The Prodigal Girl Read Online Free PDF Page A

should come home like this. He was usually so fond of the children, so interested in all that they had to tell about school life, so proud of Betty’s looks, and Jane’s music.
    Probably the deal that he had hoped for so long had fallen through, and she knew that that meant a great loss of money. But he would pull out of it. He always did. And he was yet a vigorous man, young for his years, and keen in business ability, beloved and respected. All would be right. All she had to do was to soothe him now for a little while. If he would only fall asleep—She heard his voice calling her impatiently: “Where is Betty? Why doesn’t she come down at once?” The mother hastened down with a placating air: “Chester, I’m afraid she’s gone, but she ought to be back before very late. Suppose you just lie down here and tell me all about it. You know that always makes things better—” But he interrupted her:
    “Gone? Where has she gone!” There was alarm in his voice and in the startled eyes he turned on her.
    “Why, you see, Chester, she had plans this evening—”
    “Yes, I believe she told me so,” he shouted, “but I told her at the table that she was to stay at home!”
    “Hush, Chester, the maids will hear you! Let me explain. You see, Chester, she really couldn’t stay at home. It was an engagement of two weeks standing. She had promised!”
    “Couldn’t!” he said, his voice still loud with alarm and excitement. “Couldn’t obey her father? Well, I’d like to know why not?”
    “Why, because there were other people involved. Chester, you really didn’t give her any chance to explain, you know, and it was getting late. You remember you kept us waiting for dinner—”
    “Involved? Who else was involved? Where has my daughter gone? I want to understand this thing perfectly. Where is Betty?”
    “Why, Chester!” said his wife, aghast. She had not seen her husband so roused in years. He must be losing his mind.
    “Listen, dear, she has only gone to a little high school dance. She’ll probably be home before long now. They don’t usually stay very late.”
    “But why should that be more important than obeying her father?”
    “Because she had promised to go with one of the boys, one of her classmates, and she couldn’t leave him without a partner.” He wheeled on her.
    “Who has she gone with?”
    “Why, Chester, how strangely you act! Just one of the boys she has known all her life.”
    “WHO?”
    “Only Dudley Weston, our neighbor,” said the mother complacently, sure that the name would cool her husband’s heated temper. But his eyes fairly blazed.
    “Dudley Weston!” he cried, and his voice was like a moan. “That little viper!”
    “Why, Chester! Now I’m sure you must have a fever or something. It is only yesterday you told me he was growing into a fine manly fellow, and said how handsome he was as he went down the street.”
    The man groaned.
    “Well, I don’t think so anymore. Betty might as well have gone with the devil from hell.”
    “Now, Chester, you are swearing! I never heard you swear before.
    Oh, what shall I do?”
    But he paid no heed to her words. He was searching behind the hall table for his hat that had fallen on the floor.
    “Where is that dance?” asked Betty’s father.
    “It is at the high school hall,” said Mrs. Thornton. “Oh, Chester! What are you going to do? You are not going after her? You are not going in public to mortify our daughter! Our little Betty! Oh, Chester! She will never forgive you! She won’t come! I’m sure she won’t come. She is very angry at you already. If you do a thing like that you will alienate her forever. Chester, you mustn’t!”
    She was crying now, great tears rolling down her cheeks, though she seemed unaware of them. She caught hold of his coat and held him with all her slender strength.
    Something in her frail sweetness and agony touched him even in his wrought-up state. He looked down at her, and for a moment