Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-09-02
a MANS HEARTH

my wife. sir" he briefly introduced
to his father the girl who drew back.
amazed, before their entrance.
Mr.. Adriance showed no less EVIL
dence Of inward storm than his son
But he stopped and saluted his daugh-
ter-in-law with precise courtesy.
Mrs. Adriance." he acknowledged
the presentation, bis voice better con-
trolled than the younger mans.
Light the lamp, Elsie.' her hus-
band requested, dragging off the CUM
sy chauffeur's gloves he had worn
home. 1T seems that we are under
suspicion of child-stealing. MY ia
ther has done us the honor of look
Ing us up. to accuse me of conniving
boy. I have not yet gathered exactly
what interest I am supposed to have
in the lady or her affairs, or whether
I am presumed to be engaged in a
bandit enterprise for ransom. But l
understand that there is a detective
outside, who probably wishes to
search the house." y
Elsie made no move to obey the
command. In the indeterminate light
Masterson's presence had been I'M
noticed, shadowed as he was by the
deep chair in which he sat. She was
not afraid. or b~ewildered so far as to
conceive keeping him concealed. but
she was not yet ready to act.
my son is inexact, as usual" Mr..
Adriance gave her space, aiding her
unaware by his irritation. mp. Mas
terson is known to have crossed the
E~dgewater ferry with the child, and
we know Of no friends he would seek
in this place except Tony and you.
His brain is hardly strong enough,
now. to plan any extended moves.
Surely it needs no explanation that we
wish to rescue a two-year-old child
from the hands of a drug-crazed in
competent"
Elsie laid her hand over the match
box, wondering that the other two did
breathing of the mar in the ARM
chair. y
He is hardly that" she deprecated.
But. if you and him, what will you
do?" -
ITO him? Nothing. we want the
child. II he persists in annoying the
lady who Was his wife, however,. he
must be put in a sanitarium."
Elsie. why do you not say that We
snow nothing Of all this?" Anthony
demanded, harsh in his strong .impa-
thence. Why do you feed suspicion
by arguing? l don't say that 7 would
not shelter Holly Masterson, if he
were herein fact, I should! But 1
do say that he is not here, sir,
and I expect my word to be taken.
His wife put out her hand in a
quieting gesture.
Now 1 will light the lamp" she
stated, in her full, calm voice.
stood watching her. The hame-touch-
ed wick burned slowly. at first. the
light rising gradually to it's full pow
er; the circle of radiance crept, out
and UP, warmed by the crimson shade
through which it passed. 1t crept. like
a bright tide, shining on the figure of
the woman who stood behind the
table, rising over the noble swell Of
her bosom, eubmetging the curved
hollow of her throat where a small
ebony cross lay against a surface OF
ivory. flooding at last her face set in
generous resolution and glinting in
her gray, serenely fearless eyes. She
looked, and was mistress Of the place
and situation; perhaps because of all
those present she alone was not
thinking of herself. :
You see,' she broke the pause.
there was much excuse. 1t is always
wiser and kinder to listen to the ex-
cuee for actions: I think usually
there is one. Mr.. Masterson loves his
little son very dearly. and that they
have been separated is terrible to him.
But he was patient, ,he did not inter-
fere until today: he saw Holly struck
and roughly treated by the nurse. He
could not bear that, and tust look on.
No n could! So Mr.. ,Masterson,
obeying his frst impulse, snatched up
the baby, and he did bring him here.
It was only a little while ago, An
thony: a very little while"
Before either Adriance could speak,
the shadows into the light. He was
laughing slightly. all his reckless, too
feminine beauty somehow restored as
he faced them.
Here is your drug-crazed incompe-
tent. Mr.. Adrtance," he Knocked.
Have you succeeded so we'll in train
ing your own o that you want to
undertake bringing up mineo"
The Insult changed the atmosphere
to that of crude var Elsie drew
back. recognizing this field was not for
tagohist with a elaboration cold and
very dangerous.
Il think a>comparison between my
son and yourself is hardly one you
a afford to challenge" he said Bit
ingly.
Now. no." Masterson admitted. He
laughed again. But q year ago-
who was the best citizen, then? Fred
Masterson, with all his shortcomings!
or Tony .Adriance. dangling after
Masterson's wife? Hold on. Tony.
I'm not saying this for you; you quit
the nasty game az soon as you saw
1t was leading. I'm only ex-
planting to your father, here. that the
difference between you and me Is
chtefy-our wives. OF course we
ought not to lean on our women; we
ought to be strong and independent.
But 1 was not born that way, and
neither were you. Lucille wanted me
down, and / am down: Mrs. AdrfAnce
wanted you up, and you're standing
up. Be honest, and out with the
truth to yourself, II you never speak
1t. Tony. As for your father. IL our.
guardians had started us differently.
It might not have been this way with
us. I don't know, but that is the
chance I am giving Holly. He shall
not have to pick up his education on
the road. / have brought him here,
and here he stays with Mrs AdriAnce
until / take him away with me- SHE
a eiven me her promise"
You forget that the court has
SVEN the child to its mother" Mr..
AdriAhoe reminded him. before An
thony could reply. "Apd let me tell