Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-09

turned her face slightly away as II
she shrank from meeting Corinna's
cycs. II can't after what know.
cant do 1t because of father"
Because OF your father?" re-
pcated Corinna. But surely your
father wishes you to be happy"
"Oh. ] know he does. 1t isn't that.
But this will all come out That is
what julius Gersham meant when
he threatened. They are trying to
do him some harm-father. 1
81 understand that. but s,iil how
in the World
Before she could finish her SEN
tchce Patty interrupted in a hyteri-
cal voice-thc voice OF youth that
Is always dramatic: Nobody will
ever mean as much to mo as father
does" she cried. Il know that now.
I've known II ever since ] found out
that he began 1t just out of kindness
that / had no claim ON him OF any
Kind
That is natural, dear. but still
don't understand"
Rising from the couch, Patty
moved to a chair in front OF CORN.
ma. and sinking into II. began ner-
vousiy plating and Junplsiting a fold
~ 'lils tItSS. can 90 any,
thing with Julius Gershom if am
nice to him" she murnurad IF
he stands By father most of the
others viii ALSO"
With u gasp Corinna sat up very
straight and triod TO see patty's eyes
In the obscur!ty. What sordid hor-
:or was the child facing now? What
unspcakable degradation? "You
cant think OF marrying Gershom.
Fatty" she exclaimed. with yes-
turc OF loathing. You must he out
Of your mind even TO dream OF IT,"
Il can make him do anything
want il ! will promise To marry him"
though 4 SILVER of aversion passed
over her.
corinna drew her breath sharply,
restraining AZ the same time an
impulse TO laugh. oh. the mock
hcroics of youth! or youth with its
fantastic hcroism and its dauntless
ineNpericncc! III you only knew"
SHE breather Indignantly, IF you
only knew what marriage mcans,"
Patty turned and gave her long
look. Il could do more than that for
father" she answered
SO this was the other side of
Gideon Netch-of that man OF i.-
noble circumstances and Infinite
''d HdhinltN' HOW could any one
understand him? How, above all
could any one judge him? How
could one fathom his power for goo.l
or for evil? She bchcld him sudden
~ as man who was inspired by an
exalted illusion-thc illusion OF
human pcrfectibility. In the chang
Ing world about her. the breaking
up and the renewing. the dissolution
and readtustment OF ideals: I'm the
modern conflict between the shirt
that accepts and the spirit that re-
jects; in this age OF destiny-was
no; an unconquerable optimism. an
inviEcible belief in life, the one Sc
cure hope for the future? 1t is the
human touch that creates hone. she
thought; and the power of Gideon
Nc'ch was revealed to her as simply
the human touch magnificd into :,
force.
She became aware after a minute
that Patty was speaking. 81 can
never tell you'll can never tell apv
one what lie used to be to me when !
was little girl, and he was very
poor. Somctimcs-for a long time
couihht nave nurse, and he would
uress and undress me, and leave me
with the neighbors when he went
away to work. can see him now
heating milk for me over an old oil
lamp. once when was i'll he sat
up night after night with me. oh.
d"h,t mean that he was perfect.
put 'hat he was kind--always.
know the quarrcls he habitat ne
mas sun with tho people who won't
go his way. The one thing n. can,
forgive in people Is that thcv never
forget themselves, that they never
think OF anything except what ,h.y
want. That angers him and he flies
out. know that. But there's no
use trying / can't make anybody.
can make even you. know all that
he did for me-" The words ended
IN tears; and sho sat there. lost in
memory. while the dim light seemed
To absorb her white dress and nor
pale features and the small hnnd
mat lay on the fringe OF her black
sash.
My dear, my dear" murmured
comma because she could think of
no words that sounded less incncct-
ual.
There was ring at the door-bell
nn'n shc SPOKE and after IL pause
winch appeared to her lnterminabIe
she heard the shufning tread of old
Abijah, and then the clear lone nj
S'cnhen's voice, followed Immediate
~ ny another speaker who sounded
vaguely familiar. though she could
not recall now where she had
listened to him before. 1t was not
julius Gershom. she knew, though Il
might be some man that she had
heard at n meeting.
Let me spcae to Mrs. Page first"
SAID stephen. ASK her II she will
come into the drawing room"
FOR an instant Corinna hung back.
with the chill OF dread at her heart:
aid In that instant Patty few pnst
her liko startled spirit. while the
ends OF her black sash streamed be-
nina her. With the penetrating in
sight OF love tho girl had surmiscd.
mad seen, had understood, before n
word Of explanation had reached her.
before even the door had swuu :,
open. and she had met tho blanched
faces OF the mon In tao hall. 1T
Is father she said quietly. "They
have hurt him. OH knew ali
tho time that thsy wore going 70
hurt himf'