Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-08-19
The Gift
Supreme
BY
George Allan England
Author Of
Darkness and Dawn"
1.-The Alibi," etc.

| SSs quilS dpptOpildtC loi a peaSN :
stairs liaison," retorted the old gem
| tlernan.
Bradford flushed again. this time
with anger. but held his peace. His
father eyed him narrowly for a
moment, then resumed:
"I tried to overlook the first ref
erence to your misconduct. l disap-
proved, but I was willing to pardon
lit on the grounds of youth and mex
perience. This, however, is going too
far!" He pointed at the bit of print.
AS Vinton ! can not and will not
have and aspersions cast on our
name. You have done your mothe-
and me great wrong, Now. Brad
ford, you must make amends
Amends? What do you mean?"
"You must dismiss this creature.
You must break with her at once,
permanently and for all time, You
must"
| Wait. father" interrupted Brad
ford, beginning to tremble with a
nervous chill. ''Wait!"
/ You must pay her whatever she
demands, if necessary to free your
self from her grip. I will settle the
bill. And after that
\ Father, do you know what you're
| sa.Fing?" exclaimed Bradford. sud
denly standing UP. He gripped the
edge of4the desk, leaned over it and
! peered into the old gentleman's face.
.'Io you realize you're asking an inn
possibility"
AN impossibility? How so?"
Because this girl has just prom
Used to marry mel"
| Eliot Vinton stiffened in every
muscle.
| Eth? What?" he stammered.
What did you say?"
| You heard me the first time It's
trae. I've asked her and been ac-
copied"
| The shipping master stared at his
son with widening eyes. His body
relaxed; he sank back into his chair.
'Bradford,' said he, ARE you-in-
sane?"
| "Fhr from it,"
| ''But you-you don't mean"
yes. I do. I'm telling you the alb
selute truth. asked her this after
| noon, at he:' home in East Boston,
and she accepted ne-after some OBJ
je ctions. Tomorrow I'm going to
| give her a ring. It's all settled, faith
Ell; no use for you to look like that.
tell you we're engaged to
BE- married. Do you understand
pain English?"
| Eliot Vinton sat quite still for a
moment. His face had taken a sort
OF pasty Wilderness. Too dazed for
any effective answer, he stared at
his son. Then, looking around the
room with kind of wondering
Darkness, he drummed with his nails
| on the desk top, as If to arouse him
self Finally his eyes came once
more to his sons face.
Your witticisms are in bad taste"
said he
But I'm only stating the precise
fact" affirmed Bradford with some
heat. TITS settled between us, and
nothing can undo it,
"What2" demanded the old gentle
| raan with growing stupefaction.
You, Vinton, intend to marry a.
Ia woman of the streets? No. no, no,
impossible"
Bradford's face grew dull red.
'"Tha't a g-atuitous insult" he re-
torted. 'for the best and purest girl
! ] ever knew!"
"a North End slum mission han
,er-on," said his father; land you
You, a Vinton-'
ooh, I hate the name of Vinton!"
| the young man passionately explod-
ed. I've heard it dinned into my
ears ever since I could rememher-
l-vinton this and vinton that, till it
:sickens me. What do care who I
am, or who she is, If I love her and
she loves me?, If I've found true,
good. intelligent girl, the most ca
nable and energetic girl I've ever
| known-a real companion and a
mate?"
"a North End slum-" began the
shipping master, but did not finish.
He gulped down a deep breath,
loosened his collar with a trembling
finger, then stood up and began pae-
| ing the library floor Bradford
watched him silently. He had grown
pale again, and he still shivered a
little: but his face had taken a new
expression. It showed neither anger
nor fear.
Presently the old gentleman mas
| tered himself. He came back to the
desk, clasped his hands over his
! waistcoat with characteristic ges-
ture. and said in calmer voice
! which, however, was far from
| steady:
my son, let us not lose our heads.
1t is evident you are laboring under
a delusion from which I must awak-
en- you. You are young and I am
old. understand the world and it's
ways far better than you. Perhaps
I understand you, too. I am there
fore willing to make allowances. But
| I pray you, for your mothers sake,
if not for mine-do not bring dis
grace upon our stock. Do not rush
woman of that class!"
SWhat class do you mean?" re-
torted Bradford.
why, naturally, an inferior class
to ours"
How inferior? This girl comes OF
Scotch English ancestry. She is
sturdy with the blood of forebears
who have cleared the woods and
fields, sailed the sea and dominated
| nature. She has virtue, brains, en-
ergy and high principles. She is
physically perfect and mentally
acute. Is that inferiority?"
Eliot 'Vinton made weary ges-
ture with both hands and sat dowr
again.
Even granting all this. and as.