The Washington critic., 1886-02-04

ulY uftu, Silu JullU, SUlutull,
when they Lad been sitting talking
for some time after tea, "I'm going
out"
"All right" said Van. "1m ready
where do you want TO go2'
''Oh, not far! There are several little
things to buy ! can get them quite rs
well by myself You needn't come.
Needn't comet But | don't like
your going out alone at night, dear.
Besides, why should you go aloney"
"For woman's reason. Because |
want TO- Now, don't be angry, Van.
You must let me have my own way.
] won't come to any harm, | promise
you" And Van gave in, Of course.
Julia walked rapidly, looking neither
TO the right nor left. She feared if she
preceded slowly, or hesitatcd, the
courage TO carry out the resolution she
had made might ooze away.
At last she arrived near her fathers
house, handsome corner building.
1t was about . o'clock, and old Sam
and his guests, for he was giving
dinner party, were in the brilliantly.
lighted dining.room.
Sam Sladgcr had changed good
deal since his daughters departure
from home. lie looked aged and hag.
gard. lie missed hcr sorely and
yearned to have her back with him;
but he had stuck stubbornly TO his de.
termination to have nothing further to
do with her.
The old man then was not happy
but on this particular evening he was
less unhappy than he had been for a
considerable time, for among the guests
was one of the "nobs" he worshippcd.
"Wcll, as ] was saying" remarked
the aristocrntic gentleman, continuing
conversation, there was quite Il
scene. Regular excitement; everybody
upset. ] don't say there was anybody
in particular to blame. But Il scene is
a thing ! cannot stand and so I've
never been to the house since"
There was murmur of applause at
this very spirited and aristocratic way
of treating the affair, which had hardly
died away when Sladger's face sud
denly became ashy pale.
He hurriedly drank glass of wine
and listened with fevcrish eagerness,
for il was something he had heard
which had caused the blood quickly to
leave his cheeks. Yes, there was no
mistake. Tremulous and low at first,
but growing louder and clearer now, u
woman's voice singing Il simple ballad
could be heard
There was nothing much in that to
other hearers but there was good
deal in il to old Sladger. II was his
daughters voice. Surely he could not
be mistaken. Making some trivial ex-
cuse for going to the window, he raised
the curtains and looked out. There,
before his very doorstep, was a small
crowd; one of those crowds which
sprin., up in New York as if by magic
and in the centre of il was young
woman wrapped in faded and old
| black shawl with patched and
| shriveled bonnet on her head
Old Sam knew her in moment He
had not mistaken the voice. 1t was his
daughter he saw before him. He
| looked ont at her for some moments,
unable to decide how to act. He must
not have a scene, and he must have his
daughter. lie cursed himself for hav-
ing held out 50 long. This sort of
thing must be put stop to at all
| hazards. His daughter singing in the
| streetsl II would certainly come to be
known and talked about. The scandal
would be too great.
| Leaving the dining-room with as
composed an air as he could assume
under the circumstances, he went
| quietly TO the hall door, opened It, and
passed out. As he did so the song
came to an end. Stepping up to his
daughter, who looked at him with
steady eyes, he said aloud:
Very well done, young woman, very
well done You must be tired. Come
in and take little refreshment And
then, in tone that reached only her
ears; For Heavens sake, Julia come
into the house and stop this masquc-
rading! You'll disgrace me forever,
Don't cry or make scene. | wouldn' t
have q scene for anything. I'll take
back all wrote you. / dare say your
husbands very good fellow-in his
way. I'll make friend with him, too.
You shall not want for money, either
of YOU" And 50 saying, the old man
drew her into the house.
What passed between father and
daughter then is, perhaps, hardly
worth relating; but Il reconciliation
must have been effected, for the young
couple and the old man are now on the
friendlest terms,
Julia says she has no secrets fIom
her husband, but, all the same, Vande.
leur has never learned what became OF
his wife when she donned the old bon.
net and shawl or how it was that Sam
Sladgcr's heart warmed so suddenly to
his runaway daughter and her artistic
vagabond of husband. Chicago
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