The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-07-19

"Well wcll, my own sweetheart
ne murmurcd soothingly, lit is too
bad it is too bad Don't cry now, dear
est 1t is ali a misunderstanding. It'll
be soon cleared up.
He kissed her checks and ran his fin
gers caressinely through her hair and
spoke comforting words as they came
into his mind While she still lay
weeping upon his shoulder Maleno en-
tered with tray upon which were n
steaming teapot, bread and butter and
cold'meats.
"But, Malene" said the pastor,
"why have you brought Miss Hulda's
supper here? Or stop minute You
may just as well leave it, Thon you
may bring my supper here too. Ny
daughter and / will take supper togcth-
er. "
The maid at his request lighted the
candles and made a fire in the stove,
and presently returning with second
tray set the ishop's toilet table for two.
1t is needless 10 describe the affection
ate artifices ly which he coaxcd her TO
eat and, though not dispelling her grief,
turned her into calmer and less de
spairing mood. lie told her humorous
stories about his old antagonist, the
sheriff, who had never forgiven him for
Understanding his musical genius and
procuring "a substitute for him in the
quartet He talked with vivacity about
Lars Nordby, who had told him in pri-
vate that THAT Hubby of yours has got
n headpiece on her that beats mine and
yours and any mans in the parish. -
Then came the lamentable history of
Peer Vandsbeck, who was fast going to
the bad with drink, and whose wife had
applied for support from the poor funds.
His desire TO divert her by stories Of
this sort was to Hulda almost touching
and she feigned "A greater interest in
them than she actually felt
With all his kindness he was as far
from comprehcnding her as her mother,
since he supposed that, like a naughty
child, she could be coaXed back into good
humor 10y fairy tales. As she sat there
watching his obvious efforts to amusc
her and his pleased laugh when he fan
cied he had succeeded she felt her heart
warm toward him with tenderness
which did not exclude q sense Of his in
adequacy to the situation. But for all
that the mask she was wearing 5as be
coming irksOme to her and IN urgent
need rose within her to shcW him her
real countenance.
Father, - she saSa in the pause which
had followed the story of Peer Nands-
beck's misdemeanors, "do you know
where Mr. Brun went--when mother
sent him awayr'
lie looked annoyed and disappointed,
His efforts had, after all, been in vain.
No, child, no, " he replied in a tone
Of dismissal. Il have not the least
idea ~
IF you win not find out for me, IA
ther, / shall have to find ont for my.
self, " she remarked after awhile viii
qu&et resolution,
my dear child, you don't mean that.
Only consider for u moment Thi.
young man has no profession and nC
fortune lie has no means Of supporting
himself, much less "a wife and family.
These matters appear sordid to you ne
doubt and highly unromantic But fol
that very reason it is a parents duty tC
consider them and prevent his chile
from plunging into that sea of trouble
You must trust me little, dear Yol
must concede that your mother and
have seen more Of life than you have
and that we have no desire IN the worl,
but to secure your happiness in so far a
IL is in human hands to do so. "
He rose, apparently unwilling TO dis
ouss the subject further, patted he
cheek, kissed her and walked out of th'
ROOM