The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1917-09-07

mostly matter of temperament, after
all. But he is doing splendidly, and
some day perhaps"
They nodded understandingly.
you'll try to like us, won't you, for
Bob's sake?" pleaded the old lady,
timidly.
81 intend to love you both very dear
ly," shyly returned the girl, and, noting
the light in Lorelei's face, Bob Whar-
ton was satisfied.
Restraint vanished swiftly under the
old couples evident. determination to
make amends, but after they had gone
Lorelei became so pensive that Bob
said, anxiously, II hope you weren't
polite to them merely for my sake"
Lorelei shook her head. mo. 1 was
only thinking Do you realize that
none of my own people have been to
see me? That 1 haven't had single
word from any Of them"
Bob stirred uncomfortably; he startN
ed to speak, then checked himself as
she went on, not without some effort:
"I'm going to say something unpleas-
ant, but 1 think you ought to know it.
When they learn that your parents
have taken me in and made up with us
they're going to ask me for money. It's
a terrible thing to say, but it's true"
do you want to see them? Do you
want them to see the baby?"
"N-now Lorelei was pale as she
made answer. "Not after all that has
passed"
Bob heaved a grateful sigh. "I'm
glad. They won't trouble you any
more"
"Why? What"
''I've been waiting until you were
strong to tell you. I've noticed how
their silence hurt you, butts my
fault that they haven't been here.
sent them away"
"You sent them away?"
eyes. 1 fixed them with money and
they're happy at last. There's consid-
cradle to tell. Jim got into trouble
with the police and finally sent for me.
He told me everything and-it wasn't
pretty; I'd rather not repeat all he said,
but it opened my eyes and showed me
why they brought you here, how they
put you on the auction block, and how
they cried for bids. He told me things
you know nothing about and could
never guess. When he had finished I
thanked God that they had flung you
into my arms instead of-some other
mans. It's miracle that you weren't
sacrificed utterly"
"Where is Jim now?"
Somewhere in the boundless West.
He gave me his promise to reform"
HE never will"
"Of course not, and don't expect 1t
of him. You see, know how hard it
is to reform"
"But mother and father?"
'I'm coming to them. My dad came
around the day after our baby was
born and shook hands. He wanted to
stamp right in here and tell you what
fool he had made Of himself, but 1
wouldn't stand for it. Finally, when
and right 'away proposed breaking
ground for jasper palace for the
youngster. He wanted to build 1t in
Pittsburgh where he could run in, go
ing to and from business. Mother was
just as foolish, too. Well, when had
had my little understanding with Jim
and learned the whole truth about your
we went they would be a constant
menace to our happiness unless they
were provided for. 1t struck me that
you had made game fight for happi-
ness, and l couldn't stand for any
thing to spoil it at the last minute.
went to mother and told her the facts,
and she seemed to understand as well
as 1 how you must feel in spite of all
they had done, so we shook down the
governor for an endowment"
Bob! What do you mean?" Lorelei
faltered in bewilderment
"We asked him for hundred thou
sand dollars and got it."
Lorelei gasped.
He beloved like a bull, he spat
poison like a cobra, he writhed like
bucket of cells, but we put it over"
"a hundred thousand dollarsv whis-
pered the wife.
ITO penny. And it's in the bank to
your credit. But didn't stop there"
Bob's voice hardened. II went to your
mother and in your name 1 promised
her the income from it so long, and
only so long, as she and Peter stayed
away from you. She accepted-rather
greedily, I thought-and they have
gone back to Vale. They have your
old house, and 1 have their promise
never to see you except upon your invi-
tation. OF course you can go to them
whenever you wish, but-they're
happy, and 1 think we will be happier
with them in Vale than in New York.
I hope you don't object to my arrange
ment."
There was long silence then Lore
lei sighed. "You are very good man,