Show 1 1 Begil beggars ars can choos A 4 m THE STORY renewing a childhood attachment ernestine B r iceland 0 of a wealthy family faintly 1 Is attracted by will todd newspaper paper artist her sister alster lillian an urges her to break off the th affair but ernestine re I 1 I 1 fuses uses T the h e love making progresses rapidly and ernestine consents 9 ants to marry will CHAPTER 11 II continued think I 1 ive ve persuaded you think I 1 want the money that im seeking for myself ID self he protested if I 1 thought you ou could live on what 4 I 1 make butyok but you dont kno W anything about money you dont know how hard bard it Is for two people living on twenty five dollars a week I 1 dont know what to do but 1 I want jodo to do right ile he looked most forlorn sitting there thinking pondering trying to contemplate a a future without her trying to reconcile his own pride and self esteem with the position her family put him into 1 I should never have kissed you he exclaimed 1 I should never lune have loved you will said ernestine tenderly you help belp that for now lili his sad confusion had find caught her ber in the g grip i of her first passion now she lived in ier terrible the promise her throbbing 1 heart beart had bad made weeks ago aga w when hen she had talked to lillian bout about a marriage her heart leaped in her like I 1 a 1 thing threatened ned with mortal danger she flung herself upon him precipitously prec her arms strained round his necy neck he caught her and held her close all his being flared up in llan answer swei own emotion and his lips sprang to td i hers aaers in a kiss that was as new e w to them as though they ibey had biever never touched each other before it was a promise take me today will she cried and tears streamed down her face now quickly before anybody can say eay aboid a word to us before they can be reasonable and reassuring ind com coin detent about us take roe me and hold me now quickly and secretly I 1 promise prom lse you ill live ih e on what you earn I 1 promise ill take my chance with you completely ill never let them have reason to say that you wanted anything but me whatever you have is all ill have will 1 I promise she was cry crying lag wildly ile he was shaking as she was but he laughed a little and wiped wip edher her cheeks with his big awn own clean handkerchief the lady promises judge he said and kiss kissed edher her and laughed ather at her and teased her the lady promises never to sue me for more than a million a year alimony the lady promises he ere picked her up and set her on her feet come on then lets do it now 1 he be cried and seized her wrist and ran put pulling ling her along I 1 it if was almost evening when will and ernestine came to the BrIce Briceland 1 house in the downstairs drawing j room the lamps glowed softly she had telephoned mammi mamma that she was in town tor for lunch and would comenout come out with ith will ut tit five beyond lillian ernestine could see lorings bo rings square shoulders they ran up the steps step shand hand in hand and at the door will gave her hen a reassuring hug and kissed her cheek let me do the talking he whispered and theowell they well went t ori on anio into the hall and ran into the drawing and living room ernestine was aware aw are at af once that the swift kiss will had imprinted on her cheek had bad been seen tor for papa was wa a flustered and hostile and damms looked at her in pale reproach A mamma lamma said E ernestine al do you remember will todd mamma gave will her hand and he moved moed awkwardly forward looking shabby and at ease beside the magnificence ence and self possession of papa and loring weve just been talking about you mamma said to will 1 I dida aldal 1 know until yesterday that you were such friends with my little girl im sorry you been herp here sooner r will murmured something and lErn ernestine estine introduced him to her grandmother who looked at ahlm severely and gave a slight snort of recognition n and then lillian came and offered him her hei hands hand and said bald she remembered him the two men straddling the lie hearth artif acknowledged acknowledge a the introduction with silent handshakes mamma asked will to sit down and rang fr for tea ernestine Ernest lne full of guilt sat down close beilke him and turned to speak to mamma the conversation moved haft haltingly ii as aa they waited fortea tor tea papa somewhat maliciously asked will about his tf father ather I 1 hea lies well will answered in a calm n natural voice but my mother has b been een almost an invalid toi a year now mow we feel very anxious about aher we are sorry toleah to learn that said ma mamma M lia and then went et 0 on n quickly what have you two children been 11 1 I doing all day there was a dramatic pause but 1 ernestine took it up quickly 1 mamma you forget thit that I 1 am am twenty c now cow Z i 1 they laughed politely the tea iwo gon came mamma poured tea loi for ithem them all and they talked of things about which will vill knew noth nothing Ipg Eru ernestine estine could see how they were making 1 him feel like an outsider sit margaret weymouth jackson 0 service fl copyright by bobbs men ul co ting in the deep chair his long iong legs drawn up beloro him will was gocso not so her he r heart was wai full of tender loyalty