Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-01-24

on Miss Parkins' face.
"Fm not going" she said bitterly.
Not going?" Miss Parldns frowned.
why. thought it was all settled. I"
That's what thought. That's
what mother thought, when she was
dying. But-he's gone back on his
word to her"
Miss Parlkins led the way to the
rear Of her ONCE, lighted only by the
green-shaded lamp above her desk.
The sound OF their footsteps on the
bare floor echoed through the desert
ed room. She'll put down 3 velvet
carpet, and pin tides on the chairs, +"
male Mapleton had sneered when
Miss Parlins took her fathers place
at the head OF the Eagle. But male
Mapleton was wrong, as 1t very quick.
ly learned.
Miss Parkins pointed to q chair be-
side her desk.
sit down, dear" she said.
The girl flung herself down.
''4e told me today" she continued,
that same incongruous bitterness IN
her voice. HE said he'd been to too
much expense-and that, anyhow, my
place was here ct home"
"As his servant" said Miss Parkins,
with . sigh.
In mothers place. he said"
THAT means as a servant" re-
marked Miss Parkins, more to herself
than to the girl.
81 never cared so much about go
ing away to college-while she lived"
the girl continued. "But her whole
heart seemed set on It'll never could
understand just why"
FL could" said Miss PaFkins. be-
meath her breath.
she fairly fought to get father to
promise" The girls eyes widened
with the wonder OF 1t. 1T was the
only time ever knew her to oppose
him."
Poor Mary" Miss Parkins whis-
pered.
"Yes-I didn't care so much about
it--then. But now that she's gone
the girls voice broke-''I want to 60.
1t was her great wish. want 10 60.
And he saysI can't"
Hot anger In her heart for once,
Miss Parfins walked the floor Of her
office. She thought of Henry Brad
ford, with his boarded thousands. his
oily sanctity, and her fingers itched
to shake the meanness from him.
did you remind your father Of his
promise to herr" she asked.
'Yes. And he said he couldn't I'M
derstand her strange notion-that she
must have been a little Eighty in her
sickness-thst he'd promised just to
make It easier for her at the end"
"Flighty!" Miss Parkins' tone was
hot with scorn. She thought of her
last interview with Mary Bradford, Of
how the defeated, crushed little WON
an had cried to her: HE sha'n't make
slave of my girl too. He sha'n't,
Ann, he shant!" Poor Mary. It had
been her one fight. and, now that she
was where she could wage It no long
er, the day seemed lost.
7 had to tell someone" The girl
was sobbing now. Sand / thought
mother would have wanted me to tell
you"
She threw her arms down on the
desk, and her head upon them. Her
slim shoulders shook. "Mother!" she
moaned. "Oh, mother. mother!" The
capable, businesslike little woman
who edited the Eagle stood at her
side looking down at her: and sud
denly across that usually businesslike,
capable face. a shadow passed. Il
was shadow of the expression seen
on the faces of those women who
dream for their sisters, and grow i'm
patient that the day they dream of is
so long in coming.
Reaching down, Miss Parkins pat
ted one heaving shoulder
That was right-to tell me, dear"
she said.
The girl raised her head. The
agony Of her sobs died out. Some
thing she seemed to see in Miss Par.
kins' face soothed her.
What are you going to do?" she
asked.
This blind faith touched Miss Par
kins, even while it dismayed her.
What could she do. indeed? Her heart
ached for the daughter Of her old
friend. but what part could she, an
outsider, play In the struggle her
friend had forever laid down?
"oh, Ina dear" she said. 81 don't
lrnoxv what I oan Aofo
She walked away from the girl, to-
ward the corner where the two limo.
type machines, Of which she was so
proud. doomed grim and shadowy In
the half-light. Strangely enough, 1t
was not of May Bradford or her
daughter that Miss Parkins was think
ing now. but Of a handsome. keen-eyed
boy Perhaps # was the moon that
brought him back tonight. for It had
shone that other August as It shone
now, They had stood together be-
meath the trees in her fathers yard,
| she and this hnv and HE arros rBa-a