Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-22

EN- BER %, 1896.
that IL was the one necessary thing evel
| bought. had II copied when I got richer
| by noted painter, who did II more as O
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
Como here, my girl"
Edna sprnng 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 a large portrai,
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 a whisper. speaking with
difficulty.
The girl was crying softly, trying not to
let her father know 1t. Her hand stole
from tho shoulder next her to the other, his
hand caressed her fair hair.
Poor father" she said trying to speak
bravely. How lonely you must have been.
I seem TOTO understand things-that
didn't before-as IL l had suddenly grown
old"
They looked at the picture for some time
together in silence, then she said:
why did you never show me the por-
trait before?"
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 up-and-and
somehow | thought 1t wouldn't be giving
her a fair chance The world is rather hard
on stepmothers" He hurriedly closed the
desk. Come. come" he cried, brusquely,
this won't do, you know, Edna. But this
is what / want to say. l want you to re-
member-to understand, rather-that you
and | are, as 1t were, alone in the world; /;
fbgrH hr,,1 IntV IL, hat NNyall
as in the fact that we are as father and
daughter. | want you always to feel that
| am your best friend. apd there must never
come any misunderstanding between us"
There never could father" said the girl,
solemny.
That's right. that's right. Now IL any
thing should happen to trouble you, | want
you to come to me and tell me all about 1t.
| wish there to be complete confidence be-
tween us. If anything perpleNos you, tell
me; If 1t is trivial | want to knew, and IL 1t
Is serious | want to know. Sometimes an
apparently trivial problem is really serious
one. and vice versa. and remember, it is
almost as important to classify your problem
as to solve 1t. That's where | can help
you; for even If could not disentangle the
sltein, l could perhaps show you that it was
not worth unravelling."
The girl regarded her father earnestly
while he spoke, and then, as if to show that
a woman's intuition will touch the spot
around which a mans reason is elaborately
circling, she startled him by saying:
Father, something has happened concern
ing me that has made you anxious on my
account What is it? l hink should know.
Has my stopmother been saying"
mo. no, my child. your stepmother has
been saying nothing about you And II she
had would not-that is, l would have no
hesitation in letting you know what 1t was
You mustn't jump at conclusions: perhaps
ta1IF inn with ~ .ipttgn
all | wish to impress upon you is that, al
though am seemingly absorbed in business
you are much more important to me than
anything else-that, in fact, since your
mother died, you are the only person who
has been of real importance to me. and so
If you want anything let me know-a new
frock, for instance, of exceptional expensive
ness. / think you will find that where your
happiness is concerned shall not allow any
prejudlces of mine to stand in the way
The girl looked up at her father with a
smile.
81 don't think my happiness will be en-
dangered for lack of a new gown" she said
"Well. dress is very important, Edna, we
mustn't forget that, though | merely in
stanced dress for fear you would take me
too seriously. And now, my girl, let us go
home. This is our last conference in this
office. you know, and there has somehow
entered into it the solemnity that pertains
to all things done for the last time Now il
you are ready, | am"
mot quite, father. You see | like this
ofice-I always dd-and now-after tonight
it will always seem sacred to me. All this
talk has been about an insignificant person
and her clothes-but what impresses me-
father, Is how much alone you have been
nearly all your life. / never realized that
before. 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 it will fatter me by making me think
cur compact is no. one-eided. Is 1t a bar
gain, father?"
''It is bargain, Edna"
The father drew the daughter toward him
and the bargain was sealed. He turned out
the lights and they hurried down the stairs
to the slumbering cabman The fog had
reached down almost to the top of his head.
Waterloo station, main line" cried Sart-
well. sharply,
"Yessr," said the cabby, exceedingly wide
awake, as he gathered up the reins. The
porter opened the gates.
Everything all right, Perkins?"
"All right, sir" answered the porter,
touching his cap.
Keep sharp lookout, you know"
Eyes, sir"
The rapidly lessening rattle of the hanson
down the narrow street came back to Per-
ltins as he closed the big gates for the night.