Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-25
HER FATHERS DAUGHTER.
IN FOUR CHAPTERs-CHAPTER !.

that they have both turned to their new soaosrs.
Or rather TO the one paper, which they have
divided between them She, strange to saw Is
immersed In the city article OF the MJf'aiay
Clipper. He Is Tuning to himself over a critique
on the new comedy produced last night at the
variety Iheater. She is handsome blonde of
TWO and twenty. He is tall, thin, rather me-
ancholy looking young man, who has just seen
his four-and-twentieth birthday.
Mrs Rivers. They have been sinking every
day for the last fortnight. They used to be
1avorite stock with papa. l hope he has not
dipped deep in them OF late"
..And they dignity this rubbish with the name
away his paper and turns to his cold coffee. "a
more unfair and one-Sided attack was never
penned. But If Babcombe were to write like an
angel, the Clipper would stab him all the same:
and If he were to write as badly as-as / do
the P'tar0S would be sire to treacle him. so that
one always knows what to expect"
Presently the pOStman'S knock was heard and
a minute later q Slatternly maid-of- lll-wOrk
brought up letter for Mrs. Rivers and a sealed
packet for Gerald.
"A letter from Papa. I should know his queer
eramped hand anywhere" cried Alice. Good
news or bad, eh, Gerald?"
MY story back from the P;ocndillyl" groaned
poor Gerald, with a visible lengthening of his
already long face. 'Was ever such luck as
mine? | shall begin TO think soon that / am
only tit to break stones by the roadside"
But his wife did not hear him. She was lost
In her letter. Her face paled little she re I'd,
and presently the tears sprang TO her eyes.
Just like papan' she cried. Il might have
at the time that my letters would be of no avail,
but could not rest till / had witten. Even
though he refused TO see me himself, he might
at least let Carry and Oracle see me once, now
and then" She got up suddenly, and pushing
the letter across the table TO her husband she
hurried out through the foiding-doorS that
opened into the bedroom Gerald Rivers TOOK
up his wife'S letter and read rs under:
MY DEAR ALICE; l found your two letters
awaiting me my return from Mentone. AS
they both refer to the same subject, one answer
dmplore is the word used by yOu) to forgive
you. To this l reply that l have nothing to
forgive. You are OF age, consequently you are
the mistress OF your own actions, and have no
control over you in any way But when you
ask lme to see you, or, il will not do that, 70
allow you to visit your sisters, you put the case
on an altogether different footing TO both
your requests my answer Is an emphatic No.
In the most important step OF your life you have
chosen to act in direct opposition to my fire.
quently-eXpreSSed wishes, and as matter of
course you must put up with the consequences
OF your folly. One OF those consequences Is the
severance OF all ties that bound you to me as a
cherished member of my family. You discarded
your family OF your own free-will and your
family now discard YOU Such being the state
OF affairs between u.s. need hardly tell you that
any letters you may send in time to come kcS-
cept in case of urgent llneSS and aCcompa-
MED by medical certificate to that effect wiz
remain unanswered. Your father
EDWARD CREwDs,S
P. S.-Since writing the above fresh thought
has struck me. You know that it was my in-
9ention TO have given you six thousand pounds
as wedding portion had you married In accor-
dance with my wishes. Now, i promise you that
/ will overlook the past, and give You the six
thousand pounds into the bargain, on the day
that you and your husband can come forward
and produce another six thousand to put to it.
That chance give you. A bargains bargain.
&c.
"The old boy might as well ask me to Jump
over the moon as TO find six thousand pounds,
or six thousand pence either" said Gerald with
a sigh as he laid the letter on the table. "AHce
always said that he was full of eccentric whims
that she was right
Presently Mrs. Rivers came back into the
room, and placing her hands on her husbands
shoulders, stopped over and kissed him. She
had been crying, and her eyes were still red; but
there was smile on her lips. ..JuSt like papa
dear" she said. $50 inteXible, so self-Wlled.
Nothing can move him when once he has made
up his mind"
"There is one consolation" said Gerald. 1--WE
are no worse of than we We're before"
''Not bit"
You see what you have brought yourself to
through marrying pauper."
Through marrying the dearest and best fel-
low In the world! This with another kiss
de rose"
"suppose we form ourselves into committee
OF ways and means"
agreed. 1 vote that you take the chair"
So Alice went and sat down In the big easy
chair opposite her husband.
"Three months ago to-day we were married"
said Alice. On that day our joint capital con
sisted Of three hundred pounds. Yesterday l
looked at our bank book and found that We had
just one hundred and ninety-nine pounds six
and sixpence standing to our credit"
So that we have spent hundred pounds in
81 Precisely so. But you must remember that
out of that hundred pounds were paid the ex-
penSeS OF our wedding trip"
=" If we go ON living at the same rate for six
months longer we shall be bankrupt"
"Something not far from it,"
"Then the sooner look out for a situation of
Some better
But long before the six months are at an end
your novel may be brought out, or your comedy
my dear Alice" interrupted Gerald, "where
Is the use OF our deceiving ourselves any longer?
Three months ago we became man and wife.
pounds in hard caSh-the little fortune left you
by your grandmother. 1 brought What7 A
bundle Of wretched manuscripts, that were 1T
only for the butterman."
so Gerald, don't say that"
"a bundle OF wretched manuscript" reite-
rated Gerald bitterly, comprising among other
useless matter, novel and comedy. l was
going to do grand things-to set up life as man
o. letters; to make name for myself; to earn
an easy and lucrative living with my pen. Icarus
has come down with crash. No publisher will
offer me penny for my novel; no manager will
read line of my comedy. have the consolation
of knowing that have mistaken my vocation;
that am not nearly such a clever fellow as in
my folly fancied myself to be- and that have
been living all this time on my wife's money for
lack OF any Of my own"
"In three months I have earned twelve
guineaS-twelve miserable guineaS. During the
next three months may earn as much more, or
perhaps nothing at ALL"
"Iou must not lose heart in this way dear
What are three months? very little time in
deed. Remember how Jane Eyre was hawked
about from one publisher TO another, before any
one could be found to accept it."
Gerald shook his head. My dear Alice your
husband Is not man OF genius, and no one
knows that better than yourself l made the
mistake, common enough, l dare say, among
young men who have an itch for Scrtbbling OF
believing that the world would appraiSe my lit
erary wares at the same value that set ON them
myself. Three months In London, three months
among publishers and managers, have Sufficed
TO undeceive me- once end forever. The lesson
has been sharp one; but l hope i am man
enough to own that l think it has done me
good
" How bitterly you speak, deare What can 1
say to comfort you?"
Gerald rose from his chair, and, crossing to
where his wife was seated. he took her hand and
pressed it TO his lips ''You are my comfort
now and ever, !" he said. Then, with his shoulders
resting against the chimney piece, he went back
to what he had been talking about. Another
fact my lesson has taught me-" he said, land
that is that there is no present proSpect-and
whether there is one In the future seems highly
problematical-of my being able to keep you and
myself by the proceeds OF my pen, in anything
more than the most abject pauperiSm. Such
INnfW fhn tot N az fAf r-IIs