The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-03-19
CHAPTER Ix--cortlnued.

II have been told" thus Deborah
easily proceeded. that for small
house yours contains the most won.
derful assortment OF interesting OBJ
lects, Where did you ever get them9"
My father was collector, on
very small scale OF course. and my
mother had passion for boarding
which prevented anything from going
out OF this house after 1t had once
come into IT,"
my husband" began Mrs SEQ.
VILE. thoughtfully
Miss Weeks stared In CONSERVATION
al Mrs Scoyille, who FASTENED to say;
you wonder that can mention my
husband Perhaps you Will not be so
surprised when ! tell you that In my
eyes he Is martyr, and quite guiltless
OF the crime for which he was pun.
lahed."
You think THAR" There was real
surprise In the manner OF the ques-
toner Mrs. Scoville's brow cleared.
She was pleased at this proof that her
affairs had not yet reached the point
OF general gossip.
Miss Weeks, ! am mother. have
young and lovely daughter Can |
look in her innocent eyes and believe
her father 10 have so forgotten his re-
possibilities as to overshadow her
life with crime? No. will not believe
IL Circumstances were In favor OF his
conviction. but he never lifted the
stick which struck down Algernon
Etheridge"
Miss Weeks, who had sat quite still
during the utterance OF these remarks
tidgeted about at their close, with
what appeared to the speaker. sud.
den and quite welcome relief
"oh!" she murmured; and said no
more. Il was not a topic she found
easy OF discussion
The sadness which now spread over
the very interesting countenance OF
her visitor. offered her an excuse for
the introduction Of far more mo
mentous topic; one she had burned to
introduce, but had not known how
Mrs. Scoville, | hear that Judge
0strander has got your daughter pl
ano. That is really wonderful thing
for him TO do. Not that he Is so close
with his money, but that he has al
ways been so set against all gayety
and companionship. suppose you did
not know the shock II would be to him
when you asked Bella to let you into
the gates"
mol didn't know. But II Is all
right now The judge seems to vel
come the change. Miss Weeks. did
you know Algernon Etherldge vel
enough to tell me II he was as good
and irreproachable q man as they al
say?"
He was a good man, but he had 9
dreadflly obstinate streak In his dis
position and very set ideas. have
heard that he and the Judge used L
argue over a point for hours And hi
was most always wrong. For In
stance, he was wrong about Oliver"
"Oliyerr"
Judge ostrander's son, you know
Mr. Etheridgq wanted him to stud.
for a professorship: but the boy wa
determined to so into journalism, AM
you see what success he las mad
of IT, AS professor he would prob
| ably have been failure
WAS this difference of opinion o.
the calling he should pursue the caus
of divers leaving home in the wa
he did," continued Deborah. consciou
of walking on very thin ice.
But Miss Weeks rather welcomes
than resented this curiosity Indeed
she was never tired of eniarging upo
the Ostran6eft
Il have never thought so. The iudg
would not quarrel with oliver on S
small point as that My idea I
though | never talk OF it much, ths
they had great quarrel over M
Etheridge Oliver never liked the oil
student; I've watched them and Nv
seen He hated his coming to ii
house so much; he hated the way b
. father singled him out and deferre
10 him and made him the confident
u his troubles When they went {
%H'r walks. Oliver always hung bac