Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-07-12

"Amen!" quietly. "IIl say amen to
that, Caroline, any time. Only 1 want |
you to be sure those you call friends |
are real ones and that the truths they |
tell amt like bait on fishhook, put |
on for bait and just thick enough to
cover the barb"
"Do you mean to insinuate"-
screamed the irrepressible nephew,
wild at being SO completely ignored.
His uncle again paid not the slightest
attention.
"But that amt neither here nor there
now" he went on. Caroline, Mr.. Pear
son just told you that his coming to
this house without tellin' you fust of
his quarrel with Bite was his fault.
That amt so. The fault was mine al
together. He told me the whole story;
told me that he han't called since 1t
happened, on that very account. And
I took the whole responsibility and ask
ed him to come. didl Do you know
why2"
If he expected an answer none was
given. Caroline's lids dropped disdain-
fully. "Steve,' she said, lets CO."
stop! You'll stay here until fin
ish. I want to say that 1 didn't tell
you about the trolley fuss because I
wanted you to learn some things for
yourself. I wanted you to know Mr..
Pearson-to find out what sort Of man
he was afore you judged him. Then.
when you had known him long enough
to understand he wasn't a liar and q
blackguard, and all that Steve has call
ed him, was goin' to tell you the
whole truth, not part of 1t. And,
after that, was goin' to let you de-
eide for yourself what to do. I'm a
lot older than you are. I've mixed
with all sorts Of folks. I'm past the
stage where can be fooled-by false
hair or soft soap. You can't pour
sweet Oil over a herrin' and make me
believe it's a sardine. l know the
Pearson stock. I've sailed over heap
Of salt water with one Of the family.
And I've kept my eyes open since I've
run acrost this particular member.
And I knew your father, too, Caroline
|
KNOWN Jim Pearson and Bile War
ren-yes, and KNOWN the rights and
wrongs of that trolley business quite
as well as Malcolm Dunn or anybody
else-I say to you that, although Bile
was my brother, I'll bet my life that
Jim had all the right on his side.
Therel That's the truth, and no hook
underneath it. And some day you'll
realize it too"
He had spoken with great vehemence.
Now he took a handkerchief from his
pocket and wiped his forehead. When
he again looked at his niece he found
her staring intently at him, and her
eyes blazed.
Have you quite finished-now?" she
demanded. "Steve, be quiet!"
"Why, yes; I guess so, pretty nigh.
/ spose there amt much use to say
more. If 1 was to tell you that I've
tried to do for you and Steve in this
same as in everything else since 1 took
this job-as If you were my own chill
dren you wouldn't believe it. If I
was to tell you, Caroline, that I'd come
to think an awful lot of you you
wouldn't believe that either. did hope
that since our other misunderstanding
was cleared up and you found want
what you thought was you'd come to
me and ask questions afore passin'
judgment, but perhaps
And now she interrupted, bursting
out at him in blast Of scorn which
took his breath away.
"Oh, stop, stop" she cried. Don't
say any more. You have insulted IA
theirs memory and defended the man
who slandered him. Isn't that enough2
Why must you 60 on to prove yourself
a greater hypocrite? We learned, my
brother and 1, today more than the
truth concerning your friend. We
learned that you have lied-yes, lied
and
STEADY, Caroline! Be careful. I
wouldn't say what might be sorry for
later"
Sorry, Captain Warren. You spoke
of my misjudging you. I thought I
had, and was sorry. Today learned
that your attitude in that affair was a
lie like the rest. You did not pay for
Mr.. Moriarty's accident. Mr.. Dunn's
money paid those bills. And you al
lowed the family-and me-to thank
you for your generosity. Oh, I'm
ashamed to be near your
There, there! Caroline, be still. u
II shall not be still. l have been
still altogether too long. You are our
guardian. We can't help that, l sup
pose. Father asked you to be that for
some reason, but did he ask you to
live here, where you are not wanted,
to shame us before our friends, ladies
and gentlemen so far above you In
every way, and to try to poison our
minds against them and sneer at them
when they are kind to us and even try
to be kind to you? No, he did not.
oh, I'm sick Of 1t all-your deceit and
your hypocritical speeches and your
pretended love for us! Love! Oh, If
could say something that would
make YOU understand how Thoroughly