Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-11-01


terested in her schOs5s. her music les
sons and her play, Siiat for long
while she did not notice what a cloud
was gathering over hEs home.
But one morning SIZE overheard her
father and mother talsiug in low voices
in their room, which was next to hers.
~ don't see any wsf out of it, !" said
her father IF he itSists upon it, we
are ruined.
"WiIl it take everytAing!' her mother
asked
"EverythingI" said iler father. 1--WE
shant have roof to :our heads. God
knows what will become of us ALP
Il wouldn't mind, for myself" said
Mrs. Townsend, weeping; 'but the
children Oh, am stIge Mr.. Kingdom
cannot be so cruel ~
''You don't know Ringdon!" her hus-
band replied, bitterly. II took the con-
tract to build the block Xix months ago,
Ind should have made moderate profit.
But the price of labor ind the cost of
Everything have gone un:at least twenty
per cent. He isn't to blSme for that he
nays; and though othersscant keep their
agreement with me, hes sees no reason
Why | shouldn't keep miae with him. He
doesn't mean to be cruel: but business is
>usiness.n
Poor little Rhoda listened with grief
and terror Then she rEmembered how
rareworn her father hadslooked of late,
and how often she had Seen her mother
nd and fearful.
She waited till he was! gone, then ran
md threw herself on ermothers neck.
Il didn't mean to-, she said, ''but
couldn't help hearing Something Oh,
mother, is it truce Must we lose this
house and everything Shall we be
~ery poor?"
''My daughter' said Mrs. Townsend,
folding the dear child il: her arms. Il
am afraid So.
why didn't you tell nc mother?r
Because you were happy, and wanted
you to remain so as loDgsas you could.
And | hoped till now thAE Mr.. Kingdom
would not insist upon yoiir fathers full
hllng the contract. He can we'll afford
not to insist upon it. lie is very rich.
The loss would not be mach to him. but
1t will ruin us"
Does he know it?'s gcried Rhoda,
eagerly. "Oh, am sure he doesn't!
Why, mother, it is Mark Kingdoms
father; and Mark is Just the incest,
kindest, best-hearted bow YOU ever saw. !"
But his father is a hard man, for all
that" sighed Mrs. Townsend. Il fear
there is no hope of him. ltnd, now that
you know~all my child, want to say to
you that we must be prepared for the
worst. You are the oldest of the chill
dren. Your father will have to begin
life again, and we must do all we can to
help him. We must give uD manv
things, perhaps have to work very hard.
1 am sure you will do all YOU can to help
take care of your dear little brothers and
listers"
The mother and daughter wept in each
Ither's arms; but with her high opinion
bE Mark, Rhoda did not believe that ME-.
Kingdom could deal so. harahly with her
father. +.
sI'm sure he doesn't Miow!' she re-
peated TO herself And She formed a
bold resolution. She would speak to
Mark about the affair.
They went to the same school. and it
Eaf easy enough for her to find an op.
sortunity to speak to him! But it was
lot 50 easy to think just whist she should
ay.
Mark. who was bright, Quick sighted
10Y, noticed that she kept: her eyes on
Jim with u troubled look. rs she walked
lowly away from the schasol house that
.fternoon, he followed and overlook her.
What's the matter, RhGdas" he said.
You act as if you hauks oBething against
ne"
"Oh, no; I've nothing against you !"
But there's some troAbler' he in
sisted. "Have anything to do with it,"
mo, but you may .haye:. Q, Mark y
said Rhoda, beginning TO crg. 'It is so
hard and / am sure you, don't know
anything about it; for it,waaldn't be so,
if You did,"
What is itG" said Mask, growing
anxious So
ssYour father and. Jnire something
about their business. And Rhoda told
him her story as well as sheeould
Mark was surprised and distressed.
ssN0. | didn't knoww hs exclaimed.
ssAnd / don't believe any father
understands about it. s8e is the
kindest man. there's nothing he won't
do for me; and that makes Sae sure he
viii do what is right wheDS5 tell him.
ooh, If you will tell hiin!" cried
Rhoda, with tears of hopes That even
inc Mark walked into. his fathers library
after tea, and stood there, patiently wait
inn Tor him to lay down lie newspaper
he was reading.
ATr. Ringion was. as theaO2y had said
fond and indulgent father and, feel
4.Ee1