The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-21
CHAPTER NO. %.
FreddIe's Word.

And so it came about that Frederick
Mason was, for the first time in his
life. untrue to a trust. And. as is the
way with men. it happened because
of a woman
For Freddie's father had mapped out
this business trip upon which he sent
his son most carefully. Although Mr..
Mason had told Freddie's mother that
he "only was sending the bov as much
to give him a change as anything else,
nevertheless he was far too proud Of
Freddie and his potential abilities not
to see to it that he was given every
chance to make good in the business
sense Of the phrase. Mr.. Mason had
built the house of Mason & Co.. on
the rocks Of honesty, justice and 10y
atty. Heaven alone knew. too-and pos
sibly> Mrs. Mason-how hard he had
tried TO bring up his son with the
proper respect for these cardinal vir-
tues. And only Mr.. Mason knew with
what fine and fatherly hopes and good
and manly prayers he had sent forth
his only son upon the road to repre-
sent the concern, the honor OF which
was as precious to him as his wi
very life.
OF course, the list of towns Freddie
had been given to cover were small
towns. But Mr., Mason, himself, had
said there was plenty of mic bust
ness in each one that, all in all, came
to a tidy sum" But since the places
were small, the business in each easily
could be gathered up in a day OF two.
That Freddie might send in as fat
order blanks as possible, Mr.. Mason
had arranged for him a quick schedule.
As a matter Of fact, according to the
plans, Freddie's work in Mapleville
hours. Loyalty to his father and his
fathers concern ought to have made
him leave the following day for Mid
dletown. All overtime spent here would
be sheer waste, and vet
He stood on a path by a lake, with
a girl that the moon made all silvery
and subtle. though silvery and subtitle
she was not, and promised her to for
get his father and his fathers work
If she should will it so.
Estrelda, at his words. had covered
her face quickly with her hands. In
stinctively she knew he must not see
the victory she felt flame in her look.
of it.
Freddie drew closer to her. He dared
Just to touch lightly with his fingers
the backs of her hands, behind which
her face was hidden.
Look at me-" he begged softly. Are
you really-so glad?"
She raised her head. Now she really
was stirred. Her breath was coming
quickly between her parted lips. He
could see the throb of her throat: the
rise and fall OF her breast where it
curved softly into the white of her
bodice. Her eyes seemed so big he lost
himself in them; nor missed the veil
there should have been before her look;
the veil of girlhood and of shyness.
And then:
IT'S funny" she said. 'T never even
knew there was such a person as you
you to go-to leave me! It'%s-funny!'
He was very grave.
No" he said, 1T isn't-funny. Peo-
pie find each other like-that. Just as
quickly as we did. You-you know all
about 1t sometimes, the minute YOU see
a person. | mean whether or not Won
are going to be-friends. 1--we heard
father say the first time he ever
saw my mother he-he sort of-knew!
It's wonderful! My mother says it's
It's God whispering to us; telling us.
II know. I've felt it before, out-out
Of a clear sky"
wise enough to see it, he might. have
caught a glimpse of her as she really
was. For
".Oh!" she said, imperiously, and her
voice sharpened swiftly. "Oh! So there
have been lots of others, have there?
Well-talIe it from me"
There was something so fine in him
that even though she could not UNDER
it, it stopped her short. And
There has never been-a girl-like
he said. ~
She had checked herself Just in time.
1t flashed through that mad, imperative