1914-07-04 — Page 10

SHORT

THE HONG KONG TELEGRAPH.

STORY.

THE MOTHER OF HIS

CHILDREN.

BY CONINGSBY DAWSON,

7

There are magazines which neither promotion nor money. are famous for having stories If he'd worked an hour longer essentially their own. Maclures every day for the Monmouth is one of those magazinos, and National Bink, he wouldn't this is one of these stories. It have climbed a single rung higher is not according to type at all.] he wouldn't have ourned the A man rarely wants to marry bank an extra penny. Monmouth He does it against his will, in a did just so much business; it conscious fit of healthy insanity, hurry itself for any mau. It took He does it overpowered by a prido in ita slowaoss. And he poet's illusion that his hip-he was as high in the bank now piness depends on living forever as he ever would be-cashier, near a certain woman,

with three thousand per annum. For the rest of his days he could only hope to stay there; when

With a woman the impulss is different more calculating. She

EXTRA

HONGKONG, FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1914-

warmth of a room where a family granted, as if the tie of a family is assembled, the smell of early-were a sufficient bond between morning coffee, and the sound of them. Love may survive, but ite a log firo orsoklings-small sen- graciousness is gone when it is sations which are the key-notes to treated as unavoidable, and memories. What a fool ho had been, with his question as to why men marry!

He forced himself into cheer fulness and come whistling down the stairs. As he entered the room, Madge, bis eldest, sprang up from the table and put her arms about his ncok. Like him- solf, she was so quick to express what she felt so eager to give pleasure. Madge! Little Madge! With what roluotauce he watched her skirts lengthening and the womanly rounding of her girlish figure! Soon she would be grown up. When she was, would she, too, disguise herself with reticence?

"What a lezy-bones you've been this

| 19 morning! she laughed. Then, whispering again at his ear, "What have you got for mother? I was so afraid I'd

knowing."

Madge Biw her father wince at her mother's words. She tugged on his arm, "Never mind-ahow her "

find fault with me?”

For the moment her lightnere roused his aogor. "I will, since you force me," he said.

leaned against him, laughing into guessed that this was a different his eyes, with her arme about his mana shrewd, self-seesking neck. "You dreamer! You dear, Branger to whom they were unpractical person! With the talking. They were all kinds of best of luck, how could I? Ecople: band-sellers, clients, em- Who'd look after the house?"

"Madge."

He wished he hadn't said it Be hoped against hope that she'd let him off. He didn't want to wound her. In all their seventeen

"Madge! She isn't old en years together, he'd always made ough. And, besides, you forget; Fambling in his breast pocket, way for her, attaching blame to we're sending her to a finishing lie drew out a letter. He felt himself and allowing her to school after Christmas. I'll have ashamed of it-he had written so believe that she was perfect. He to sew and saw to get her ready. many tender words in it. Heast round for a mesos of dodg- We'll need all our money for passed her the letter awkwardly, ing the crises. and, that he might cover his confusion while she read it, sat down to breakfast.

She broke the soal without ex-

Woman is a born inquisitor. My dear, it I've forced you, why don't you do it?"

Goaded into this unwillal cruelty, he looked away from her and began to speak, haltingly

bor."

consented."

barrassed property-holders an xious to raise a mortgage. AU their talk was about money; how to get it; how to keep it when you'd got it; how to make it breed MOTO

money. And he, Dick, the recipi out of all these confidences and the valued source of so much advice, was rewarded with precise ly three thousand dollars per on- am! He was so poor that hie wife couldn't afford to love him

suldn't accept his presents. Hare was comedy. By afternoon he had begun to feel the comfort able warmth of a glowing sense of injustice. He ran the band and what did he get for it?

thinks first and loves after. She he'd got quits past work, he'd behave to set off to school without language. Glancing across at you, you say, "We can't afford it,' / then it'll be only fair to do for esce to hide the candle of bia

