Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-12-15

uncertainty Tor cigar, When he had
It lighted be said, grufiy, "Well, It
made man Of me: hope It'll help
Bob"
Still staring out across the glowing
lights and the mysterious, lnky blots
that lay below her, Mrs. Wharton went
IN: "You are thinking only of Bob, but
I'm thinking Of her, too She is offer
ing her life for the life of a little child.
just az | offered NINE"
There was silence, then Hannibal
looked up to find his wife standing
over him, with face strangely humble.
Her eyes were appealing, her frail fg-
ure was shaking wretchedly.
"My dear!" he cried, rising.
~ can't keep 1t up, Hannibal I
can't pretend any longer. It's Bob's
baby and It's ours" Disregarding
his denial she ran on. swiftly: You
can't understand, but Pm lonely. Han
nibal, terribly lonely and sad Bob
grew mp and went away, and all we
had left was money. The dollars piled
up; year by year they grew heavier
ma beaver until they squeezed our
lives dry and crowded ont everything.
They even crowded out our son and
spoiled him. They made you into a
stone man; they came between me and
the people and the things loved: they
walled me off from the world. My life
is empty--empty. want to mother
something"
Hannibal inquired. hoarsely: mot
this baby, surely7 Not that woman's
chlldT
ats Bob's baby and ours"
He looked down ct her queerly for a
moment THE breed is rotten. If he
had married a decent girl
"John Merkle says she is splendid"
How do you known
II have talked with him. I have
learned whatever l could about her,
wherever could. and it's all good.
After all, Bob loves her, and isn't that
enoughT
but she doesn't love him." stormed
the father. "She said she didn't. She
wants his money, and she thinks she'll
get It this way"
"Do you think money can pay her for
what she is enduring at this minutef
She's frightened, just as | was fright
ened when Bob was born. She's sick
and suffering. But do you think all
our dollars could buy that child from
her? Money has made us hard, Hanni-
bal; lets--be different"
I'm afraid we have put II Off too
long" he answered. slowly. "She
won't forgive us, and I'm not sure l
want her to-"
"Bobs in trouble. Won't you go to
himf"
Hannibal Wharton opened his lips,
closed them; then, taking his hat and
coat. he left the room.
But as the old man went uptown
his nerve failed him. He was fixed in
his ways, he had a blind faith in his
own infalllblity. Twice he rode up
in the elevator to his sons door, twice
he rode down again. Hannibal settled
himself to wait.
During the chill, still hours after the
city had gone to rest an automobile
drew up to the apartment house; when
It's expected passenger emerged from
the building a grim-faced stranger In
n greatcoat accosted him. One glance
challenged the physicians attention,
and he answered:
Eyes, It's all over. A boy"
! "And-Mrs. Wharton, the motherf'
youth is wonderful thing, and
she has everything to live for. She Is
doing as well as could be expected.
You're a relative, presumeT
The old man hestated, then his
voice came boldly. Eyes, I'm her fa-
Their"
When the doctor had driven away
Hannibal strobe into the building ana
telephoned to the Waldorf but now bis
words were short and oddly broken
Nevertheless they brought light OF
rla1npss to the eyes Of the woman who
had waited all these hours.