The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-08-31

The 5-yedr-od son Of the
animals happy by petting III
splendid Evidence Of a jealou
make such an offer would precipi
tatc some Impending issue that
no had no desire 20 meet Ills
fathers thoughts were busy. both
his wife and hla son missed the
usual Accordingly interesting dis.
course that was tradition al the
Cornct table Tho older man fin
ished his coffee. slowly lighted a
long. sleek cigar and for mo.
ment rested with elbows on he
table
Well. Ned. suppose I might
M well set this Off my chest" he
began at last Now IS as nuspt
clous time az any. You say you
got n good scare today. I'm hop.
ing that II put you IN mood 70
that az least you can give mo
good hearing"
The man spoke rather humbiy
Ths air was electric when he
paused Ned leaned forward.
IL wasn't anything that acct.
dent ,odny. no answered IN tone
Of annoyance. IT could have hap.
pcnrd 20 anyone on sllppery pave.
mcats. But that's ridiculous
about good hearing hope
always have heard everything
you wanted 10 tell mo. SIR"
You've been n very attentive
SON Godfrey corne, paused
again The trouble. I'm afraid r.
that haven't been very attsn,
tive father. Two attended 20 my
/ businoas-and little slac-and now
I'm paying tho piper.
Please bear with me. n was
only little accident as you say.
Tho trouble Of Il Ia that u points
the way that things arc Eoing. n
I could very easily have been ter
rhlo nccldcn,-a dead girl under
your speeding wheels. charge Of
manslaughter inBuaa OF good
Joke OF being arrested Tor speeding
term In the ponltcnttary instead
Of fine Ned II you had killed
I the girl Il would have been fully
right and Just for you 20 spend a
good many OF tho beat years Of
your life behind prison walls. I
/ ask myself whether or not I would
bring my influence TO bear. in that
case. to keep you from going there.
/ I'm ashamed 20 say that woulL
You may wonder about that. :
would know. IN my heart. that
/ you should go there. am not
sure but that you should 80 there
now. as It IS But | would als,
/ know that ] have been criminal too
-crimlnnliy ncglsctfui. Hlothful.
avoiding my obligntions--jus as
much as you have been neglectful
and slothfui and avoiding your oh.
| legations toward the other residents
/ OF this city when. hnifIntoxicnted.
/ you drove your chr a. hreakneek
pace thru the city streets. ! can't
accuse you without accusing my.
self. Therefore would try 20
keep you out OF prison. In doing
| that. I would soc in myself further
| proof OF my old weakness--a weak
desire 10 spare you when the pris-
on might make q man Of you"
Ned recolled at tho words. but
his father threw him a quick smile
THAT cuts little. doesn't 1T
cant help II. Ned, your mother
and / have always loved you too
well. Huppose Il is ona OF the
curgrs OF this age-thnt ease and
softness have made lis n hyaterI
cal. sentimental people. and we
love our children not wisely. but
too we'll. I've sheltered you. In
stead Of exposing you TO the world
The war did not stiffen you-doubt'
less because you were one OF the
millions that never reached the
front"
Ned leaned forward. That
wasn't my fault" no said with
fire. you know that wasn't my
fault"
~ know Il wasn't Tho fact re-
mains that you lost out Let me
20 on. Two made It easy for
you. always, instead OF bitter hard
az I should have done. I've sur
rounded you with luxury instead
Of hardship You've never done
an honest days toll on earth. You
don't know what II is 10 sweat, "a
be 40 tired you can't stand. &c
wonder where the next meal IL
coming from. TO know what q
hard and bitter thing life isl
"A girl. thrown on the pave
ment. A working girl, you said
probably homcly, certainly not your
idea OF a girl Perhaps. In your
heart, you think II wouldn't have
much mattcrod If you had killed
her, except for the awkwardncsi
TO you. She was just one out
of thousands You, my son, are
Ned Cornet--one OF our city's most
exalted social set, one OF our fash
I'lunablo young clubmen."
His tone had changed TO one OF
unspcakable bitterness. Ned leaned
forward in appeal THAT isn't
true" he said sharply. I'm not Il
damned shobg'
Perhaps not. I'm not sure that
I know what . snob Is. I've never
met onc-only men who have pre-
tended TO DO 'anoba TO hide their
fear OF me. Let mo say, tho. Net
whatever her lot, no matter how
mental her toll, your llfe could be
spared much easier than hers II
would be better that you should
DO snuffod out thnn that she
should lose one OF hor working
hands Likely you felt superior q
her M van drove her home. In