The Lamar register., 1920-05-26


slip of Il girl meant TO Bedient--but let
the story tell itself.
Both lived within walking distance
of the office, and their ways lay
through the same streets. Almost al
ways they walked home together.
Bedient's boarding place was the far
ther on. Once. after they had said
goodnight, he turned for Il parting
glimpse of the slim young figure, To
see that the girl had stopped halfway
mp the steps and was gazing after him.
Bedient's heart leaped, but he
laughed il ont of its folly. II might
have been as well II he could have
seen the wistful look In the deep blue
eyes and the quick flush as she waved
her hand to him and ran hastily mp
the steps.
For Bedlent, remembering his forty
..even years, had beaten back his long
ngs and watched. with patient lore.
The eager suit of young Fellows. Then
for two days the pr"ofreader came NJ
more 10 Bcrnices machine on the fly
ing visits with the whispered Joyous
jokes. The second evening Bedlent
took liberty.
Little girl" he sald, as they be-
snn the long walk home. 81 noticed
yesterday and today that you and the
boy were not getting along together
Don't think me meddlesome. please;
hut Tm terribly afraid of causeless
quarrels, OF misunderstanding. Ii
Z
worried about you-and Fellows. He's
Il good, clean boy. A girl would be safe
with him. You-you care for him,
don't your
The girls voice was very low. "why
do You ask"
They had walked almost half
block before Bedlent answered. "I'll
tell you. Your mother was Gertrude
Holt. | didn't have to ask you; you
are she over again She and I--well.
We loved each other ,jWe quai ieled
needlessly. don't suppose either of us
thought II would last week. People
seldom see to the end of such things,
She married John Murgatroyd. He
took her to Toledo. | have never seen
her. but ! know. Your father-well.
YOUR father was not exactly"
You need not spare him." the girl
interrupted. AT the end 1t killed
mother-a year ago"
Yes" said Bedlent solemnly, IL
heard. You see. don't you. child. why
/ presume TO meddlef II happens so
often. I'm not much but at least
wouldn't have mistrented your mother.
This young Fellows is an honorable
lad-a fine type. | hope"
II was very hard for Bedient TO
say it-hard to dIssemble. He was
tloundering bit when Bernice. IN
voice that trembled with temerity at
her sudden resolution, said:
Royce Fellows and l have had no
lovers quarrel | have never thought
~ him except as witty boy" She
hesliafed an instant, then. mastering
The trcmor in her voice. went on:
Did YOU think didn't know about
you-that didn't know you-long.
'"ng before ! ever saw you? Why,
ever since l was little girl. my
mother has told me. over and over
again. about your great, splendid.
"hivnlrous heart, your strength, your
ratience, your lonely. sacrificing life
did you think she didn't know.
at last, whose money II was that my
shameless father used for years to
keep rs from starving while he idled
and gambedT And that she didn't
Tell me1 Why. you have been almost
ii god TO me since l WIS child"
why. Bernice, Il" Bedl-
tnt's houndering was hopeless now.
Listen" pursued the girl breath
lessly, you knew me st glance.
because / had Inherited my mothers
features, didn't you? Well. that isn't
the only thing | Inherited from my
mother. And after she had gone and
! thought Of you day and night. liv.
Ing ON and ON with your dear life
empty of the kind of happiness 1t
ought to have known-that you were
made for--l promised myself that
YOU should have II II you wanted II.
| came here. Richard. to give you, II
It seemed TO you worth while. my In
heritance. oh. man. mani Don't you
understand? My mother loved YOU
alwaysw
And the homeward walk. side by
side. led them TO the sunshine and
lowers Of the Valley OF Content.
Last Of the Barons