$

incoms ataads still," He drew her to him swiftly."Mary, is it worth it? Think of the slow starvation of it-aving, aving

avg. 80.667 and I have no time to think of loving "Why, you

She stood back from him. Her

He drew his head back at the mention of money. She still clasp ed him. It was your idea to send her, Mary." It wasn't mine oitement. It was as if he were

and she doesn't want to go." only pretending to give her some-

His wife's eyes olouded; she thing, knowing that she'd refuse

"You have one fault, Mary, wasn't winning her battle."It it, yet waiting to be thanked. which well, it's driving between was my idea at first-but you The children stopped eating, to as like a wedge. It's your love watch their mother. As she drew for the children: you've let them out the folded sheet, a slip of come between ae. You won'te unclasped her arms aud

A broaghim drow up at the held her hands, gazing at ber paper fell to sable. She picked it own it, but they're more to you sadly. And before Madge has Pavement, and Mr. Teame, the up and eyed it disapprovingly. than I am. You only let me be finished her schooling, there'll be president, alighted-a cold, non- She was one of those women who kind to you through them. When- Tommy to read to college. And committal man, who took good rarely put their gladness into ever I want to do anything for

Hester what we've done for Madge. He was old, white-haired, and ecrot kiadaoss beneath a bushol. marries because she is flattered. supraoded and pensioned.

him, she smiled quistly, as mach For them you can afford anything. And, while expenses go up, my had a skin like parchment, He She marries for a home, pro-

ile wiped his razor and began He smoothed biok the fair hair as to say: "Just what I expected. You behave as if courtesy be tection, the helling of money, to calent a tie. For himself, he'd from her forehead and slipped his She actually said: "A hundred tween a man and wife didn't

was thin and upright, and leaned or out of dread of spinsterhood. iv been perfectly contented arm about her narrow shoulders. dollars! How foolish, Diok! matter. You impose on on our

heavily on a cans. He invariably She marries to gain what a man with his future; but then, there The young face looked ap into You know I wouldn't take it...

love because it seems so certain,"

amount of wealth could teach dressed in black; obviously, uo mast loss-freedom. Nearly was Mary and there were Mary'e his with cloar eyes that were

*** did not know i "be exclaim- She lowered her face, perplex always, some ulterior motive children. It was her birthday. kind and questioning. She'd ed irritably, "If I had, I should ed; then again she smiled up at

him anything about the joy of prompts her passion. Men irry These aniversaries, emphasiz guessed. Perhaps something had not have given it to you. You've him confidently.

life, He was peculiarly stile and to love and be loved; whereas ing his lack of progress, always been said at the table. Her ten- not read the latter. I don't want know that's not true! You're

autocratio in his bearing. Because women-some of them marry to made him moody. Why did mon derness told him that she know, you to. Please give it me back; ao ridionlonely sensitive. You're mouth had again become impa- he could retain the respect of have children..

marry? What did they think She always know when he was I'll tell you what's in it." as much to me now as you ever tient. The children must have men without dressing for it, he Dick lathered his chin with the they'd gain by marriage, sad bart. He gazed down at her.

She passed it down the table were. Besides, who ever heard their chance," abe asid firmly took pride in going a trill brush thoughtfally, quite forget what did they aeually gain? She was peculiarly his daughter to him in silence. Then she said of two sensible married people "whatever it costs us. There's shabby. Behind his back he ful of what he was doing. As if Yes, there was always Mary impractical, uncalculating, impal in an injured, voice: "Dick, being polite to each other? my own money, that I've never was nicknamed Frozen Mutton" he watched a mood that was liv-Odd! After saventeen years of sive: her oyoa, 1.ke Eia, wore too don't speak to me so erossly before

