The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-06-07


father marrlcs Tom Carter. poor
mining engineer. Tom invests her
marriage portion OF SO. 900 Ira An ore
gon mine and the TWO 40 To the west
and endure life OF hardship. Leila :
love wanes before deferred hope and
she demands her money from her dis
traught husband after he has used IL
up In a vain attempt TO strike pay
orc He gives her the stock Certln-
Gates OF the mine and tells her he In
so sure there is gold in the mine that
he knows she Will one day be rich
beyond her dreams.
Tom" she walled, all her babyish
resentment dying down. TON! I'm
SO sorry, darling Please forgive
me- was just upset and nervous,
Won't YOU try TO forget ii, please?
And ! didn't mean what said. !
want you TO keep the certificates.
L"
For answer he took up the sheaf
Of papers, crossed TO her dresser
and put them into it's top drawer.
They are yours. Leila he said.
You must take them. I've put them
in there for you. I'm sorry you
think I have been dishonest toward
you
Dishonest she went, her arms
about his neck. why, Tom. YOU are
the most honest. most honorable
man in the whole world Oh, won't
you please forgive me?'
lie could not resist the caress. nor
the tearstained. appealing face.
Clasping her close 10 his heart, he
kissed the trembling little modth
and begged her not to cry, but 10
help him bear pluckily this new
stroke Of illluck.
SO cngrossed were they in their
reconciliation that they did not hear
a blackboard rattle up to the gate
Only a draft OF outer air told them
tho cabin door had been opened.
They turned to see l,eilR's father
and mother standing on the thresh-
hold
MIR Austin's Wrinkled face was
aiight at the Joy OF cecing his only
child again and al witnessing her de-
light AZ her parents surprise visit.
But Mrs. Austins gaze had Travelled
past her daughter, and she was sur.
yeying The dingy and ill-kcpt room
with amazed disgust
With cry of welcome. Leila ran
forward 30 greet the newcomers.
In the pleasure and excitement of
the reunion she d,d not notice her
mothers very evident repulsion AT
her surroundings. Not until Tom
had carried Mr.. Austin of to look
AZ the mine did tho older woman
speak her mind. But then she did
so, clearly and empha;ically
Leila" she began. If had
dreamed this Was the way you had
TO live Id never have had a peaceful
nights rest From your letters I'm
agincd YOU were In a rose-covered
cottage with every comfort you
could want"
II have everything ! need de
clared her daughter, loyalty
You have a hundred times less
than any longshoreman's Wife posi-
lively denied Mrs. Austin. This Is
not a cottage. II Is a howell squat
id. miserable hole. And after all the
loving care We took to shield our
little girl from privations' can't
bear TO think OF your living like
this"
III I can bear e." returned Leila.
with forced gayety, you ought TO be
able to-"
But you can't" retorted her
mother. You've lost flesh. There
are hollows under your eyes. Your
hands-oh, your pretty little white
hands,-they are all red and cal
loused and splayed out of shape.
Your shoulders are getting bent and
there's no use argu-
ing. This has got TO stop won't
let you kill yourself out here In this
wilderness. You're coming back
home with us. This very day"
NO" refused Leila, albeit the
gnAwed keenly. mo. ]
can't Tom needs me SO! He is UNI
lucky and"
"He will be unluckier." finished
Mrs. Austin, when he has a sick
and helpless wife on his hands. And
that's what he'll have, too. IL you
don't get rest and a change. An
other month OF this and you'll be
III. You weren't built for drudgery,
any more than a butterfly Ia built to
draw a pillow. For Toms sake as
well as for your own" che urged.
ar,fIlly, come back with us. Just
for a visit. II will be the saving
OF your health"
To fight back the craving to cry
out. Eyes! Yes Yes!" the girl
turned to the tub and began her neg
lected weeks washing. The first
garment she CHANGED TO draw forth
from the suds was one of Toms big
flannel shirts. II was unwieldly. and
she handled II awkwardly. At sight
OF the dripping shirt Mrs. Austin
cried out.
put that down. Put 1t down.
deariei You shan't do such work! |
won't have I'll L"
Tom Carter. with Mr.. Austin, came
in from their visit 10 the mine. Mrs
Austin ran 10 her husband.
81 want Leila TO come back with
us!" she exclaimed. Help me per