The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-24

wasn't fit to lace your shoes, II you
had written you would have learned
that everything was smoothed over.
The Andes people dropped the matter
entirely. You loved the mother far
better than l."
And she must never know" quietly.
DO you mean that?"
Il always mean everything | say,
Arty. Can't you see the uselessness OF
telling her now? She has gone all
these years with the belief that | am a
thief. A thief, Arty. I. who never stole
anything save farmers apples. They
would have called YOU a defaulter;
that's because YOU had access to the
safe, whereas l had none" Arthur
WINGED. Il don't propose to disillusiop
the mother. am strong enough to go
away without seeing her; and God
knows how my heart yearns, and nv
ears and eyes and arms"
Warrington reached mechanically
for the portrait in the silver frame
o..
No. Paul; that is mine.''
Warrington dropped his hand. puz.
sled. Il was not going to destroy IL"
ironically.
mo; but in a sense you have de.
stroyed me. Cc-'pensation Wha+
uinins tnougnt most or us give tnar
word! The law of compensation For
ten years Elsa has been the flower o.
the corn for me. She almost loved me.
And one day she sees you; and In that
one day all that had gained was lost.
and all that you had lost was gained
The law OF compensation. Sometimes
we escape retribution, but never the
law Of compensation, Some months
ago she wrote me letter. She was
always direct. 1t was a just letter"
A pause. Arthur gazed steadily at
the portrait, while Warrington twist
ed his yellow beard.
The ways of mothers are mysteri-
ous," said the latter. finally. He won
dered if Arthur would confess to the
blacker deed, or have it forced from
him. He would wait and see. The
father and the mother weren't happy.
Money. There's the wedge. It's in
every life somewhere. A marriage of
convenience Is an unwise thing. When
we were born the mother turned to US.
Up to the time we we're six or seven
there was no distinction in her love for
us. But on the day the father set his
choice upon me, she set hers upon you.
You'll never know how | suffered as a
boy, when | saw the distance growing
wider and wider with the years. Per-
haps the father understood, for he was
always kind and gentle to me. ex-
pect to return to China shortly. The
Andes has taken me back Sounds
like fairy tale; Ell? shall never re-
turn here. But did you know who Elsa
Chetwood was?"
Not until that letter came"
Neither Of them heard the faint
gasp which came from behind the
portieres dividing the study and the
living room. The gasp had followed
the invisible knife-thrusts of these con-
ddences. The woman behind those
portieres swayed and caught blindly
at the jamb. With cruel vividness she
saw in this terrible moment all that to
which she had never given more than
a passing thought. No reproaches;
only a simple declaration of what had
burned In this boys heart. And she
had almost forgotten this son. A
species Of paralysis laid hold of her,
leaving her for the time incapable of
movement.
She heard the deep voice of this
other son say: Lots of kinks in life.
There is only one law that shall lay
down for you, Arty. You must give
up all idea Of marrying Elsa Chef
wood"
1T will be easy to obey that. Are
you playing with me. Paul?"
"Playing?" echoed Warrington.
Yes. Do you mean to sit there and
tell me that you don't know why l
shall never marry herr"
Arthur read the truth in his broth
er's eyes. He smiled weakly, the
anger gone. Same old blind duffer
you always were. I wrote an answer
to her letter. In that letter told her
F. the truth"
you did that?"
Il am your brother, Paul. l couldn't
be cad as well as thief. Yes. told