He leaned forward, narrowing touched since our marriage. If a reference to his unbending ing in his mind, he gazed out of starved affectinus he still desired blue for boldness; her features the children, especially on my the space between them."-You you don't want to help- deportment. On account of his the window firstly, yet inatten- bor. Still moro odd, she didn't wore too sensitive for a knock- birthday. We can't afford hun- may be a sensible wife; please Yes, there was her own money, religious orthodoxy and ungroom- tively. The world had stiffened know that she'd starved him about world; her mouth had the dred-dollar presents just now; if God, I'll never be a mousible bas-There had been a time whened appearance, it was said of him in a single night. For two Yet if it intell to be done again, same wistful knock of making to would, Edd like to take it." band. Don't you know that to be little capital would bass mile that is doul was all right if his months, like a spendthrift dying he'd chose her und no their wo be loved while saying asthing. Why did she say, "We" esn't happy a man must be continually him his own mister. Yast attor ppers weren't much to look at woman, it had rouged ite land.

Lier younger brother and sister, afford? Why hadn't she said, winning a woman? It one get too year she had reinvested here nad known Dick from a bɔy, soapes with decay, making a brave te stood erect and shook him. Tommy and Hester, were like "You can't afford"? It was as certain of owning anything, it intereat, never spending a cent of and trusted him officially with his pretence that winter WOS not self, like a dog coming out of their mother-sensible, opascien- if he had tried to give her what loses its valus. When I go out of it on herself or on anybody. It most intimate rets, Wish coming. Between nightfall and wator. He was amazed at the tious, and undemonstrative Bat was hora already. And yet, by my way to be nice to you, make was for the children to set them Mary's father he had beən on daylight the fire of the frost had lengths to which he'd followed Madge! Dick often thought that her talk about speaking crossly me feel like a sentimental fool." up in the world. To have hinted friendly terms terms which ho swept through it, scorching what his reflections. He was shocked she realized exactly what he miss before the children and by her He ended in a lower and more at employing it for any other still maintained with Mary. lo ever of greenness had been spared at his morbid truthfulness.ed in her mother, and tried to mentioning that it was her birth-earnest tone;

purpose would have bz30 saoril- know that she had a curtain by the Indian summer. Leaves Where had it all began? Ah make it up to him.

day, she had put herself in the "You've been too sure of me, ege. He had become so reticent amount of money in her own elung to trees, brown and brittle yes! With the take-you-for- "What have I got ? ho re- right, de usual. He could foel Mary. You've killed romance by on the subject that he didn't even right; he therefore regarded her

olung desperately, deathly still, granted air with which she'd peated. "Something that mother that Tommy and Hester were not forbidding me to be your lover. know how much it amounted to, as a worthy woman. in fear of dropping. They accepted his grostings this morn won't like, I expect."

liking him,

I'm just something that earns a He looked out of the window Five minutes after his arrival, looked like old gloves tossed into ing, and with the aceasing tones Madge anuggled against him.

The breakfast continued with little money; and you you're at the stiff trees and the grass Dick was called into his private the branchoe, Behind panting in which she'd hoped that he" But she will she will, father." out conversation. Dick kept his the mother of my children. We're gray with frost. "No matter offies. A surplus of nainvested ohimney-pots, like a precipice of hadn't been extravagant over her He shook his head, No; eyes on his plate, and glanced at only useful. One day the children where we begia our conversations, fands had accumulated, the ques ice, the aky rose cold and shoer; perseut.

she'll say it's too extravagant."

his watch oddsstonally, as if he will be men and women. They they always finish with finance, cion was, how were they to be Madge preased her obeck were in a gresi hurry. He had won't need you to sacrifice, for Have you noticed? I suppose employed ? against his shoulder. "Not the faoling that every one, except them. You and I'll be left at the it means that I ought to make suggestions; ft. Yeams listened extravagant that wouldn't be Madge, was judging him. Spasoh end of life where starte 1-toget more money! Good Lord! It's with an appearance of close kind. Bat just like you too beaams difficult in proportion to her. Then we may desite with nearer sen than nine. You told attention, tapping the dess and generous."

its postponement. Madge signal-all our hearts to care for each me I'd be late at the bank, and nodding. His wife looked up. She was ed a question. He nodded. She other; the fires will have burnt shall be." a good women, and her glass pushed back her chair. "Time out." A door behind him was partly After that what? Oh, yes; he'd showed. Har expression was we were off to school."

