Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-08-18
CHAPTER VI.

Bradford returned home that night
supremacy happy in the sense OF low
ing and being loved. Now that the
great step had been taken, and Syl-
via ana he dad embarked together
on life's most splendid adventuring
ser-reyelation had cleared away all
doubts. fears and hesitations. He
realized the truth at last that the
girl was indispensable to him, that
she fulfilled his every ideal of wom-
anhood, that she would supplement
and strengthen his character Thru
her his soul reached out toward life
yet unborn--strong, vigorous life
which should regenerate his race He
thrilled with lofty aspirations and
vast longings.
Difficulties hitherto seeming in
surmountable he now brushed val
iantly aside. In his viyified hopes
and quickened pulses he felt the
strength OF ten. SUCCESS could not
be denied him now; wifi her and by
her he would conque, Together they
would meet and solve every problem
invincible each in the others love
and help.
Wrapped in this thought, he en-
tered his fathers somber and ariSto-,
cratic house. He hung his hat and
coat on the rack in the hall, and
still inspired by his sublime vision
ings-started upstairs. All at once
he heard his fathers voice calling
him from the library.
Bradford is that your"
YES, father What is it,"
Come herc!"
Vinton sensed a certain hardness
in his fathers tepe, which rt best
was never gentle. Even thru the
buoyancy of his mood uneasy pre-
monitions of trouble forced them
selves upon him. A chill passed
thru the glow of his exultation as
he turned, walked down, the hallway
and entered the library.
The sight of his fathers face,
stern, hard and uncompromisng,
transfixed his heart with sudden
the old gentleman, who sat there in
his reading chair under the drench
of light from the desk lamp.
j"You wanted to see me, father?"
he inquired, with a p~emonition of
the reason.
Yes. Sit down." directed Eliot
Vint0n, nodding austerely at a chair
across the desk from his own.
Bradford sat down, looked ap-
praisingly at his father, and waited
| in silence for the attack which he
now felt positive was about to come.
The old shipping master peered a
moment at his son thru gold trimmed
| pince-neZ. Then, fr0wning, he opened
a drawer in the desk and took out a
| folded newspaper which showed an
item marked with blue pencil.
Read that" directed Eliot, push
! ing the paper across the desk.
Bradford picked it up and read
The Observer has noticed that a
certain Back Bay young man, here
nameless, but OF irreproachable fam
! lily, has of late been frequently seen
! in the company OF certain North
End mission singer. Can a romance
/ be developing in real life between
Salvation Army Nell and Marlbor-
ough street? Have a care, Marlbor-
ough street; there's a Delilah fo1
! every Samson!"
Twice thru Bradford read the ma
licious bit Of gossip, while his face
began to burn. Then, gazing with
defiant eyes at his father. he dropped
the paper on the desk.
t. There came a little silence in the
library, a silence so profound that
the ticking Of the clock on the stairs
was plainly to be heard. Then the
elder Ninton, drumming on the desk
with nervous fingers, shot a keer
j bolt:
"Of course I know who is referred
to in this paragraph" rasped he
You need not deny it, Bradford
Even if I failed ITO read the truth i1
your face, l have other proofs"
! Still Bradford made no answer
His face had ceased to burn. A kind
Of creeping chill had seized his heart
and, thence extending outward
seemed to be invading his entire
body. In silence he eyed his father
who was looking at him with f~igic
and scornful displeasure.
"Well?" suddenly demanded Eliot
You have nothing to say?"
Nothing at ALL answered Brad
ford. "Have you anything?'
Much. That is why / have sum
/ moned you. l am glad your mother
4 is not at home and will not return
till tomorrow. We have highly
! painful matter to discuss, and hei