and deliberately drew out tn
message. There ensued another ri,
ture. AS he read his eyes widene
and then contracted; his firm youn
jaw became set and rigid. Suddenl
short, bitter execration fell fror
his lips and the paper crumpled in hi
hand. Without another word, b
strobe to the fireplace and tossed
upon the Goals. II fiared for a Sc,
ond and was waited up the chimney,
charred, feathery thing.
Without dpignin4 In notice the tu