The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-10-05

ed a good many things in the past, but
this Is asking too much"
GOrdon's GOODNESS matched her own
as he said:
81 repeat, this is no time for jeal-
ousy"-
Jealousy! It's an insult to Natalie"
stockholders"
That's not true! l had Denny look
up the matter"
SOL" Gordon Jared up angrily.
Denny has been showing you the
books. eh! He had no more right to
do that than you had to pry into my
affairs. While Miss Golden's invest
ment may not be SO large as some 9TH
ers', she has influential friends. She
did yeoman service In the cause, and
l can't allow your foolish fancies to
interfere with my plans"
"Fancies!" cried the woman furious
ly. You behaved like a schoolboy
with her. 1t was disgraceful. | refuse
TO let her associate with my daughter"
Aren't we drawing rather fine dis
tinctions" Gordon's lip curled. "In
the first place, Natalie has no business
here. Since she came, unlimited. for
the second time, she must put up with
what she finds. | warned you last
summer that she might suspect
"She did. She does. She discovered
the truth a year ago" Mrs. Gerard's
usually impressive face was distorted.
and she voiced her confession with diff
Gculty.
The devil!" calculated Gordon.
The nodded. She accused
me last night. | tried to-lie, but
God! How | have lived through these
hours I'll never know"
Hmm Gordon reflected briefly,
Perhaps, after all, it's just as well
that she knows. She would have
found ii out sooner or later, and there's
some satisfaction In knowing that the
worst is over"
Never before had his callous cynicism
been SO frankly displayed. 1t chilled
her and made the plea she was about
to voice seem doubly difficult.
81 wish l looked upon the matter as
you do" she said slowly. But Other
people haven't the same social ideas al
we. Im-crushed, and She Poor
child! l don't know how she had the
courage to face it. Now that she has
heard the truth from my own lips I'm
afraid it will kill her"
Gordon laughed. Nonsense. Ma
talie Is q sensible girl. Disillusion
ment is always painful, but never ia
tai. Sooner or later the young must
confront the bald facts of life, and
venture to say she will soon forget hel
schoolgirl morality. Let me explain
my views off,
"Never!" cried the woman, aghast
IF you do | shall"- She checked her
self and buried her face In her hands
II feel no regrets for myself-for
drifted with my eyes open-but this
this is different. Don't you understand
| am a mother. Or are you dead to
all decent feelingT
MY dear, | am the most tender
hearted of men. or course | shall say
nothing, If you prefer. for / am sub
servient to your commands in al
things. But calm yourself. What is
done cannot be undone."
In more even tones Mrs. Gerard said
You seem to think the matter is end
ed, but it isn't. Natalie will never al
low US to continue this way, and II
can't go on, Curtis"
You mean / must marry your
She nodded.
He rose and paced the room before
answering. II always supposed you
understood my views on that subject.
Believe me, they are unalterable and
In no way the result Of a pose"
Nevertheless, for my sake and Ma
tales, you will do it. ! can't lose the
one thing l love best In the world"
1T would seem that Natalie has
filed your head with silly notions
he exclaimed im~patiently.
"She has awakened me. | have her
life to consider as well as my own"
I'VE are all individuals, supreme in
ourselves. responsible only to ourselves.
We must all live our lives. She
cannot live yours nor you hers"
Il am familiar with your argu.
ments." Mrs. Gerard said YEARLY
but have thought this all out, and
there Is no other way"
He frowned in his most impressive
manner. and his chest swelled omi
nOusly.
Il will not be coerced. You know ]
can't be bullied into a thing. / deny
that you have any right to demand
I'm not demanding anything. ] mere.
ly ask this-this favor, the first one !
have ever asked. You see, my pride Is
crumbling. Don't answer now; let's
wait until we are both calmer. The
subject came up--at least she approach,
ed 1t by asking about the coal claims
She is worried about them"
"Indeed?"
"She was told by q friend In the land