The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-03-12
By
ROBERT J. C.
STEAD

Asshov Of Tho C0ss
PunchsS." ETC

that's a grudge l have against It,
though don't think I'm very gray and
don't feel very old. And if get my
price, why shouldn't l SELF"
Very WELL" she answered. "Tve
nothing more to say. Sell 1t If you
must, but remember one thing-I won't
be here TO see it pass into the hands
OF strangers" She Strengthened her
self up, and there was fire In her
eye that reminded him of the day when
she had elected to share with him the
hardships of the wilderness, and In
spite of himself some of his old pride
In her returned. II leave tomorrow for
visit, and / may be gone some time.
You reminded me of your liberality q
few minutes ago; prove it now by
writing me a check for my expenses.
Remember, l will expect to travel like
the wife of prosperous farmer, q man
whose holdings are worth forty thou
sand dollars cash."
so that's your decision. is IT? You
set me at defiance; you try { wreck
my plans by your own stubbornness-
You break up my family piece by
piece, until all l have left is Allan.
Thank God. the boy, at least, is sound.
well, you shall have your check, and
I'll make it big one that II may carry
you farther" ~.
Even in the teeth of his bitterness
the mention of Allan's name strained
the mothers heart beyond her power
or resistance, and she turned with out
stretched arms towards her husband.
For a moment he wavered, the fame
OF love, still smouldering in his breast,
leaping up before the breath of her re-
Spouse. But 1t was for q moment only.
Weakness would have meant surren-
der, and surrender was the one thing
of which Harris was incapable. SO he
checked the impulse to take her in his
arms. and walked stolidly to his desk
In the parlor.
He returned shortly and placed a
check in her hands. She looked at IL
through misty eyes, and read that Il
was for $500. 1t represented a two
hundredth part of their joint earnings
and yet he thought he was dealing lib
orally with her; he half expected, In
fact, that his magnanimity would break
her down where his firmness had
failed. But she only whispered a faint
Thank you," and slowly folded the
paper in her fingers. He waited for a
minute, suspecting that she was over
come. but as she said nothing more he
at length turned and left the house.
saying gruffly as he went out, "When
that's done I'll send you more If you
write for it,"
1t was now 10 at night, and almost
dark. but Harris footsteps instructive
ly turned down the road toward Rifles.
At the gate he met Allan, returning
home from spending a social hour
with the Grant boys.
where going. Dad?" the younger
man demanded.
"Oh. I thought I'd take a walk over
c Riles'. There's lot o. things Z talk
about"
whats the matter, Dad?" The
strained composure Of his fathers
voice had not escaped him.
"Nothin' 1 nights well tell
you now; you'll know it in a little
while anyway. Your mother Is
goin' away--on a visit"
Like Beulah's visit, suppose. So
it's come to this. I've seen II for some
time. Dad, and you must we seen t
too. But you're not really goin' to let |
her go? Come back to the house with |
you two can get together
on this thing, If you try"
CTO BE CONTINIJEDN