The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-09-28

But presently he had surprised
somethfng Of reality, that showed
him depths almost tragic, heights
that might be dangerously al
Turing. But these discoveries
neither explained nor justified
her civilly repressed antagonjsm
to the older woman. He gathered
casually that she had grown up
In the house; she was something
anomalous. When the rare VIsi-
tors came she almost immediate
~ vanished, making never an ex-
cuse. But that was less surpris-
ing that her solitary vigils; she
occupied the secluded east wing,
whose windows were always
lighted long after midnight.
Back to working strength, Lou
don ceased to speculate about her.
He was still the fair-haired boy OF
his kind hostess-she thought
nothing trouble that added TO
his comfort. Her low-sWung car
riage and easy-going ponies took
him far and wide, up hill, down
dale, seeking out beauty spots and
trying to preserve some OF theI=
charm. Commonly Nose, the
black house boy, drove, lettering
atterward to wait upon the paint
er, serving sometimes as model,
oftener as messenger or man OF
all work. Loudon was nightly
tempted to gossip with the lad,
but held his curiosity In check
It would be dastardly to pry into
things the woman who was SO
Kind evidently cared to keep hid
den.
So summer slipped by until a
sultry late-August morning Of low
ering mists and growing thun-
der. Mrs. Dancy reused him say
ing, 5rHhedly, her face ashen:
"Wa9e up! You-you must take
Janet-she won't go with me
and she must not go alone" fall
Ing there into choking silence. In
a daze Loudon obeyed. Presently
he was driving through the stormy
dawn, furiously, toward the sta
tion, Janet crouched beside him,
her eyes burning In a stony face.
A mile from the h6use she broke
out. "You ought not to be here.
Co back. Nobody should 60 witt
me upon such an Grand"
Let me Judge for both of us, I"
Loudon answered: II do not ask
what 1t is-only know there is
great need"
But you must know" Janet
said: II go. God be thanked, to
see my mother die. She had q
life sentence for murder. Now
will you turn back?"
Not II an army tried to stop
me-" Loudon said, looking away
from her.
"she-she killed my father g.
when 1 was six weeks old. She
was not his wife. You know his
wife = excellently compassionate
Mrs. Dancy.
And Mrs, Dancy knew every.
thing. She was rich and madly
in love, and wanted to lavish her
money on me-but never mind. I
hate her less for that than for
taking me for her own. It would
have been so much kinder, so
much better, to let me starye. My
mothers people had cast her OF
uttcrly-they did not lift finger
to help. Mrs. Dancy paid the
lawyers to save my mothers life
that was her fine reYenge-she
knew death would be so great o
mercy. When l grew bigger she
tried TO buy me; never was any
child more INDUCED and pamper-
ed, until came to fifteen. Then
In q burst Of rage. when I said l
must go awny-lnstinctively / dis
liked and distrusted her-she told
me all"
yet you. stayed on" Loudon
almost whispered.
She laughed bitterly. What else
could l do? would gladly have
worked as slave to get away; no.
body would have me; l was felt to
have been born bad II to wantones
hereditary ! added this monstrous
ingratitude. ] was unfit fof human
companionship-even the lowest.
My only refuge was to live on i'm.
peccably in face OF the world that
condemned me-to shame the
charity that had succored me to
my hurt, ] have done 1t, thanks to
God, the devil or whoever rules.
Now l shall not speak again until
all is over"
In the gray wasted face on the
hospital cot Loudon traced u tragic
likeness to the girl beside him.