The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1917-09-07
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bal shook his head. "Not more than
1 thought l knew he had it in him /;
you were the one"
mo, no! We both doubted. Perhaps
this girl read him."
"Sure she read himv' snorted the
father. "She read his bank book. But
fooled her."
do you remember when Bob was
born? The doctors thought"
"Of course remember her hus-
band broke in. "Those doctors said
you'd never come through it."
Eyes; I wasn't strong"
"But you did. 1 was with you. I
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 a cigar. When he had
it lighted he said, grufiy, "Well, it
made a 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 a 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 wretchedly.
"My dear! he cried, rising.
II can't keep it up, Hannibal I
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
nibal, 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.
| spoiled him. They made you into a
stone man; they came between me and
the people and the things loved; they
walled me off from the world. My life
is empty-empty. want to mother
something"
Hannibal inquired, hoarsely: mot
this baby, surely? Not that woman's
child?"
"It's Bob's baby and ours"
He looked down at her queerly for a
moment. ''The breed is rotten. If he
had married a decent girl"
"John Merkle says she is splendid"
"How do you know"
81 have talked with him. 1 have
learned whatever I could about her,
wherever 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 she'll
get it this way"
'Do you think money can pay her for
what she is enduring at this minute?
She's frightened, just as was fright
ened when Bob was born. She's sick
and suffering. But do you think all
our dollars could buy that child from
her? Money has made us hard, Hanni-
bal; lets-be different"
"I'm afraid we have put it off too
long" he answered, slowly. "She
won't forgive us, and I'm not sure
want her to-"
"Bob's in trouble. Won't you go to
him?''
| Hannibal Wharton opened his lips
closed them; then, taking his hat and
coat, he left the room
But as the old man went uptown
his nerve failed him. He was fixed in
his ways he had blind faith in his
own infallibility. Twice he rode up
in the elevator to his sons door, twice
he rode down again. Hannibal settled
himself to wait.
During the chill, still hours after the
city had gone to rest an automobile
drew up to the apartment house; when
| its expected passenger emerged from
the building grim-faced stranger in
a greatcoat accosted him. One glance
challenged the physicians attention,
and he answered:
Eyes, it's all over. A boy"
"And-Mrs. Wharton, the mother?"
youth is wonderful thing, and
she has everything to live for. She is
doing as well as could be expected.
You're a relative, 1 presume"
The old man hesitated, then his
voice came boldly. "Yes, I'm her IA
ther."
When the doctor had driven away
Hannibal strobe into the building and
telephoned to the Waldorf, but now his
words were short and oddly broken.
Nevertheless they brought a light Of
gladness to the eyes of the woman who
had waited all these hours.
CHAPTER XVI.
Adoree Demorest, still in her glitter