The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-05-20
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8 NEBUCHADNEzZAR
BY A. WiNGATE.

| lie bad not YET actually settled down
10 work. for the door STOOD ajar and
| be Was still exploring his portfolio
and setting papers iii order before
him.
| Voices 6oated down the staircase
his wife's subdued his sous deep aud
vibrnnt. Ashley's lips expanded in a
satisfied smile.
Have you thought. Gordon, OF the
effect this viii have upon your father.
and perhaps upon your prospectsY'
Mrs. Ashley asked.
fes. answered the young man. Il
have Yielded to father Ia choosing
business instead of profession. In
this cannot yield"
he will be disappointed the moth
er said grayely.
Gordon laughed shortly AT this mild
statement.
Il am IA man now, mother. aud this
Is a matter In which one man may not
command another. love Allie"
We've played together summers
down at Wheaffield ever since we
We're kids. and always liked her
best he finished, boyishly.
His voice changed to a harsher tone.
Father is running his life and ours"
ne said, sternly. Everything that is
his Is touched by the blight of his
Overbearing temper. Ii is wearing
you out. ! can see it. Marjories
happiness was sacrificed to his am.
bition. Dick WIS forced into uncon-
genial employment. We've all kept In
for your sake. but some day there'll
be mighty smash. There never was
"a man who thought himself omnipO,
tent. since the days of Nebuchudnez-
q he N,mishty dtNptShuls9!e
Nh
At the look on his mothers face,
he added. contritAy:
Forgive me. mother. shouldn't
have said It,"
They moved away.
Ashley sat motionless. That merci-
less Indictment from Gordon, his hope
and pride. 1t was full half-hour
before he arose, closed the door and
locked it. He dropped into his char
and laid his head upon his folded
arms.
allie Betty Kent down in Wheat
deld!"
That must be Alice Elizabeth's
do n fnr In do =
field had been his home. Alice Eliza
beth's name had not been Kent, but
Courtney.
After few moments, he raised his
head unlocked drawer and took out
a box. From the box he drew shah
by pocketbook. and from this. In turn,
a tiny, yellOwed silk bag. He united
Its string and shook the contents out
upon the blotter--a circiet of braided
sweet grass, dry and brittle. and
gold ring set with a small diamond.
He remembered the day he had
braided the grass and measured Alice
Elizabeth's finger.
They sat under the naples on the
river bduk. ne sun sent SOiuen
shafts of light through the trees to fall
upon her yellow hair She had insist
ed upon having the braided ring to
keep and had made the little silk
bag for 1t, the very evening he had
placed the diamond on her finger.
He remembered. too, the evening
nearly two years later. when she lad
given them back. He recalled frag-
ments of the conversation.
"iou have grown SO hard"
Nothing matters except having
your own way, and II does not matter
that your way Is not always right"
II do not dare to risk life with YOU"
please try TO change. or fear you
will some day be lonely. wretched
old man.
His hurt had been deep. He could
not destroy the rings. hut had hidden
them.
Thirty-five years. and he had not
changed. II tonight were any criterion,
he MAS on his way TO the lonely,
w:etched old age she had prophesied.
rap sounded at the door With
the pitifui diamond still clasped in his
hand. Ashley unlocked IL,
Gordon came in. his shoulders
squared Il wasn't sure you had come
home" he said. Are you too busy to
listen to me for few moments?"
Ashley pushed back his papers.
Go ahead" he said. gruftiy.
Gordon came straight to the point.
I'm engaged 10 be married, father.
thought II best To tell you"
Ashley was silent. Gordon stumbled
on. 1T is Allie Betty Kent. She lives
In Wheatfield, where we used To 20
summers lie waited, tense. for the
expected outhurst
"in wheattield." unused his father
Must be Alice Courtney's dauyh.
ter"
''She Is" answered the young man.
Relieved. he sat ON the corner OF the
desk and picked up circlet Of dried
grass that lay there. nervously break
tps fs. a lsN.s