you have changed a great acal mamma said idio io wll will you used to ao be a shy little bo boy 1 I dont feel very lilly today boday he told her and smiled at ernestine e his bright black eyes alk like shiny bits 0 of f anthracite under Ms white domelike forehead were beautiful but ernestine knew that the others could see nothing but his queer clothes tell them will sherald she said sald at last putting down her cup and taking his big from him they all stopped and turned startled faces toward the two will squared himself andi and turned first ast to mamma weve ie gone and done don e li he said smiling I 1 gone and done what asked mamma sharply and her pallor startled them all weve gone and got married today 1 married 1 I who it was papas voice harsh protesting ernestine andal and I 1 arli answered wired will steadily and loring saidi said Marr married ledl 1 in a hoarse incredulous tone and ernestine looking up saw bis fils faaee face as pole pale as and as startled with deep chagrin and consternation written on it but none of the others noticed him you see said ernestine gently elwe we were engaged anyhow and when mamma mamma InvIted will to tea toda today I 1 thought we might justas will wellma makella makel kelt lt an announce announcement meni party you thought I 1 certainly papa etwas it was my idea ade not at all said will quickly quick li But anyhow we are married I 1 know this strikes you suddenly sir but w we e just decided in haste and as gewant we want nothing but your blessing be still I 1 exclaimed papa passionately and he turned to ernestine where were you y on married by whom az 1 i 9 will took the 66 conversation lit into 6 his own hands with deliberation we went to town about noon went to the courthouse and got our license then to a jeweler I 1 aam and baui bought ht the ring and waited while lt was engraved ng raved 1 I 1 ernestine held held up up her slim hand and showed the astonishing gold band on her third phird finger tile then n we too took a taxi out to my mothers house gother and went to the church I 1 was reared in in avondale landwere and were mArr married led tl but why this mad haste 1 papa who was almost incoherent ernestine turning to his daughter in renewed determination I 1 to have nothing to do with will got into you I 1 am sure you have been under some dreadful influence I 1 cant understand how w you could at act this way I 1 cant believe it IL he was furious he was undone but he still had ji note of command in his vola voice ernes ernestine felt his strength with terror papa she beg began fifi but will cut in resolutely so that th atin in spite of papas determination to talk to Ernet ernestine lne the situation narrowed itself constantly to papa and will 1 ernestine I 1 was afraid sir that 3 you on might try to sep separate prate us my own instinct stan ci in the matter was that we ne should talk falk this 0 over ver wit with hyou you but I 1 see gee now that shed she was right you must understand sir that we are married and your objections are futile ernestine had reason icaco n to fear me me papa said in a voice none of them mid had ever I 1 inward heard from him gebo fe ernes emes alne felt herself slbil vel aih der it papa had bad no intention intention of considering him self futile futile 1 she had bad reason to ie tear i ae me and so had you I 1 suspect your fear was more important than her own even it if she were a tool fool you might have been decent about it I 1 have no intention whatever of jetting her go away from it here re with you learn sir taht tha there ilire are such tongs things as annulments even devenas as divorce just because she has made one foolish mis take Is no reason why isho I 1 sho should ii id let tier her ruin her whole alf life you yon have be bared very badly but your our behavior ends here ana now ernestine stays here you way may go arid anil I 1 will dial deal v with ath you outside the house r Ernest ernestine lne felt that everything was bras lost bu CAVill but will only laughed if papa were new and strange so was her young hus husband barid foche for he i seemed to glow to fill out to be bigger and stronger dont be silly he said ernestine idof age she married me of ifer her own free will and isyou it ou tried any such stunts stunts she would say so our hiir marriage Is entirely legal it stands before everything else she is now my wife i and my home Is her home and you c cant ant detain he her r 11 well sei see said papa grimly find and then mamma broke in you yoli shou lant hae bae ernestine your aa have e run on off and got goe married without telling mamma malmd its the biggest the most important thing in youir your life and to take such a step without your people knowing it I 1 I 1 cant bear to think go off anabe and be ni married and n not hoftell tell me im sorry mamma said ernestine in distress and pa papa p a took things up again lie ile had made a decision go to your room ernestine he said in a voice of stern stem command and stay there until I 1 can cati stalk 4 talk t yo you u if you ladles allf excuse Bs us wo we will settle this ourselves bur selves do you h hear eai mei me he said sharply turning his big furious eyes upon ernestine she faltered half turned tinned to go in automatic command for papa had at ways ruled his home without much effort but