The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1920-06-11
The Black Sheep.

That 8 her, bless ner skinny little
heart. 1 wish I could be like her.
When she thinks she sees the right
Of thing, she just naturally forgets
herself and dives right in regardless
of consequences. l feel that I'm
better man since 1 have been forced
to defend her actions. Her conduct
wasn't good business. 1t has cost us
money but there is no lodging the issue
she was right" Taking his pipe and
blowing fragrant cloud of smoke
toward the ceiling, he continued, "and
as for writing to total stranger, let
me tell you Ma, 1 don't believe that
the human heart knows strangers. It is
only as we compete to live that we
grow shy, scared, and suspicious of one
another. did not know you when
we were married and hang it I don t
know you yet. Never will I reckon.
But one thing is certain, that when
you laid that little girl in my arms,
nearly twenty years ago, right then 1
became pretty well convinced that we
were tied pretty we'll together. And
after that it did not make so much
difference whether we understood each
other or not, we knew that we were
parents to that little club, and that
made us partners.
"But Pa do talk sense!" The mother
demanded. CHOW are we going to save
Olive from that mans"
"My advice would be that we send
for him and give him a job in the
office, or on farm, then we can see
what kind of man he is. If he is
the man for her. then there is no
earthly use fussing about it, and if
he is not she is the only one who can
find it out. If you 60 and fight her,
you will drive her to him Just as sure
as God made little apples.'
"I'll not stand for any such foolish
ness. I'll order her to stop writing to
him. his wife vociferated. "There
is no sense in her throwing over a good
boy like Frank Cartwright for a com.
mon Jail bird, the ideal"
Anderson pipe was nov firmly
between his lips at the corner of his
mouth. 1t moved slowly from a half
past four to ten thirty position in
front of his oval face FINALLY he said.
"being in Jail is no disgrace. All
your Holy apostles were pinched off
and on, even Jesus Christ was con.
victed as criminal at least so your
sky pilots tell us. Personally 1 have
never been in Jail, but that is not
saying that | had not ought to have
been there. Just a little more Justice
and little less law, and your honr.
able and respected husband would be
striped canary today, and you, Ma,
would he taking in washings instead
of going to hen parties"
BY this time Mrs. Anderson was more
than indignant she fairly snapped at her
impcrturbable husband "Pa, answer me,
what are you going to do about it9 It
is terrible. You are beginning to talk
just like Olive. IN ashamed Of both
/ of you"
Anderson laughed good naturedly.
"Now, Ma" said he, "I do not
know as anything ought to be done
about it. You haven't produced ,sdf-
ficicnt evidence to warrant convic.
tion. Just because she ditced that Cart.
wright kid, and answered the letter
from another man, that is not saying
that the wedding bells are all creased
for ringing" Then after pause
I"I1l have talk with Ollie myself.
1t is true she is somewhat impracticable
and am sure she wants to do right
My advice to you is ma, that you be
careful not to do wrong"
This fairly infuriated the mother.
You're a great father, you are. You
should be ashamed to encourage your
child in her waywardness. You should
set your foot down, and order her to
make up with Frank Cartwright. Use
our authority as a father and stop
this foolishness," she finished her
voice acrid with anger.
" A father cannot be a Judge" said
Anderson, as he emptied his pine in
the the fire place. "You gave me that
little girl Ma, and I have always been
proud of her. I've done all the damned
crooked things this side of the peni.
Tertiary to make you both comfortable.
| would have liked to make you both
happy, but as you find your happiness
IN heaven, and find mine at the table,
OF course l realize that 1 have failed
to some extent. Still it was for YOU
and her, that 1 fooled myself into be.
leving that wrong was right Anything
for your benefit as I saw it, but we ali
have different eyes. l may thank God,
that she did not lose all respect for
me when that kid in Jail told her to
look behind the curtains. And now YOU
tell me that she is making great
decision and if it is true / want to
hear her side Of the story before
giving any advice"
Mrs. Anderson saw that the battle
was hopeless, and left the room just as
Olive entered thru the portiers
Mother has been telling me tho
news. Now suppose you tell your old
Dad what you know about itu An.
derson said suavely.
Olive stood before him leaning on
the back Of chair. She was as grace.
ful as willow bending in the summer
breeze. eyes, received letter from
Mr.. Thurston. I heard mother telling
you about it,"
j 1T worries your mother"
"The letteri''
"Yes.n
mo, Frank Cartwright worries
mother. She wants me to 60 with him
Just because she and his mother are
friends. But IL would be crime for
me to go with Frank. We are SO hope
lessly different.n
}, But no can give you home and n
respectable name," her mother Kissed
from the next room. "what can that
hobo do for you"
The father waved his hand in an.
noyance, and nodded for the girl to
60 on, and Olive continued "f know