Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-02-16
The Black
Sheep
scopyrlsh,. isr. western Newspaper Union
q, GEORGE ELMER coeB

StrlCt ucncOn TIE CIRCUS WIS IN uDOiil-
Ination and the thentcr a deep pit. lie
biuntly informed Duntley that he was
on the downward path, and lntimnted
that he should see to Il that he did
not also drug his wife and child to de-
struction.
"Bctter not interfere" advised Dunt-
ley In his ofrhanded way. II see n
chance q, make money. and I'm going
to take It."
Edith. the wife and daughter. was
grieved. but she accepted the sItua-
ton unmurmuringly. She knew the
FESTIVE spirit OF this Impulslve hus-
bnpd OF hers. and hoped brief expert
ence would cure him Of the rowing
faint. Each month Duntiey came home
for n couple Of days. He dressed bet
ter and had great dreams Of sometime
owning show Of his own.
The dismal deacon continued 10 pro-
test. He called the behavior OF his
son-in-law simply dlsgracefuL The
censorlous and narrow-minded father
worked on poor Edith until. when
Duntley cnme back from a long trip,
he found the household effects In stor-
age and Edith and the baby under the
parental roof.
"Give up your nefnrious callln-. rot
back to honest work. and your wife
win come back 10 you" said Jason
Hall. "Otherwise. I shall see to II
that there Is a legal separation"
A GOODNESS grew up between man and
wife. Duntley flung away. angry. def.
ant. stubborn. A year went by and he
did not reappcdr. Stories were re-
tailed to the effect that Duntley had
been seen at picnic In the midst Of
rolllcklng. wine-blbblng set Of men
and women. Another story was that
Duntley had been manager for Nile.
Esturla. "the brilliant. meteoric trnp-
csc artist" In a quiet way a divorce
was secured. The deacon died, and
Edith. taking her child. little Paul.
with her. removed TO quiet country
town.
One day Edith left little Paul In
charge OF the nurse for the day. Her
plan was to visit friend In a neigh
boring village.
'Tii take the baby down to my sis
ter's. and speud the day there. II you
don't object" said Mary.
Mrs. Duntley reached the next town.
to find her friend away. She returned
home. and went TO the home OF the sis
ter OF the nurse. 20 find them both
chatting on the porch. Mary turned
pale as she viewed her mistress.
II found my friend absent ex-
planned Mrs. Dunticy. "nnd I thought
would come and take Paul home"
The nurse exhibited embarrassment
and was trembling all over. Abruptly
she burst Into tears.
ooh. ma'aml" she sob6ed. "the bnby
Is not here"
mot herer cr.ed Edith In quick
alarm. alas anything happened to
PaulT"
"No. ma'nm." dissentcd May woeful-
ly; "but. oh you'll never forgive me.
but n gentleman has taken IA great
fancy to Paul. and he asked me to let
him have Paul with him for today"
"wherc2 whereT' gasped the agl-
tatcd mother
AT the hotel"
sand you left my darling with a
stranger cried Edith. "Wretched
woman! Take me at once to my child.
Who Is this MANI"
"IIe is-oh. ma'am. forgive mel for
give me! He Is your husband--that
was"
They made due haste TO the hotel
Mary knew the room Duntley occupied.
Its door was open. Pleased. prattling
tones mingled with tender masculine
ones. on the floor was Paul. and near
to him his father. The place was lit
tered with toys.
Into the room Edith rushed and
clasped the boy In her arms. rs though
from the Jaws Of peril. Pierce Dua,ley
regarded her gravely. His face md
bearing suggested a sedateness that
had not formerly existed.
"You-you have changed" spoke
Edith, rather abashed at the reproach-
full look her husband bestowed upon
her.
Somewhat" nodded Duntley. "Not
that was ever ms bad Ms Father Hall
fancled me. That Wild orgie In the
woods was simply movie scene in
which I figured Mile. Esturia. the
dashing trnpezist whom I managed,
was grandmother 20 eight children.
But Father Hall was rlght-it was a
riding life and now am part Of
great humanitarian society. spreading
education IA the dark places OF the
earth. On that mission leave for
Hawaii next week, and I Just had to
see the dear little fellow here before
I went away"
"Puul want good man come home
18th him" lere cried out the little fell
low. and back 20 his father and
put his on bout his neck.