The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-28

N chair and put his arm around
N her shoulder and tried to COM
fort her.
Don't you worry, mater" he said.
Don't worry. I'll go down and tell
'em what think of 'em-exactly what
/ think of 'em. They can't play the
fool with me. should think not, in
deed. Listen. mater. You've got a
son, thank God, and one no bank can
take any liberties with. What we put
in there we've got to have out. That's
all | can say. We've simply got to
have it out. There. I've said it
Alaric rose and. drawing himself up
to his full five feet six inches of man
hood, glared Indignantly at some imag
mary bank officials. His whole nature
was reused The future of the family
depended on him. They would not de-
pend in vain. He looked at Ethel. who
was trying to make the best of the
business by smiling agreeably on them
both.
ITS bankrupt" walled Mrs. Chi
chester.
"Failedw suggested Ethel cheerfully.
Were beggars." continued the moth
er. II must live on charity for the rest
Of my life. the guest of relations I've
hated the sight of and who have hated
me. It's C>dful-dreadful,"
All Alaric's first glow of manly en-
thusiasm began to cool.
thing?" BY accident he turned to
Ethel. She smiled meaningessly and
said for the first time with any real
note of conviction:
Nothing
Alaric sat down gloomily beside his
mother.
al always thought bank directors
were blighters. Good heavens, what a
mess." He looked the picture of mis-
cry. What's to become of Ethel,
mater:'
Whoever shelters me must shelter
Ethel as WELL replied the mother sad
ly. But it's hard-at my age-to be
sheltered
Alaric looked at Ethel, and feeling
of pity came over him. It. was dis
tinctly TO his credit since his own
wrongs occupied most of his attention.
But, after all, he could buffet the world
and wiring living out of it. All he
had to do was to make up his mind
which walk ia life to choose. He was
fortunate.
But Ethel. reared from infancy in the
environment of independence-it would
come very hard and bitter on her.
Alaric just touched Ethel's hand. and
with as much feeling as he could mus
ter he said:
Shocking. tough, old girl
Ethel shook her head almost deter
minedly and said somewhat enigmati-
cally and for her heatedly:
Nor
MOP" asked Alaric. "No-what?"
Charity said Ethel.
Gold blooded words" and Alaric
shuddered. what will you do, Ethel?'
Work"
"At what3"
"Teach."
"Teachi Who In the wide world can
you teach?"
Children"
Alaric. laughed mirthlessly.' "Oh.
come, that's rich! Eh, matery Fancy
Ethel teaching grubby little brats their
A b C's. Tushr'
"Mustl" said Ethel, quite unmoved,
"A Chichester teach?" said Alaric,
III disgust.
"Settled@' from Ethel, and she swept
her fingers slowly across the piano.
"Very wei" said Alaric determined.
ly. "rll work too"
Mrs, Chichester looked up pleadlngly.
Alaric went on: "I'll put my hand to
tho plow. Tho more think of It the
keeper am to begin. From today I'll
bs workingman.r
At this nthel laughed queer, little,
odd, suL srcilious note, summed up In
A single word, "Har' There was moth
ing mirthful In It, There was no re-
proach In 1t, 1t was just an expires.
sion OF her honest feeling at the bare
suggestion Of her brother working.
Alaric turned quickly to her.
"And may l ask why that 'Har