El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-06-27
llC 1I1S1uCE De Water
. ocOpyright. 1g17. Star Company Il



= HAVE already said that my heart
ached for each Of the Norton
= children in turn-first for the
lonely little girl, then for the impul-
sive. misunderstood boy.
But this afternoon as Tom and I
sat in the library facing each other.
I knew that I had never been as sorry
for Grace as was for this young fell
low with his morbid idea that nobody
cared especially for him. One reason
for my pity for him lay in my reali-
zation that he was not loved by his
father or his aunt as his sister was
loved. And now he had let an iaex-
plicable outburst OF temper put in
Jeopardy the plan that had been ma
turing so satisfactorily.
There was something back Of all
this that could not understand
would not pry into It. But I would
try to recall the lad to his better self
before he had entirely ruined his
prospects of a summer in the country
place he loved.
Perhaps he thought I was going to
find fault with him. for as soon as I
began to speak, he interrupted me
"Oh. know what you must thinkl
You feel that. after ali the trouble
you have gone to for me. I've proved
myself an ungrateful beast"
I feel nothing of the kindi" I con-
tradicted. But, Tom, I do want you
to believe that I sympathize with you
and that am sorry that anything
has happened to upset you and make
you forget yourself. It is harder on
you than on anyone else"
l. q l. - l.
except you would think that The
others-father and Aunt Adelaide
would say that IL was hard on them
having such an Ill tempered cuss in
the house"
was silent for a moment. Then
I spoke as gently as 1 could
Tom" urged, "be frank: don't
you think it's a bit hard on your
father
'Irs not my fault If it Isl" he de-
clared.
Are you sure it isn't?'' I repeated.
You and Grace are all he has, and
he loves you both. You may not think
So as he shook his head, but I have
talked with him about you. He wants
to make a man Of you. and you make
it hard for him to do so when you
speak as you did this noon
4 Little Persuasion.
But I do not speak to him like
thati" he insisted.
Wait" I said. '1et us talk over
this matter Of your fathers interest
in you first. I want you to know that
had long conversation with him
about you, and that he was pleased
at the idea OF having Mr.. Parker
coach you next summer. OF course,
/ do not know what Mr.. Parker's an
swer to the proposal will be, but 1
suppose IL will be favorable.
AT all events. II il is not. 1t won't
be your fathers fault Why, then,
need you incur Mrs. Cores displeas-
ure and almost tempt her to complain
to her brotherinlaw Of your manner
OF speaking to her? VIII that
strengthen his inclination to have
you at home this summer"
Not won't. I know that" he
acknowledged. But she makes me
see red, Miss Dart I know only too
well that she won't want me at Hill
crest-for she and l don't get along
well But out there I don't have 10
be with her much-for the place is
big and I am out of doors a lot-and
the country's different from the city,
anyhow. Geei" with a sigh, its nice
therer
Then why spoil it by quarreling?"
I Insisted. surely a man ought 20 i
be able to control himself in talking /
to a woman. You just confessed that
YOU never spoke to your father ike
that"
Z never do to anyone but her" he
said gloomily.
Tom" I pleaded. forgive me for
saying It, but why not remember your
mother? You told me what a good 1
mother she was-and surely If she /
" ere here It would distress her TO
see you lose your temper. Think OF
q do" he asserted. AS before when
he spoke Of his mother his voice