At last he had impressed her, open. From the room into which looked out of the window keen aud careful-perhaps am

Alogo with his wife, separated Contrary to all her habits of it gave entrance came sounds of and Been thut winter had bitious is the right word. She from her by the length of the self-esteen, she began to suspect some "one stirring intimate me suddenly. It had had critical gray eyes, which table, his embarrassment was that she was justly accused sounds of a woman dressing roomed

on gased out broodingly on the world doubled. Queer, how two people And yet, she was reluctant to own« We'll get along without han- Their swift precision gave an this morning; of all mornings, the and arrived at an estimate. Un- who have shared life'a intimacies it. She broke the long silence dred-dollar proseain, we can love indication to her character last withered pomp of the dead less you were gato she liked you, can become more distant than with a nervous laugh. hardly a second was wasted in the summer should have vanished. they were disquioting to watch. strangers! He glanced up. Bir- "And this mountain out of the each other without that," neatness. of their sequence. Pou! He grew impatient with Her mouth was strong and im- ricaded behind the coffee-tray, mole-bill of a hundred dollars! The gripping cold of despon Neatness! An ungracious word himself.

patientino firm to permit of alte was entirely self-possessed, I'll take the cheque if you like, denoy had settled down on him. If angels were neat, would any. Before he left his dressing-room trifling. Little lines, ranning in utterly convinced of the justice Dickie; but I won't be able to be beat his hopes together, but body want to go to heaven? All he took one last look the chains across her forehead, told of her grievance, completely spend it on myself. You foolish restored no warmth to them. those years ago-seventeen of mirror; he sought reassurance in tales of anxiety. It, there was a willing to forgiva if asked for follow, its a thirtieth of our year's Life had become a bare road, them was it her nostnose that the rellection. "He saw a clean- fault to find in one so obviously pardon..

income ! "

winding palely on and on through had attracted him?

shaven man," nooring. forty, eager to avoid error, it was that She addressed him with the He went to the fire-place, and bleak landscapad to an uninter looked back. She had straight-featured like a house owly swept and straight turobni rady brushes doc ne mental. Ha band wou would have used to one of hor beside him, making a pretence at change all that. Money could Dick's face grow keep, thon

almost her appearance was needlessly tolerance

She came and kneltesting end.

garnished-uninhabited in its back from the forehead and betrayed another side. toharohildren. "Dick, area's you warming her bands. He spoke put everything right its powers masked itself. It was sure to orderliness. With hia manlike growing grey about the temples: character-they were long and rather unkind and-and a little more gently:

were well-night limitless. It riso! A small amouus of capital love of tumuls, he had longed to The attraction of the face was its listless and fine.

stupid?"

"It wasn't just this hundred could buy laughter, put kieses on would go a long way if he Lought fill her with the boisterous mud-shyness. The nostrils were "Too generous" ale asid He didn't retreat before her dollars, Mary. It wasn't that you a woman's mouth, make her og margins, Mary could help dle of life, to furnish hor, to arched and sensitive; the eyes

It won't a case of being generous, mild secusal. Neither unkind refused my present. It was the onger for loving, and delay the him if she liked, but-He knew strów odds and ends of affection were a trifle too blue for bald- Madge. Your father doesn't know nor stupid,"

way you refused it. Refusal be feet of Time almost, laring youth her so well; he was too unwisely about her the emotional unes. It was the face of one who the value of money; you mustn'ı

She was surprised. "Then tween you and me has becomes back. But how to get money? provident to rik anything. tidiness that gives to propriety could be made strong by love and encourage him." Then, to her what ?**

habit. There was that bracelet All day at the bank The bank olosed. Dick and humanity. Ah, well!"

