Evening star., 1896-11-28

Mr.. Snrtvcll Takes Up Midnight
Lunch to His Daughter.
portrait of herself was not exactly a ne
cessity. 1 have thought since that it was
the one necessary thing ever bought 1
had 1t copied. when got richer by a noted
painter. who did it more as a favor to me
than for the money. for painters do not
care to copy other mems work. Curiously
enough. he made more striking likeness
| of her than the original was. Come here,
my girl"
Edna sprang to her fathers side and
| rested her hand lightly on his shoulder.
Sartwell turned on the electric light. At
the bottom of the desk lay large por-
| trait of a most beautiful woman. The
light shone down on the face and the
| fine eyes looked smilingly up at them
| THAT was your mother. Edna,'' said
the father, almost in whisper speaking
with difficulty.
The girl was crying softly, trying not to
let her father know it. Her hand stole
from the shoulder next ner TO the other:
his hand caressed her fair hair
Poor father!' she said. trying to speak
bravely. How lonely you must have been
seem toto understand things--that l
didn't before-as If had suddenly grown
DID,
They looked at the picture for some time
together. in silence. then she said:
why ., did o.! you never show me the por-
Well. my dear. 1t was here and not at
the house. and when you were a small
girl you did not come to the Office. you
know. Then, you see. your stepmother had
the responsibility OF bringing you upland
and-somehow l thought 1t wouldn't be
giving her fair chance. The world Is
rather hard on steDmothers." He hurried
~ closed the desk. i
The girl regarded her father earnestly
while he spoke. and then. as If to show that
a wonlan's intuition will touch the spot
around which a mans reason is elaborately
circling. she startled him by saying:
Fatner. something has happened con-
corning me that has made you anxious on
my account. What is It? think 1 should
know. Has my stepmother been saying
NO. no. my child, your stepmother has
been SAYING nothing about you. And If she
had l would not-that is. 1 would have
given 1t my best attention, and would have
no hesitation in letting you know what it
was. l think you will find that where your
happiness Is concerned shall not allow any
prejudices Of mine to stand in the way.
The girl looked up at her father with a
smile. n .,f,..,-.,
Now" said he, 'If you are ready: I am
ofice-I always didlAnd now-after tonight
1T will always seem sacred to me. Now
after this you must talk over your business
with me: may not be able to help. at first.
but later on, who can tell? Then 1t will
fatter me by making me think our COM
pact Is not one-sided. Is 1t a bargain,
father?"
1T is a bargain, Edna
and the bargain was sealed. He turned out
the lights, and they hurried down the stair
to the slumbering cabman. The fog had
| reached down almost to the top Of his
head.
The porter opened the gates
Everything all right, Perkins,"
All right, SIR" answered the porter,
touching his cap.
Keep sharp lookout. you know
Yes, SIR
The rapidly lessening rattle of the hanson
down the narrow street came back to Per-
kins as he closed the big gates for the
night.
Chapter III.
AS father and daughter approached VIM
bledon a mutual silence came over them
When they passed the station gates, Sart-
well said:
Wen have a cab, Edna, and blow the
expense"
II don't mind walking in the least; there
Is no fog here"
Were SO late, so We'll have a cab"
Once inside, he added. reflectively: II won
der why 1t Is that cab seems extrava-
gance in Wimbledon and economy in Lon
don.''
This apparently was problem neither of
them could solve, so nothing more was said
until the vehicle drew up at the door of a
walled garden in quiet street near the
breezy common.
The two walked somewhat gingerly up
the crunching gravel path, opened the front
door, and entered dimIy lighted hall
Sartwell placed his hat on the rack pushed
open the dining room door and went In. this
time preceding his daughter. There were
many comfortable chairs in the room, and
one that was not comfortable. On that
chair sat woman tall and somewhat +
n Shn
e1ceeangiy upright, not allowing her
shoulders to rest against the chair back
On her race was a patient expression Of
mitigated martyrdom, the expression Of one
who was badly used by a callous world,
out VINO Is resolved not to allow its ILL
treatment to interfere with her innate JUS
tee IN dealing with her fellows.
i thought I heard q cab drive I'D and
STOP, she said. mildly, in the tone Of one
rected.
self 1FeS soxn did, said sal sartysl throwing 2 him.
took @6b;,s cab from the sSttation."
Much may b, EXPRESSED by an apparently
fled that Mrs. SartweRi, while shocked at
such an admission. bpWed to the Inevitable,
recognizing that she was mated with a man
not not amenabie to reason. and that. while
unnecessary lavishness. she repressed her
sell. although she knew she would have no
credit for her magnanimity.
After a few moments of silence during
wh1ch Mrs. Sartweli critically examined the
sewing on which she Was engaged. she look
ed across at her husband and said:
Il may ask, suppose, If it was business
kept you SO later" -
Important business"h
She sighed. VIZ
''It always Is. I should know that by this
time without asking. Some men make busi-
ness their god. although it will prove god
Of clay to call upon when the end comes
There Is such thing as duty as well as
business, and man should have some lit
tie thought for his wife and his home.'
This statement seemed so incontrovertible
that SartWell made no effort to combat it.
Father has had more than usual to
worry him at the Office today" said Edna,
She stood by the table, having removed
her hat and gloves.
look of mild surprise came over Mrs
Sartwell's face. She turned her head slow
ly around, and coldly scrutinized her stem
daughter from head to foot. She apparent
ly became awareSof her presence for the
first time, which may be explained by the
fact that the young woman entered the
room hehfnd her father.
Edna, said Mrs. Sartwen, ''how often
have told you not to put your hat and
gloves en- the dining room table? Hiw did
you get that stain on your froek?''
Edna looked quickly down at her skirt
The hanson wheel had, alas, left It's mark.
ITwo-and-stx an hour does not represent All