The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-06-06

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What's the big idea, Sis! A FAM
lily pow-wow!' Long" Lane. very
conscious of his new dignity as 2
husband and of his twenty-five and
a half years, strobe briskly into the
Lane living room in the shabby little
house in Myrtle Street. Come on
in. Fay" he called back over his
shoulder to the girl who hesitated in
the doorway. You're family too,
sweet child. Isn't she a sweet child.
Faith? ," the boys voice went sudden
ly warm and rich with prideful love
as he swept the pretty girl into his
arms and challenged his sister with
his glowing dark eyes.
shes sweet child and q pretty
woman. as we'll as the happiest look
ing wife I ever saw" Faith answered
generously, her own hand reaching
instinctive.y toward Bob Hathaway,
who sat beside her on the cretonne-
covered soft. II hope shall be able
to compete with her for that tide
she added softly, her large, soft
brown eyes misting over with sudden
tears Of happiness.
so that's the ticket" grinned
Long" Thought il was about time
you two bill-and-coo artists got
hitched. Going to break the news to
Dad this afternoon"
I'm not going to tell you . thing
until we're all here" Faith retofted.
smiling!y, but little SILVER of fear
made her hand tremble in Bob's. 1t
was not going to be easy to read
so that they would all fit happily in
20 ,anI,%,arv p,,4
job. They all looked 10 her now.
since Mrs. Lane had died. as the real
head of the family. although she was
only twenty-one years old.
Her heart contracted sharply with
pity as her father. Jim Lane. came
shuffling into the room. her younger
sister. Joy. just turned ten. clinglnx
70 his hand. These las. few months
Of SORROW over the sudden death Of
his wife. and Of heartbreaking trou-
BILE and disgrace over his daughter
Cherry's unjust imprisonment and
trial for the murder of her aged
fiance. Ralph Cluny. had permanent
~ bowed his shoulders and marked
his thin face with lines which no
future well-being could eradicate.
Faith looked at him with infinite
pity and understanding in her loving
brown eyes. He was an old man,
broken and almost spent, although
rrf v"" sixty vna~s lid. Shn So
more like . mother than q daughter
~ nim now. lneIfec .u.ii, "a 4-...r
both as a father and as provider.
J Ne ttiil chung to the belief that he
was the master Of his house and the
arAiter Of the destinies Of his chill
dren. 1t would be hard to keep
from hurting him. to make him feel
wanted and appreciated, and yet to
prevent him from flying into a puny
rage in childish effort to enforce
his authority.
Faith. want to 60 to the movies
and Dad won: give me a quarter,
Joy wh;mpered, her little ssllow face.
framed but no, softened By a bell
shaped bob Of straw-colored, straight
hair. twisting into fearful grim
ace.
Come and sit here with me,
honey" Faith urged tenderly. Her
heart felt charged to the bursting
point With loyc Nor these who wdte
her peg 5le. Il want you to hear III
that I've got to tell the family,
darling. and help me TO decide. just
what is best for all of u.s."
"Ail right" Joy beamed suddenly.
wriggling with Importance as she
took her seat. II bet know. You
and Bob's going to get married and
go off on 4 honeymoon. Why do
they call it honeymoon, Faith"
That's what Bob and ! are going
to try to find out" Faith laughed.
"Where's Cherry, honey? Run and
tell her that Faith said to hurry.
We're all going to take myster-
iOus trip just as soon as this family
conference is over, and it mustn't
be dark before we start"
They waited for Cherry little
nervously, "Long" and his father 4x-
changing man-to-man condolences on
business conditions and the pros
poets of an early spring. Fay,
Longs" wife, lay tuddled in Ms
arms, her hazel eyes smiling as she
ran impudent little finger tips over
the straight glossy black brows that,
in her opinion, helped to make her
husbands face look so characterize.
As if the sight made him envious,
Bob Hathaway suddenly flung an
arm about Faiths broad, splendid
shoulders and drew her close to him.
Heavens! What happy picture!
Cherry's gay, musical, high-pitched
voice laughed from the doorway.
Everyone in the room involuntarily
drew quick breath of relief. There
was no counting on Cherry's moods
since her Imprisonment and trial for
murder Sometimes the wide round
golden eyes were hot discs. of pain
nd fury, burning in her small.
hish face that not even disgrace,
Suffering and imprisonment Mad
been able to mature. Sometimes she
was a dropping. hopeless little pic
ture Of misery, brooding on her
wrongs, bitterly resentful of the we'd
ding ring she still wore on her left
hand. and of the child that was
soon to come-Chris Wiley's child
But now--and they all. began to
laugh and talk in their relief
Cherry was. upaffectedly gay, as If
not even a tiny cloud sailed across
the blue horizon Of her young lifk:
Faith. yearntHg toward her with the
tenderest love she had. ever given
to any human being. narveled a,
her pendIlum-like swing from sayety
to despair. But she was deeply CRATE
full that Cherry was gay on this
occasion, at least. She felt that half
her hard battle was already won.
"Sit by me, Cherry blossom ," Bob
invited, crinkling his blue eyes at
her in q fond smile.
If youil let me rumple your hair
like Fay's .tousling up Longs" Cherr,
laughed.
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