work by the lack of it. Dick husband"Dick, Ido hope you To avoid a scopo, he tried to last Christmas. I saved for both he asked: himself that the president were the last to "I'm dressed-just going shragged his shoulders. Before haven't been silly again. If you thwart her persistonoy. We've those presents, and went without

question. While ho asked leave. down to give the children their he had married, when his mother have got something that costs too never had a quarrol, Marya real things, just the way you deny it, money sufficient to start hum Having watched the brougham breakfast. Are you nearly was alive, he had never quarrelied much, I'll only have to return it quarrel. I'd hate to find fault youself for the children, I wanted on his quest for happiness was drive away, Dick lingered ontade ready?

with his appearance. Since then, to the store, the way I did that with you on your birthday." to give you pleasure. I think

Passing through his banda,

his place of employment, The He jorked his thoughts back. because Mary never ehtwod bracelet-last Christmas. The brows above her gray eyes you'd have understood if you'd To-day he was seeing himself inconsistency of it all! Three "Nearly ready."

positively that she approved of The way she did that bracelet fattored upward; then be

in relation to the world. thousand dollats was his "If you're not quick, you'll be him, he had grown into a secret last Obristmas! He hadd's for governed her face into a smile. She pressed her cheek against in a new look doutro purchase-price--and that man late at the bank.""

self-disgust an attitude that gotten the humiliation. She had He wished she were less angelic his baud. "What was in it, his eyes was changed or was he had spend the afternoon in talk. fle beard the bedroom door threatened his confidence. done it in order that she might more human. If she'd only dear? Can't you tell me ?." open and the rustle of her skirts At the top of the staira ho pay for Hester's piano lessons consent to love her temper, he'd "Only that I'm going to New only awakened? People kept ing to him in the haudreda of as she passed out.

halted, fooling in his breast with a professor in Boston. She have more excuse for telling her York 1000 on bus to coming in and treating him as if thousands! Didn't it ever enter

they had known him for a long his head that it war

it wasn't safe to Testing the edge of his razor, pocket. Yes, it was there was a good mother; but in her the truth. Lousing forward, bank, and hoped yan'd come with while, "The president in? Not all the way to a man who was he began to shave leaurely should be give it to her, and anselfishness for her children she with her elbow on the table, she me. The hundred dollars was to bere, as usual, Oh, well, you'll hungry for the culture of life Late! He didn't care. If he would she accept it? While he was selfish toward her husband, rested her chin in her hand. She be your pocket-money. We'd be do, Dick. I guess you run this With money, one could educate a were late, what did it matter? In ussitated, the door of the break Sho would only let him love her spoke obeerfully

alone together, A kind of mid- old Lank

soul that would be big enough this sleepy New England town fast-room opened and the babel of through her children. Her chil. You and I could never quar- dle-aged honeymoon-that was de met them with machine to be noticed and even admired. time was of no value. Amblitions children's voices flouted up to dren as if they were less his rel. If I've done wrong, I want what I'd plooned,"**

made geniality. They never (To be Continued Next Stdurday.) were of no value-they led to him and something else the thin hers. She took him for you to tell me. Won't you please Sho pulled herself up and

set in its chilly blueness, the sun And he'd wanted to surprise ahone tepid as a yellow topaz. her with his lavishness. He'd Dick was not given to in-planned to startle her into ap trospection, but this morning he preciation of him. But, because was asking himself: an

of what she'd said about extra accustomed question-why did vagance, he hadn't dared to lot. men marry?

her know what he'd got for her.

no-

appropriata that

19

J

T

She accompanied him to the front door. Just as he was stop- ping out, she slipped her arm through his and kissed him, "Don't worry," she whispered.

Dick made

his

That all? I've got something better than that.”

He then spok to him about the Electrical Supplies Trust which had been quietly organized, shares which were boug, flated on the market. He had fasids in- formation: big names on Wall Strest were standing beland the venture. The price was a little aboye par at present--it was gure to rise. In his enthusiasm, Mt. Yeoma

1

rubbed his banda,

Dick, anyone who gets in on the ground floor te certain to clear big profits.",

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