Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-09-23

From the Springfield Republican ]
JOHN DENSTER'S DAUGHTER.
By MRS. CHRISTINE sEEGER.

By MRS. CHRISTINE sEEGER.
Delight Demster was but twelve years
old, vet she had learned what many older
people never knew-how to wait.
So, though the potatoes which came
plump and appetizing from the oven an
hour before Law lukewarm and shriveled
upon the hearth, and the toast had dried
to crisp. she sat patiently mending
sock for Tim-sleepy Tim, who had eaten
his supper long ago and been tucked into
bed-and waiting for the door of the
workshop to open, and her father to APP
pear. The shop had once been the wood
house, and opened directly out of the
kitchen but the potatoes often grew cold
before John Demster remembered to leave
the model of the engine he had invented.
and 90 and eat them.
1t was not half so bad Delight reasoned,
when there was nothing but potatoes as
when a bit of meat lost its juiciness and
flavor through long delay; and after all
it was not ordinary. trivial waiting, such
as the milk-man's hardness might occa-
sior, or any unruly shoe string of Tins
but what that lent an atmosphere of inn
portance to the poor little house. and even
to Delight herself. who believed that great
things were some day coming as the d.
rect result of it. She gloried in the fact
that the bakers wife, whenever she en-
tered the house, was filled with a tremu-
lous apprehension lest that en-jine"
should blow up. and red flush of pride
would stain her cheeks whenever she
heard herself characterized, as she some
times did as
| IT 10 ha child of fhat
inventor"
Some day." she would say to herself,
with unquestioning faith. they will not call
him crazy
A strange mixture of fear and expecta-
ton throbbed through her veins every
night when the latch clicked on the door
of the little shop-fear lest her lifted eyes
might read the old story of futile struggle
and tailure-expectation of better day.
Even the tagging step that approached
the door from the other side, had become
the forerunner of tidings to be read in the
tired face, and the brave little heart
would brace itself to meet discourage
ment with extra cheerfulness. How the
strain wore upon the child no one knew.
Her father called her confidently:
"Light-light o the house," his ''little
housekeeper,' unaware in his self absorb
ton of the burden he was putting on the
young shoulders.
John Dempster had no faculty" the
neighbors said, among themselves; he
was always putterin', and that it was
hard for child like Delight to plan and
work for three; but then, she was strong
and old-"old for her years'-and she
loved the little brown house where her
mother had died, and believed in her
fathers dreams of future riches and
splendor. without realizing the changes
they implied.
All the same, whatever might be in
store, there was Tins intermidable
stocking. 1t had been darned so many
times that but little of the original texture
remained, and she wondered as she work.
ed, how much longer it could be made to
last-if they would be rich in time to get
him new ones for Christmas.
The kettle was humming YEARLY upon
the stove. There was a subdued hiss
hiss, from the little workshop, that had
a drowsy effect on her as she listened.
Father" rousing herself and going to
the door; "lather, amt you coming to
supperP" She noticed as he turned tow
ard her. that he trembled with excitement
There was crimson spot on either cheek,
and his eyes glowed like Stars.
Its all right. all right at last" he
cried; mot flaw, not a hitch. knew
it must be Sony beautiful engine !!
Wake up, Tim - he called :" come and
see how well she does her work My pet |!
My beauty ~ and he caressed the shining
metal as lovingly as mother would her
child.
HAS it not been worth WHILE" he con-
tinued, walking back and forth excitedly,
call the years of struggle and denial, to
succeed at last? Now, my little Delight,
you shall ride in your carriage, wear silks
and diamonds every day-and you, Tim
you can 60 to college"
Tim, who appeared. but half dressed
and half awake, in obedience TO warn
ing glance from his sister, suppressed a
very scornful "Humph !" The engine
that she regarded with such reverent eyes.
was the demon that had devoured their
substance ever since he could remember :;
that had compelled him often and often to
go supperless to bed, and to walk bare
footed in cold weather.
Il don't care he insisted in stub
born undertone, Il have seen one Just
like it. | have"
Timothy Dempster ~
81 have, too; when | went with Jim
White to visit his grandfather. There
was Just such queer thing that fixed up
and down, and another one that whopped
round
Timothy Dempster. go directly to
bed!" said Delight, indignantly-an or
der which he was only too willing to
obey.
In her loyal heart there was no shadow
of doubt: the intense faith and unfagging
interest bad been to her father a constant
source of inspiration. 1t had been other
wise in the DAVIS of the pale-faced mother,
who had built hopes upon one invention
after another, only to see them go down
in failure. They had condemned her
children to grinding poverty and sapped
her own strength, until one day she laid
her tired hands together. and never lifted
, them to work or pray again. Her long
continued sadness had had depressing.
: even paralyzing effect upon her husband
, during her life, but after she ceased to move
|, among them, and the yellow haired, bright
faced daughter. young, and strong, and
,, courageous, stepped into her place he be-
came possessed with the idea of an atone
tu,1.N Nk-N A.