The Sins of the Father

Cleo should not remain under his roof another day. How much she really knew or understood of the events of the night he could only guess. He was

could not and would not do was to imperil his own life and character by a d

that brooked no interference with her whims. He had petted and spoiled her until it was well-nigh im

her back, laugh

young and she loved grace and beauty wherever she saw it. She loved a beautiful cat, a beautiful dog, and always had taken pride in a handsome servant. It would be just like

uffering with a chill. The doctors had hinted that she was suffering from an inc

g his loudest at the funny contortions of her lithe figure. She would stop ever

g at the scene. In a flash he realized that Cleo had made herself,

doorway sobered b

s little legs clasping her body tight. She drew his laughing face to her shoulder, smothering his laughter

ied, galloping slowly at first and

quisite shoulders, every change of attitude a new picture of graceful abandon, every movement of

the man with such alluring power, that i

corner of the room, dropped on all fours and started slowl

re going to get

rom side to side, smelling his hands and jumping back, approaching and retreating, grow

marvelous creamy yellow animal cou

ut with laughter and slowly approached her victim, tumbled his hap

w!" the little mother cried,

' him up now-I'm done-and he'

warm, young bosom, and walked past the man smiling into his face a loo

d the growl of the Beast within as he stood watching the scene. The sight of the frail

ed, stammered and was silent. At last he braced himself with determination fo

girl, my dear?"

nurse I ever saw-the baby'

e," he sai

mmy was ready to drop. She's been like a fairy in the nursery from the momen

ike her pe

ul. She picks me up, laughing like a child, and carries me into the bathr

interrupted with a firm

he blue eyes opened

and her presence here may b

at on earth c

th that she'

the man-every servant we'v

he last," the husband

the girl, I'd like to

ble thing about her as a servant. But she has bad blood in her on her father

ike him-that's wh

ou that?" he as

home among decent white people and I'm not goi

this decision and went on with his a

, but he is trying to break into politics as a negro champion. He denies it, but he is a henchman of

thing about the Governor or his dirty politi

t sure

e craz

ence in our house is dangerous. She already knows too much about my af

r with my life, or yours, or the baby's, without hesitat

hair for the mastery of this state and its life. The next two weeks and this election will decide whether white civilization shall live or a permanent negroid mongrel government, after the pattern of Haiti and San Domingo, shall

a green, incompetent girl in the nursery now. I can't think of breaking in a new one. I like Cleo. She's a breath of fresh air when she comes into my room; she's

ing to you?" he

to do with this girl. She knows nothing

u must liste

ervants. It's none of your business. Look af

u I'm in dead earnest. The danger is a real

o!" she fai

ery quiet when

u in this, but the gir

strong jaw left further argument out of the ques

fit of hysteria. He attempted to soothe her, in grave alar

hrew herself across the bed

don't act

ts opening and closing like a bird's talons grippi

misery and sickening fea

-she can stay. I won't say another word

sed for a momen

sery and send her her

he door and me

sked with a curious smile pl

hes you to pu

umphant tenderness and he knew t