The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1915-04-01


Your father would not marry a cheap
show girl You know that. And you
must not forget that your mother was
foreigner"
His eyes fell. I'm sorry I 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..
Riggs7"
lie stopped short. mol And they
waited up to see II they could be of
any assistance TO him in an hour of
peril! What a jokel Poor old beg.
garsl I've never felt sorry for them
before. but. on my soul. do now.
What will she do TO the poor old
chaps2 | shudder to think OF II. 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.
pleased 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.
IT'S a 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 II he had to marry
someone in"
Freddy" she cried. putting her
hand over his mouth.
, She kissed him swiftly. Her cheek
lay for second against his own and
then, with stined 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 belittllng
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-ofdoors. Once upon time.
when he first came to the house,
piano had stood in the drawing-room.
\ His 10y at that time knew no bounds.
II he loved music For his years he was
II no mean musician. But one evening
II his father coming In unexpectedly.
l heard the player at the instrument.
For moment he stood transfixed In
| the doorway watching the eager. al
| most inspired face OF the lad. and
| then. pale as 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
I'M the full The following day the
! piano was taken away by storage
company. The boy never knew why
II 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. 8
re queer little smile on her lips. She
n. was tall fair woman, an English
type, and still extremely handsome
he Hers was an honest beauty that hat
ks no fear OF age.
a "She is a stanch snip. Frederic" She
said, without any other form OF greet
ot ing. "She will be late but-therei
really nothing to worry about"
IN I'm not worrying" he said con
be fusedly. Lydia has told you the
y? the news?"
ot yes"
IN. Rather staggering. isn't it?" he sail
he with wry smile. In spite OF himsel
to he watched her face with curious Ia
tentness.
a Rather" she said briefly.
Irk 81 suppose you don't approve OF tn
wo way l."
,or "I know just how you feel. poo
he boy Don't try to explain. | know.
"You always understand" he sait
I'D. lowering his eyes.
mot always" she said quietly.
le7 'Well. it's going to play hob wit
ne. everything" he said. jamming h
hands deep into his pockets. II
his shoulders seemed to hunch forwar
hat and to contract
=" II am especially sorry for Mr., Dave
of and Mr.. Riggs" she said. Her voiC
do. was steady and full OF earnestness.
I'm do they know"
do "They were up and about at da
you break. poor souls. Do you kno'
81" Freddy, they we're starting OF In tn
tell blizzard when met them in the hall
sss. THE deuce! IL hope 1t wasn't @
un- account OF anything | may have sa
d, to them last night" he cried. In gen
rid inc contrition.