The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-01-14

romantic strain in the LeBarron
blood. Now it flowered suddenly in
the last of the race, a pale, slim slip
of girl. She walked away from all
the known that night unaware that
she herself was the example of re-
version to type-that in her Tradition
has origin and birth!
Meanwhile the river beckoned-the
silver, shimmering silence of it slip
ping under the sycamores and the
bending elders. arching away in a
curve till the lights of the city were
blotted out by the wall of forest.
Never before had Mary Ella gone
such a journey unchaperoned; what
social commandments were fractured
when she stepped serenely into the
cockleshell of boat let the dwellers
in convention declare. High Hall,
with its twinkling lights and sloping
terraces, vanished. The boat swung
out as dreams do, the moon looking
down, serene, and as all through the
years of earth, too tolerant of youth,
too reminded to spin moon-webs for
unwary feet.
In the moon-magic that bound them,
Time stood still. AS they moored
the boat at the foot of the sycamore
and ran up the path together, some
sinking qualm possessed Mary Ella.
"Oh, do you think it is very late?"
Before Jimmy could make reply,
she clutched his arm.
"They've gone-the carriages-the
motors! They've a gone! Why"
Her voice trailed away. Following
close behind her O'Neill entered the
great hall, empty now of guests.
Their glances flew to the hall clock!
Mary Ella looked at him, her face
gone deathly white.
"We are in for it. You'd better
CO."
"Why?" he said, keen light kin
died in his eyes.
In the drawing room the tribunal
awaited them. The Judge spoke first.
Perhaps it was better than beating
her with stout stick.
WAS it necessary to return home
lat all?"
Mary Ella stared for one astounded
moment. Then she squared her
round, rigid shoulders. Words form
ed in her throat but futtered unsaid,
because hand fell upon her arm, the
hand of Jimmy O'Neill, possessive
and steady.
mo, not necessary, now nor any
day. But who are you to insult her,
you white-washed sepulchre of rotten
ITnn rob NF Il
widows? Shut up, you too, Ran
dolph E, Randolph III; don't forget I
know you, and the cement you stole in
that street deal will hang around
your pitiful neck and drag yea down
to peridtion with the man who
bought you. AS my wife, dare you
to open your blackguard mouth about
her, or I'll wiring the wry necls of
ye and pitch ye to the carrion crowsv
Cousin Cornelia collapsed in heap
on the sofa. The judge began to sput-
ter and rave!
"Put him out, the red-headed devil
in my own house! Randolph, dye
stand by and listen to him-me, Judge
LIE Barron"
Jimmy snapped his fingers.
Judge This-and-T That Judge
Quack-Quack! Mary Ella, run along
and get what things you might need.
He'll not put me out. Good reason,
he can't. We will shake the dust of
ye off our shoes, and I'll shake we
out of the judges seat and out O.
politics, so help me God"
1t was his last word to them, strid-
ing out, with the small, cold hand
Of Mary Ella clasped fast in his own.
They had passed out before the scat
tered wits of Randolph III returned to
him; before Cousin Cornelia sobbed
out some broken words of pity and
reproach
1.-THE child meant no harm. She
forgot. She is young. They are so
young! wish the words had choked
you, Joseph, before you spoke them!"
But Mary Ella had gone. Her lit
tie feet in their thin white shoes kept
pace with Jimmy's nervous stride.
Journeying on was Mary Ella with
those daring, willing feet into the
Land of Romance.
"We can't raise scandal by a mid
night marriage, Mary Ella" he $"
"But I'll take you to my mother.
Tomorrow we'll be married at the
parish house."
There was silence then, broken on
ly by the pitpat of her little feet, and
the clack-clsck of his own.
MARY Ella" he said in a low and
troubled voice, "you don't mind so
much, do you?"
NO." said Mary Ella.
you've seen those you liked less
than me?"
"Oh, yes" said Mary Ella.
"If I were so bold as to ask you to
kiss me, what would you think of it ?"
In the moon-glow her eyes danced
with laughter.
Suppose" she paused-and in the
pause his heart forgot to beat.
suppose you ask me and see?"
And so on the next afternoon Mary
Ella, now by the grace of the law
Mrs. Shamus O'Neill, sat in the par
lor where Mrs. O'Neill had installed
her, and looked at the portraits on
the walls, dancing flicker in her
eyes. There was Himself" done in