Mrs. Bob: A Novel — page 277: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~ = “HE LAUGHS LOUDEST WHO LAUGHS LAST.” 269 Of course, Ruth and her daughter acquiesce, and the colonel heaves a sigh of relief, for it has been a close shave, and at one time he even imagined he could hear the clang of a jail door near by. ‘‘Call at the hotel and see mein the morning, both of you, and we will fix this matter. I don’t believe in compromising a felony, but to spare these ladies publicity I refrain from giving you the winPeing you deserve. Get out of our sight, both.”’ So the spectators are cheated out of another scene at the close of the little drama, and our friends, entering their carriages, drive to the Fifth Avenue. Here, 1n Bob’s private parlor, explanations are given, Squire Gordon breaks down, and sobs likea child, confessing his wrong-doing; his iron will gives way, and from that hour when he sees his daughter and her husband united, with their child also clasped in their arms, he never emerges fron: the cloud, but erows more feeble and childish every day, until, finally, he is laid at rest in the tomb whose terrible barriers he once burst. Every doubt, every cause for sorrow is “swept away when just before the holidays Bob and his wife, to- gether with Senator John and Ruth bid Joe and Craig farewell, and steam from New York Harbor, bound for the sunny skies of Italy. It 1s peace at last. (THE END. ) GOmMmIicdbooks (€(0) im