Meade County news., 1917-02-08

bal shook his head. "Not more than
/ thought. knew he had 1t in him;
you were the one"
"No. no! We both doubted. Perhaps
this girl read him."
Sure she read him" snorted the
father. "She read his bank book. But
fooled her."
"Do you remember when Bob was
born1 The doctors thought"
"Of course l rememberw her hus-
band broke in. "Those doctors said
you'd never come through it."
"Yes; wasn't strong"
"But you did. l was with you. 1
fought for you. wouldn't let you die.
Remember it" The speaker moistened
his lips. "Why, never forgot"
"Bob is experiencing something like
that tonight"
Hannibal started, then he fumbled
uncertainty for cigar When he had
it lighted he said, grufly, "Well, 1t
made man Of me; hope it'll help
Bob"
Still staring out across the glowing
lights. and the mysterious, inky blots
that lay below her, Mrs. Wharton went
on: "You are thinking only of Bob, but
I'm thinking of her, too. She is offer
ing her life for the life of little child,
just as offered nine"
There was a silence, then Hannibal
looked up to find his wife standing
over him, with face strangely humble.
Her eyes were appealing, her frail fig
ure was shaking wretchedy.
my dear!' he cried, rising.
II can't keep 1t up, Hannibal.
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 I'm lonely, Han
nibai, terribly lonely and sad. Bob
grew up and went away, and all we
had left was money. The dollars piled
up; year by year they grew heavier
and heavier until they squeezed our
lives dry and crowded out 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 l loved; they
walled me off from the world. My life
is empty-empty. 1 want to mother
something"
Hannibal inquired, hoarsely: "Not
this baby, surely? Not that woman's
child?"
"It's Bob's baby and ours"
He looked down at her queerly for q
moment. "The breed is rotten, If he
had married decent girl"
"John Merkle says she is splendid.
"How do you know?"
"I have talked with him. 1 have
learned whatever l could about her
wherever l could, and it's all good
After all, Bob loves her, and isn't that
enough?"
"But she doesn't love him." stormed
the father. "She said she didn't. She
wants his money, and she thinks shell
get it this way"
"Do you think money can pay her fol
what she is enduring at this minute
She's frightened, just as l was fright
ened when Bob was born. She's SICK
and suffering. But do you think al
our dollars could buy that child from
her? Money has made us hard, Hanni
bal; lets-be different"
'T'm afraid we have put 1t Off toe
long" he answered, slowly. "ShC
won't forgive us, and I'm not sure
want her to-"
"Bob's in trouble. Won't you go t.
him?"
Hannibal Wharton opened his lips
closed them; then, taking his hat ant
coat, he left the room.
But as the old man went uptown
his nerve failed him. He was fixed IL
his ways, he had a blind faith in his
own infallibility. Twice he rode VI
in the elevator to his sons door, twice
he rode down again. Hannibal settled
himself to wait.
During the chill, still hours after thu
city had gone to rest an automobile
drew up to the apartment house; wheI
its expected passenger emerged from
the building grlm-faced stranger IL
greatcoat accosted him. One glanc,
challenged the physicians attention
and he answered:
"Yes, it's all over. A boy"
"And-Mrs. Wharton, the mother? :?
youth is a wonderful thing, ant
she has everything to live for. She
doing as well as could be expected
You're a relative, presumeT
The old man hesitated, then hi
voice came boldly. eyes, I'm her ia
ther."
When the doctor had driven ava.
Hannibal strobe into the building an,
telephoned to the Waldorf, but now hi
words were short and oddly broker
Nevertheless theJ brought light o
gladness to the eyes Of the woman VIII
had waited all these hours.
CHAPTER x>tyI.