The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-06-17

rTeuuy. lou are peSlue yourself.
Your father would not marry a cheap
show girl. You know that. And you
must not forget that our mother was
a foreigner"
His eyes fell. I'm sorry l 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..
Riggs"
He stopped short. mo! And they
waited up to see il they could be of
any assistance to him in an hour OF
peril! What a joke! Poor old beg
gars! I've never felt sorry for them
before. but, on my soul, | do now.
What will she do to the poor old
chaps? shudder to think of it. 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,
piOoSV' oIC 10 dolCCp. " oulSC
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 a fool a man car 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 ne had TO marry
someone in"
Freddy" she cried, putting her
hand over his mouth.
She kissed him swiftly. Her cheek
lay for a second against his own and
then, with a stiied 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 belittling
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 a huge
fire was blazing. A blizzard was rag.
ing out-of-doors. Once Upon a time,
when he first came to the house, a
piano had stood in the drawing-room.
His joy at that time knew no bounds;
he loved music. For his years he was
no mean musician. But one evening
his father, coming in Unexpectedly,
heard the player at the instrument.
For a moment he stood transfixed in
the doorway watching the eager, al
most inspired face of the lad, and
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
in the full. The following day the
piano was taken away by a storage
company Inc wy uCNCI hHc" why
it was removed.
He picked up the morning paper.
His eyes traversed the front page rap
idly. There were reports of fearful
weather at sea. The Lusitania was
reported seven hundred miles out and
in the heart of the hurricane. She
would be a day late.
lie looked up from the paper. Mrs.
Desmond was coming toward him, a
queer little smile on her lips. She
was a tall, fair woman, an English
type, and still extremely handsome.
Hers was an honest beauty that had
nc fear of age.
She is a stanch ship, Frederic she
said, without any other form of greet
ing. She will be late but-there's
really nothing to worry about"
I'm not Worrying" he said con.
fusedly. Lydia has told you the
the news?"
Yes"
Rather staggering, isn't it?' he said
with a wry smile. In spite of himself
he watched her face with curious in
tentness.
Rather" she said briefly.
Il suppose you don't approve Of the
way L"
Il know just how you feel, poor
boy. Don't try to explain. | know"
You always understand" he said,
lowering his eyes.
Not always" she said quietly.
We'll. it's going to play hob with
everything" he said, jamming his
hands deep into his pockets. His
shoulders seemed to bunch forward
and to contract.
Il am especially sorry for Mr.. Dawes
and Mr.. Riggs" she said. Her voice
was steady and full Of earnestness.
DO they know"
They were up and about at day-
break. poor souls. Do you know.
Freddy. they were starting off in this
when I met them in the hall!"
The deuce! IL hope it wasn't on
account of anything I may have said
to them last night" he cried, in genu-
inc contrition.
She smiled. mo. They had their
own theory about the message. The
storm strengthened 1t. They were
positive that your father was in great
Dpril THEW woro datar-;n~l