The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-15
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CONTINUED From Yesterday
CHAPTER ii


There was a tragic silence when
old Fergerson finished reading. and
looked up over his goid.rimmcd
glasses with agitated eyes at young
Rriton. who sat at the end OF the
long oak table. his young face white
and grim, his hands ciutching the
arms OF hts chair.
y am sorry. Eoderick sorry
than l can say" he said. jerkily.
there was genuine feeling In HIS
voice. In spite Of the red tape and
starchiness that girded him like
a tough skin. there had always been
. sor corner In HIS heart for young
Rcdcriek--blaok sheep tho he might
h..
only week ago begged your
father to reconsider his decision---un-
fortunately. IN vainr'
The tragic silence fen again.
The stout. pompous butter sitting
~ the end OF the long line Of ser
wants coughed discrectiy--thc little
sound seemed tremendous in the
AsIlence: the red faced cook wiped q
onor from her shining face and NUT
( tered 70 the house pariormaid that
Z Il was "A shame. that II wasr'
Young Frederick moistencd his dry
lipe--he felt daxed and unreal. a. n
4 he were dreaming. With an effort
he reused himself and leaned for
ward his arms on the table. staring
1T Mr.. Fergcrson.
-But---but what in the world Il the
use Of two hundred pounds to me."
he asked blankfy. Like a flock Of
evfl birds . rush OF memories came
<rovdfng back 20 his mind. Of debts
he had run up IN town. moneylenders
who had helped him out Of tempo
ary emharrassments because his
father was an old man. and rich
and he an only son! An hour ago
hiD liabilities had seemed nothing
= mere drop IN an ocean Of gold: but
ncw--two hundred pounds was an he
had 20 face the world with-two hun
Gred pounds was AL that stood b.
/ tween him ana starvation
n And then another thought caused
\ him to crsch his breath tn an agony.
lknans Mat Of hcry--LIfian whom
~ loved with an the blind ar1or
land romancs % youth--riiian who
3haA kissed him before he came down
tfrom London In answer 20 old Fer
werson's wire. and whispered that
xnerhaps now--lt would not be long
11cre they. could be married.
He had known what she meant
what she had been thinking of--the
money that was to come to him
They had waited for that before they
told her mother Of their secret for
Mrs Fame was woridiy--to her way
~ thinking there vas but one thing
4 IN life worth havine-worth seeking
wealth,
And now the old man Wa dead
& and he. Roderick. had two hundred
/ pounds to lay at the feet Of the
woman he loved,
He broke into hoarse laughter
kWhat !. Joke. What . horrible.
Ghastiy Joke, And. yet--of course II
could not be frue--soon he would
wake up and find himself master Of
the old house--with Lillian Fame for
his wffe-not . penniiess outcast
With sudden irongruity he
/. thought Of the little circus girl. Two
hundred pounds would Be wealth 70
her. sltho u was poverty TO him
He wondered where she was--what
ehe had thought Of the scrubbed mote
ne had sent down To her the night
his father died. explaining why he
Rvas NOT able 70 keep his promise and
" bEr that evening.
fhe circus had moved on NJ day.
4 nwcak- When he next went down
thru the village the big meadow was
deserted: only the deep whecl-marks
land prints in the mud testified that
Il had ever been there.
Poor little Nadcmoiscne Rosaiic,
II was odd that he should think Of
her now. as he sat at the head OF the
long table. In the magnificence Of
the great house that would never be
his. and stared ruin in the face.
Mr.. Fergerson was speaking again.
Frederick tried to bring his mind 20
listen to what he was saying. but II