The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-02-18
SHINING PALACE
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Corinne that Nora was "pulling the
wool over Dads eyes,"
Well, James pondered, perhaps he
had spoiled Leonora. He closed his
eyes as from the room beyond drift
ed the tender, haunting strains OF a
Chopin Nocturne. Nora was play
| ing, and, much as James loved to
listen, this gift of her musician IA
Their subtly disturbed him.
1t was late when he went to bed;
and in the morning he gave Nora
his ultimatum.
eff I'm to consider your happi-
ness, my dear, there's but one way
out. I'll give that boy job. l
don't say that he must keep it for a
lifetime; but he must prove that he's
got the stability to stick at some
thing that will support you. A year
ought to show that, Nora; and
you're both young. If at the end of
that time he has saved money and
shown himself even fairly efficient,
I'll say no more"
"Even if he throws up the Job
next day." asked Leonora.
Her father looked at her, his eyes
a trife hard.
"You think he would?"
81 think" she answered, speak
ing thoughtfully, shat year in an
office-especially in Ned's Office,
will finish Don, Father"
"You feel then, that my proposal
is unfair"
Nora glanced up, wistful smile
lighting her face as she responded:
"Not as you view things, Daddy.
But to Don it will be-well-a year
out of life. What would you do, I
wonder, if I ran away with him?"
81 should disinherit you," said
James, and meant it. Then, as she
remained silent: els that what
you're considering, my dear?"
Don accepted James Lambert's
offer.
81 fear I won't make a successful
Office worker, sir; but can try"
he said. And James responded with
unfeigned heartiness:
"That's all I ask"
To Nora the young man was more
explicit.
Remove that worried frown at
once" he told her sternly. "Your
fathers right, of course-that is,
right from his own viewpoint. If I
can't serve a year for you, Nora,
I'm no good. Well make a game
of it, beloved-mark off each day on
a calendar, and when the time is
up we'll forge our chains and sail
away together,
Into the sunsets turquoise marge,
To fairyland Hesperides,
Over the hills and far away -"
He kissed her, and lifting her chin
to look into her eyes, saw with salts
faction that the smiles which had
vanished from them were back
again. His girl wasn't to know,
Don vowed, the Jail sentence that
year ahead appeared to him. She
wasn't to realize that his only rea-
son for submitting was to save her
the sorrow that any trouble with
James Lambert would have meant.
For in his widest imagination this
young man could not see himself a
part of the hustling throng which
jammed the subway every morning.
The thought of joining it turned him
| a little sick.
And there was Ned!
If anyone had accused Ned LAM
bert of being inconsiderate of his
sisters lover, he would have scoffed
at the idea. Not until years later
when life had somewhat tempered
Ned's cocksureness, did he suspect
that his habit of pausing beside
Don's desk to observe his work,
much as teacher keeps an eye on
the progress of stupid pupil, was
gall and NORWOOD to the younger
man. He did not guess that his me-
ticulous suggestions drove Don mad
that when an occasional error did
occur, it seemed to the harassed
youth that Morals brother took ironic
pleasure in detecting it.
no BE CONTINUED