will put his hand 0 on her arm stay there here ernestine he fie ifil said in a low voice and she paused d undecided j vv alle mamma and lillian seemed to be grouped together tog etheron on the other side of the room 1 I icari can understand your distress sir air said will hlll 1 T I can see see just how h hv you ft feel ea about this not knowing L owida me at all and not uin my motives but you exceed your authority jf it you should detain ernestine here by force 1 I only to go out and get tile the nearest policeman and come back for dorher her you cant c do it there was a in moment of incredulous silence and p papa half turned to loring in appeal and loring said dald antt low tone iles hes right 11 will wilif followed 0 tills this advantage swiftly aft after er all what have you against me except you think I 1 may want Erne stines money money 7 we have decided of course papa was helpless and ho he said so with a shrug todo to do without that ila not a stranger to yu you youve known my father jor for thirty years years you know my people that they ire are fio honorable arable and decent Theres 1 no reason at all wily why I 1 Should make an any y marriage I 1 choose even with ernestine ym im working I 1 can of her papa raised bis clenched fist above his head as though he hel would strike will and ernestine made a little moan and mamma screamed but loring buthis put ahls li hand andon on papas arm and drew him back and in that moment lillian lililan went to Ernestine and put her arms around her atad and kissed her oh ob mill ernestine cried and burst into terrible tears papa papa she cried turning f rom from 1111 lillian lari to 16 her fat father faglier lier and holding out her hands dont quarrel with us I 1 cant bear it 1 I love will I 1 wanted to marry him let us go ahead with our own married life now but dont quarrel with us ns its you wilo who have beat broken en faith said papa not your mother and 1 I youve put this stranger before us you cant aw have haie both ernestine was appalled you incon mean that Ivi I 1 cant tnt come home papa attained a grim smile what I 1 mean he said but now mamma bamm a broke in hysterically 1 I wont be separated from ernestine I 1 wont permit it she cried and went tober to lier younger daughter and took her in her arms darling you can come home as long as mamma lives h here ere I 1 will iee see you every day its dreadful its t hard on conall all of us and it will be terrible tor for iou you but i mamma will not let lei h her e r little girl go away like tills clabie El Elal abie nel P said papa but she turned to him as full of higier anger as he the child la Is married she exclaimed site she may have hae made a in mistake Is tal but if she has it Is only a reason for foi si standing anding by tier her this Is my borne bomi ai as well ai as yours I 1 wont be instructed to te let my little e girl go out friendless yo you may dorpat do what you like with me and send me away too if you claff can but larn 1 am going to see ernes tine time ilam I 1 am going to have be her r he here re of course cours etapa papa was helal helpless ess and lip lie said so i with a shrug ciamma SI 31 amma sald said ernestine 1 I am am willing hilling to take the responsibility r tor for my marriage after all its I 1 who married will f not you alone said mamma vigorously orous ly the whole family has married him and we may as well it for nobody marries just one of the brice lancis we are all going to stand together always ahas papa we will have to make the best of it themar the marriage will have jostand to stand papa would not look at her nor answer anaw er well chavelo haxe to go s ild 1 goodby darling dariS nR said sald mamma find embraced her ill sae see you soon goodby papa Eri ernestne lestIne faltered but bui papa bield held his big stubborn ll 11 attitude ill have to go upstairs und anil get some murmured ernestine as they went wen tInto into the hall lillian went upstairs with L crucs mg tine mamma mine came out and put pui tier her hand on wills ann he be good to tier sue abe implored if f you y 0 u ca cant otake talce care of her if ashes not nat happy let her C come 0 nie back 1 L 1 I will mrs briceland he said s soberly 0 b F ly 1 q I appreciate what you have done maemae wept afresh it la Is bard for tier f a ther dewor cr you y on must under understand stand fit him in jt bilow blow to him ue will iceme around 9 c came ame down the stairs and after a moment ernestine aud and will were the dark street ir small dressing dressin case in s hands rie tie fair annilly tilly stood about aboaf in n g room in stricken silence nm the silence lasted tor for semi some m enam thew then mrs airs briceland turned to her hushan dj you should never have let her go aff that thai 1 she said reproachfully what will she bhe do 1 I had no ao intention of letting 7 her go if you interfered lie he ex claimed 1 I was only abre threatening a bening her with the loss of the family in order to get lier h er to stay here to gain a little if time me she nt have done it said lillian ashes too crazy about him it probably was her idea that they ge get mitri married led first forstl she meant it you i hive have i kept he her r how much do you suppose he earns arns anthe sun asked mamma bamm 8 and answered probably anywhere from twenty five to forty |