The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-03-03

dolly out OF you. child We must run
right up and dress"
The new little lace dinner frock did
become June charmingly. but she was
very thoughtful as she sat among the
gay peacocks and elves and gnomes.
very thoughtful and very sad. upon
the tiny bench in front of the windows
overlooking the broad river. Her brain
was seething with new ideas, knowl
edge which had been thrust upon her.
sympathies which tugged and pulled
at her.
for that forlorn woman, feared for her
at this moment, alone down there with
that animal who had fallen so far
from the image of God. Yet what was
there to fear? Mrs. Grogg had en-
dured and was enduring now and
would endure again. and when her
lord and master happened to be sober
and happened to have any money he
might give his wife little OF it. might
take compassion on her dire poverty
and her need. The geraniums proved
that he had trace of the quality con-
cealed in him. 1t was the same old
problem, June's own problem, only in
its most sordid form. Dear Ned! There
was no comparison. yet it was always
the man who owned, the man who
gave. The woman could only receive
She could not give because the man
possessing her already owned all that
she had to offer. even her love.
On the corner of Wander street and
Duck alley was Ned, interviewing a
skinny legged girl who SMILED continu-
ously, both while she was pulling up
her stockings and while she was not
In her cheek was a wad of gum, and In
her eye was all the lively expression
found in the eye of dead fish. Ned
Warner dredged for information for
two sordid minutes and went away.
and Officer Herman walked straight
over to the stocking puller.
what did that guy want?" he de-
manded.
HE was astin' about girl"
This party described the girl. didn't
he?"
"Uh-hunh-sawed Off blond. Say.
what is it to you?" And she SMILED
away.
Officer Herman walked back to his
post with a troubled brow. and he
shook his long. narrow head as he
looked after the Industrious Ned War
ner.
CHAPTER III.
TUNE sprang suddenly from her
little bench overlooking the
river. Mrs. Gregg and her in
W tolerable position persisted In
jumping into June's mind and staying
there. The guests had not yet arrived
The impulsiVe girl hurried down and
out of the back door, across the beau
tiful rear porch and down the winding
and twisting little steps toward the
Willard cottages. Mrs. Gregg was sit
ting in the kitchen in stony silence
when June arrived there, a silence
from which weeping had long since
passed.
sit Down" And Mrs. Grogg gave
up the unbroken chair. "Als sleeping
it off,
II just ran in,' observed the girl.
Yes. Tell Mrs. Willard that If Al
gets home with any money tomorrow
I'll save her out what can"
"Oh, didn't come about the rentP'
June returned hastily. 81 just ran in
to see If there was anything can do
mo. there's nothing can be done. A
drank before l married him, and be
drinks yet"
June's eyes contracted
why does he have his own way
about it?"
Because he's my husband. I'm scar
ed OF AL when he's drunk"
"And you're not afraid of him wher
he's soberT
well, no. There don't seem to bt
anything particular about AL to b.
scared Of"
The horror of drunkenness tha
was 1t.
81 wouldn't be afraid of himF' JUNE
suddenly popped out.
The woman looked at her will
widened eyes.
The door moved, and AL Gregg ap
peared in the doorway in his shir
sleeves, collarless, his hair touseled.
What you got for supper?" hi
growled.
"why, ALL didn't think you't
want any" And the woman's voic'
was trembling.
"Oh, you didn't think sol Well,
want some supperv'
''Why, AL, amt got any money"
well, why amt you? Come hereF
His fist went up.
Al.
voice.
June stepped swiftly from benin,
the stove and confronted the man. he
small fists clinched, her cheeks fam
ing, her eyes blazing. She glared a
him all her contempt and all her loath
ing and something more-her superior
ity. The fist which had been upraiset
came slowly down. His shoulder
dropped. He was whipped.
Al Grogg's wife watched that tran
sition in him with amazement-th
dropping of the eyes, the lowering o
the fist. the dropping Of the shoulders
And a small young woman I'm a fun.
evening gown had done this thingl
Smash A geranium pot just misses
| AL Grogg's head and broke on the bed
room door. Bang! Another spraddlinl
geranium which had split down tn
center brushed Ais cheek as its pc
crashed past
'Looky herer' AL Grogg's tone wa
chiefly one OF surprise.
Other f1owerpots followed from Mrs
Grogg's hands. She had at last discov
cred that Al Gregg could be mad
afraid
June looked at her moment an,
then trudged up the hill somewha
frightened at her own responsibility ii
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