The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-09

seemed oppressed by nlaurdse hO,te when she
was most triumphant; she would end discus
sion with shy murmur addressed TO herself
or single gesture OF circumstances.
The disclosure Of her strange relations with
an unknown man. and the exchange Of pres
ents and condolences. seemed TO suddenly
awake Farley to vague uneasy sense OF some
unfulhlled duties as q parent. The first effect
Of this on his weak nature was peevish an
tagonism to the cause OF it. He had long fret
full monologues on the vanity OF diamond max
ing. IL accompanied with Fostering by in
tcr!opcrs," on the wickedness Of conecalmcnt
and conspiracy and their effects on charcoal
burning; on the nurturing Of spcs and adj
ders " in the family circle and on the seditious-
ness OF dark and mysterious councils in which
n gray-haire father was left out. 1t was true
that word or look from Flip generally brought
these monologues to an inglorious and abrupt
termination. but they were none the less lu-
gubrious rs long US they lasted. In time they
were succeeded by an afrectation OF contrite
apology and sef-depreciation. Don't go out
o. the way to ask the old man. he would say,
referring to the quantity Of bacon to be ordered;
Its nat'ral young gal should have her own
advisers" The state Of tho -four barrel would
also produce like solf-abasemcnt Unless
ye're already in correspondence about more
-four ye might take the opinion o. the first
tramp ye meet ez whether Santa Cruz Mills is
q good brand. but don't ask the old man. II
Flip was in conversation with the butcher.
Farley would obtrusively retire with the hope
he wasn't intrudln' on their Secrets
These phases Of her fathers weakness were
not frequent enough to excite her alarm, but
she could not help noticing they were accom-
panied with a seriousness unusual to him. He
began to be trcmulously watchful of her, re-
I'm n hour
and lingering by the cabin in the morning. He
brought absurd and useless presents for her.
and presented them with nervous anxiety,
poorly concealed by an assumption Of careless.
maternal generosity. "Suthin | picked UP at
the Crossin' for ye to-day" he would say,
airily and retire to watch the effect OF pair OF
shoes two sizes too large. or fur cap in Sep
tember He would have hired cheap parlor
organ for her, but for the apparently unex-
pected revelation that she couldn't play He
had received the news OF clue to his long-lost
son without emotion. but lately he seemed TO
look upon it as a foregonc conclusion, and one
that necessarily solved the question of COM
panionship for Flip. In course. when you've
got you're own flesh and blood with ye yc can't
go fooln' around with strangers These
autumnal blossoms OF affection. fear. came
too late for any effect upon Flip. precociously
matured by her fathers indifference and sell
flshness. But she was good humorcd and see
ing him seriously concerned. gave him more Of
her time. even visited him in the sacred seclu-
sion Of the diamond pit" and listened with
far of eyes to his ftfu indictment of all things
outside his grimy laboratory. Much Of
this patient Indifference came with
caprcous change in her own habits {;
she no longer INDUCED in the rehearsal
of dress she packed away her most treasured
garments. and her leafy boudoir knew her no
more. She sometimes walked on the hillside
and often followed the trail which she had
taken with Lance when she led him to the
rancho. She once or twice extended her walk
to the spot where she had parted from him. and
az often came shyly away. her eyes downcast
and her face warm with color. Perhaps be-
cause these experiences and some mysterious
instinct Of maturing womanhood had left q
story in her eyes which her two adorers the
| postmaster and the butcher. read with passion.
| she became famous without knowing it. En-
| travagant stories OF her destinations brought
| strangers into the valley. The effect upon her
| father may be imagined. Lance could not have
| desired a more effective guardian than he
| proved to be in this emergency. Those who
| had been told of this hidden pearl were sur
prised to find 1t so jealousy protected.