Cottonwood chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1917-current, 1922-03-24

10 WORK, Tor the door StOOu nJar anu
he was still exploring his portfolio
and setting papers in order before
him.
Voices floated down the staircase.
his wife's subdued. his sons deep and
vibrant. Ashley's lips expanded in u
satisfied smile.
Have you thought, Gordon, of the
effect this will have upon your father,
and perhaps upon your prospectsT
Mrs. Ashley asked.
YES" answered the young man. Il
have yielded to father In 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.
II am "A man now, mother, and this
Is matter in which one man may not
command another. love Allie"
We've played together summers
down at Wheatfield ever since we
were kids, and | always liked her
best" he finished, boyishly.
His voice changed to a harsher tone.
Father is running his life and ours"
he said, sternly. Everything that is
his is touched by the blight OF his
overbearing temper 1t is wearing
you out. l can see 1t. Marjorie's
happiness was sacrificed to his am
billion. Dick was forced into uncon-
genial employment We've all kept In
for your sake, but some day therell
be mighty smash. There never was
man who thought himself omnipo-
tent, since the days of Nebuchadnez-
Ear, that the Almighty didn't humble
him"
At the look on his mothers face.
he added, contrltely:
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 a full half-hour
before he arose, closed the door and
locked 1t. He dropped into his chair
and laid his head upon his folded
arms
allie Betty Kent down in Wheat
field"
That must be Alice Ellzabeth's
daughter. In the days when Wheat
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
box. From the box he drew shah
by pocketbook, and from this, In turn.
tiny, yellowed silk bag. He united
Its string and shook the contents out
sweet grass, dry and brittle, and a
gold ring set with small diamond.
He remembered the day he had
braided the grass and measured Alice
Ellzabeth's finger.
They sat under the naples on the
river bank. The sun sent golden
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 it. the very evening he had
placed the diamond on her finger.
He remembered. too, the evening
nearly two years later, when she had
given them back. He recalled f;ag.
ments of the conversation.
You have grown so hard"
Nothing matters except having
your own way, and II does not matter
that your way Is not always right"
~ do not dare to risk life with you"
please try to change, or fear you
will some day be a lonely, wretched
old man."
His hurt had been deep. He could
not destroy the rings. but had hidden
them.
Thirty-1ve years, and he had not
changed. II tonight were any criterion.
he was on his way TO the lonely
wretched old age she had prophesicd.
A rap sounded at the door. With
the pitiful diamond still clasped In his
hand. Ashley unlocked 1t.
ooIuOu SuiIc lus MS huOuiutts
squared. II wasn't sure you had come
home" he said. Are you too busy to
listen TO rue for a few momentsr
Ashley pushed back his papers.
eco ahead" he said. gruffiy.
Gordon came straight to the point.
I'm engaged to be married, father.
thought 1t best TO tell you"
Ashley was silent. Gordon stumbled
on. at is Allie Betty Kent She lives
In Wheatfield, where we used to 20
summers" He waited, tense. for the
expected outburst.
I'm Wheatfleld," unused his father.
Must be Alice Courtney's daugh-
ter"
"She is" answered the young man.
Relieved, he sat on the corner OF the
desk and picked up a circlet OF dried
grass that lay there, neryously break
ing II TO bits and laying the bits upon
the platter. Ashley WINGED.
probably better than you DESERVE"
he growled. "See that you treat her
well. Now clear out"
Gordon went,