The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-08-21
MY FATHER.
Mar. .. .. Incident than Story.

saw tHclns crSi WhSiC tuihcu Hcuru
them
Could have been mistaken Was ali,
this self.torture for nothing3 No; it was
one of the proudest girls in school who
had branded me with shame. l heard it
from her own lips
~ tell you Alice vale's father has been
in prison." she said, ''and that's the reason
don't associate with her.
had always been shy, sensitive girl,
SO exceedingly sensitive, that some things
were as hard to bear as actual pain, though
they might have gone no farther than
words or motions. A smile has often set
me tingling from head to foot
l once heard my mother say, in reply
to some one who had noticed this pecu-
liarity;
"Poor child! she cannot help ii" and
then, perhaps, conversation would follow.
in lower tone, which was not intended
for my ear.
But compared to the shock which
thrilled me when heard those dreadful
words, had never known what pain or
trouble meant They were like swords,
and for few moments seemed to deprive
me of all power of motion.
| can remember, to this day, the spot
where | sat, for had fingered after school
to speak with the teacher. l can even
now see the wooden desk that was before
me, with its strange, undecipherable char
acters cut on the cover; the closed blinds
at my back the soft reflection of ripping
water on the opposite wall; the teacher
one of the sweetest women ever saw
yes, can see her long, fair curls and
bright lashes, as she sat at her desk, en-
crossed in the letter she was writing She
was quite young and very wise; the girls
all loved her. remember how mechan
ically my eyes sought her face for an indi-
cation that she had heard that breadth
speech and then said to myself vehe-
mently
"It's lie lie! base, wicked, mon
strous lie"
"Miss May, please don't see to it."
cried, almost passionately; TAT least moi
till till"
"Till you give me leave" she added, for
my sobs choked me; "very we'll, dear,
will not speak till then, and now let us try
to forget this unpleasant thing, Shall VIZ
go home together? We can talk as W,
60 along"
To this | gladly assented, and that wall
and her sweet conversation acted like
charm. How blue and cool the river was
And what lovely shadows seemed to slid
down the sides of the high hills, taking
their hues from the gorgeous tints of tn
sunset sky. If it had been a grief tina
could be forgotten, should have returne'
home lighthearted
Cruelty slow moved the weary mo
ments now. The scent of the wild bria
outside the window seemed odious to me
The golden ripple on the wall, that ha
been watching with SO much delight, ha
lost its wilowy charm. Something coll
and death-like seemed to be creeping
through all my veins. There was dul
pain at my heart. Once l wondered if
were dying, and struggled out of numb
ness that had seized my senses, just a
Miss Florian, the teacher, looked up,
"Why, my child" she said, sweetlJ
shave you been waiting all this time?
had quite forgotten" Then she added, i
quicker tones, "Are you i'll, Alice, or is
the sunset shadow that makes you s
whte?"
That sweet voice and sweeter smi
went straight to my sore heart. l cou
not help it, my head fell on my hands,a
I burst into tears. In moment she W;
, at nv side, her cool hand on my head.
"Some-somebody has been sayir
: something dreadful about me" sobbt
out, at last. 81 heard it while | was 81
! ting here-but please don't ask me VIII
! it is. Miss May; couldn't tell you, i
t deed couldn't; only it's wicked lie, al
! l shall hate Jenny Morris as long as
live"
a "Then it was Jenny" said Miss Ma
It looking down upon me. ~ shall see
It 1t. Jenny's tongue has already made
e trouble. 1t is in her case an unruly mel
y y Der, truly"
~ But alas! I had had presentimen
times without number, that all had n
always been quite clear, and right a
honest in our household. That story
y prison shame-it could not be, of that
r. constantly assured myself. To me
Y. father was pattern of stainless honor
lie bade Miss Florian May good event
lie at her own door, and walked on.
IN had talked of everything bright and be;
ne tiful; or, at least, she had, and had S
,e. ceeded in winning my thoughts av
r. from myself for the time; but as wall
in up the pretty shaded path to my hol
ne the grief all came back, and SO vivi
y, that could not meet my mothers
nd So stole up to my own room, and wit
er, heavy, heavy heart, sat down to think
mt Thinking resulted in another burst
r. tears. and when heard footsteps on
'te stairs, | threw myself on the bed,
to TO temples burning and throbbing
,at Presently mother came in. Mot
ne and Miss May had ways alike. Th
ew was the same caressing movement OF
ar, hands, the same low, persuasive voic
'" my head aches" ] said, in reply to
tender query, "was ill'"
"Too hard work these hot days for
little GIRL" she said, soothingly. "F