Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 19, 2025
"Well, good-bye!" Kenton made what response he could, and escaped in-doors, where his daughter-in-law appeared from the obscurity into which she had retired from Bittridge. "Well, that follow does beat all! How, in the world did he find you, father?" "He came into the house," said the judge, much abashed at his failure to deal adequately with Bittridge.
It's always the way when I'm trying to keep up the dignity of the family. I suppose it will be cabled to America, and by tomorrow it will be all over Tuskingum how Boyne was made a fool of and got arrested. But I bet there's one person in Tuskingum that won't have any remarks to make, and that's Bittridge. Not, as long as Dick's there he won't."
"It does seem as if something might be done," his wife rebelled. "They've done the best that could be done," said Richard. "And if that skunk hasn't got some sort of new hold upon father, I shall be satisfied. The worst of it is that it will be all over town in an hour that Bittridge has made up with us. I don't blame father; he couldn't help it; he never could be rude to anybody."
When he lifted his eyes at last he saw Bittridge lounging in the door-way, with one shoulder supported against the door-jamb, his hands in his pockets and his hat pushed well back on his forehead. In an instant all Kenton's humility and soft repining were gone. "Well, what is it?" he called. "Oh," said Bittridge, coming forward. He laughed and explained, "Didn't know if you recognized me."
All that she could see, and she saw it with a sinking of the heart, was that Ellen looked more at peace than she had been since Bittridge was last in their house at Tuskingum. Her eyes covertly followed him as he sat talking, or went about the room, making himself at home among them, as if he were welcome with every one.
He was looking at the amusements for the evening in a paper he had bought, and he wished to consult the judge as to which was the best theatre to go to that night; he said he wanted to take his mother. Kenton professed not to know much about the New York theatres, and then Bittridge guessed he must get the clerk to tell him. But still he did not part with the judge.
"No, I didn't tell him," said Kenton, feeling move shaken now from the interview with Bittridge than he had realized before.
"Yes, I wanted him to, but that doesn't make it any easier. It makes it harder. Momma!" "Well, Ellen?" "You know you've got to tell him, first." "Tell him?" Mrs. Kenton repeated, but she knew what Ellen meant. "About Mr. Bittridge. All about it. Every single thing. About his kissing me that night." At the last demand Mrs. Kenton was visibly shaken in her invisible assent to the girl's wish.
Richard Kenton evanesced into the interior so obviously that Bittridge could not offer to come in. "Well, I shall see you all when you come back in the fall, judge, and I hope you'll have a pleasant voyage and a good time in Europe." "Thank you," said Kenton, briefly. "Remember me to the ladies!" and Bittridge took off his hat with his left hand, while he offered the judge his right.
These sufficed for Bittridge, apparently, for he went on contentedly: "Whenever I've been tempted to go a little wild, the thought of how mother would feel has kept me on the track like nothing else would. No, judge, there isn't anything in this world like a good mother, except the right kind of a wife." Kenton rose, and said he believed he must go upstairs.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking