The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-11-04
CHAPTER xxI-6coNT1NUED).

AM-(CONT1NUED).
Adam Carr was coming to have tea
with them in the evening. Mrs. Payson
and John waited for him until long
past the honr signified-one that he
had been In the habit of observing as
long as they could remember-but as
ne did not appear they sat down with
out him. She had remarked a curious
depression IN his manner when he
dropped in shortly after the morning
service. He seemed unusually "down
in the mouth" as she expressed it, and
significantly inquisitive as to the
whereabouts of her son. He never
spoke of him except as her SON Aft
er a restless, ~preoccupied 10 minutes.
ne left. with the statement that he was
wall We would be back for tea at
$50 O'clock. When he did not appear
at that hour, nor up to s o'clock, she
suggested to John that he make inquiry
OF old Jabez, and, failing there, in 9TH
er directions.
At 10 O'Clock John met him in the
road. half way to Buds Rock. He was
slowly walking homeward. The moon
was high and fun, and the thick. fam
liar figure was distinguished for a long
distance IN the shell road.
he gave no satisfactory answer to
Johns impatient questions, but testify
said that he had gone off to think
something over where he would not be
disturbed. A matter, he said, that was
of the grayest Importance. Payson
quite naturally though he had re-
ference to an important piece Of secret
service work.
Adam accompanied the young mar to
his home, and went in to say good
night to Mrs. PaYson and to apologize
for his unprecedented rudeness in for
getting tea. He acted SO queerly that
lack insisted on going down to the ho-
fal with him u His ey-os 1poro J1nan-o-
monty prominent and starry, and his
face was liVid; his breathing was hard,
his lips sagged instead of holding the
firm, rigid line that always marked
them.
He sat Ustless and morose in the big
chair before the fireplace. The night
air from the sea had chilled him to the
marrow. Payson set about to cheer
him up. He began by telling of Horace
Blagden's remarkable after service
concession. Carr picked up his ears
while John was commenting on Hor-
aces sudden change of front, and even
entered into the discussion; sceptica1ly.
1t is true, but not without interest. He
advanced the caustic opinion that Mr..
Blagden was as playful as a tiger, and
as. safe to deal with. Nevertheless. he
was keenfy interested in Jacks opinion
the marriage.
One obstacle was left in the way,
John announced; it would have to bcN
removed before he could conscientious
ly hold Mary to her promise, which had
been renewed thai afternoon in no half
hearted terms. This led up to the
question that lay SO heavily in the
lovers mind. What was the nature of
the mystery attending his own origin?
Adams slack lips Strengthened out in
q hard, stubborn line; he briefly de-
clared that there was nothing to tell.
o. ,-cny,- I'M o~rlyyin Ir flp 1nnt- tt,rt r,nccn3
between the man and the woman, and
flew into a quick passion. He de-
mandGd the truth from them. The time
had ccn1e when even his mothers feel
in~s were not to be spared.
Mrs. Ta--on began to cry softly. Ad-
a. Carr u~pbraiGed her. an act SO unr
usual that John at first was rendered
speeches. by q sort Of stupefaction. The
situation was tense, dramatic. With a
great dread in his soul, the young man
turned upon his mother and besought
hcr t. 80 hhi-, tho truth, ne matter
what tins est l. him or to her.
She shrant away from him, f.iunlbiiAs
piteously. Then, he confronted Adam
Carr. The older man looked up into
the distorted face of the pleader and
stubbornly insisted that there was
nothing to tell. A sort OF frenzy took
possession OF the oun man. His nan
ner became threatening. Adam con-
tinued to smile, but there was a hunted,
imploring look in his eyes. lie seemed
to shrivel up in the chair, to grow
older and weaker as he met the harsh
charges without SO much as a word Of
anger on resentment.
COG, hc2ven!" cried John savage!y.
What is tits..e to laugh at?'
The senseless laughter continued for
n moment, and then died away in a
raucols gSrs.e. A purplish hue spread
over Adam Carr's face, his eyes bulged
S--E ," - l.--,.l- 800 49, ~
his hands droppe IMPLY from the
arn1s OF the chair.
A long while afterwards, as John
worked feyepS,llly with the stricken
MAI, ne r~ame di11lly conscious of the
words lis mother was moaning in his
ear as she. too. leaned over the form OF
Adam Carr, now lying on the bed in
the little room off the parlor.
He is your father, john" she was
saying. BE good to him! Don't let
him die. He Is your father. Do you
hear me? Save him. Your own
father..'
Ire blow had fallen. John Payson
haJ got the truth at last
I'D 1 more or devastating va s'vs Shock an0'1 lie
learned from her lips tina the
woman he had always known as
his mother vas not his mother;
IN no wav was she related to him. The
blow left him dazed. and quite as
IONGElSSS oS IA6SN q oio
the bed. /,
Mrs. Payson herself went forth and
aroused d neighbor, who set off in
haste to summon DR.. Spooner.
John payson was like his father IN
many ways. Among others, he pos
sessed a wonderful power OF seif-con-
troll. In a surprisingly short time. he
was able to face the crisis with as
much composure and restraint as might
have been expected OF Adam Carr under
similar circumstances. 1t was in the
blood.
In the kitchen. while the doctor was
working over the unconscious man In
the bedroom. he stood before h Widow
Payson and listened to a story tina
calmly and without Interruptions unit.
every word of it was told. Then he Wen,
back with her to sit beside the mar
who would not acknowledge MIN bu'
who loved him SO well The father who
would not put the blight upon him.