The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-22

infnrmation conveyed IN her words.
The cnbby usually likes IL better than hurry.
Ing. ST down a moment. Edna; I'll be ready
The viri Shutdown beside her fathers table.
Usually Mr.. Sartwell preferred his desk TO his
table. for the desk was tall where a man stands
i when he writes. Tho desk had three compart-
ments with a lid to each. These were always
locked. and Snrtwells clerks had keys to two
Of them. The third was supposed to contain
but himself ever saw the inside of IL. The lid
locked automatically when IL was shut. and
the small key that opened 1t dnngled ut sart-
Edna watched her father as he unlocked ono
after another of the. compartments and appar-
emily rearranged his papers. There was al-
ways about his actions a certain well-dcnned
purpo 'e, but the girl could not help noticing
fIc. seemed to be marking time rather than
making progress with any definite work. She
wondered 4 the coming strike was Worrying
She wished to help, but knew that nothing
would be more acceptable TO him than simply
her father said ho would be ready 10 go home
with her at n certain hour, he, usually was
ready, when that hour came. Why, then, did
At last Sartwoll closed down tho lid of one
desk and locked 1t as IL he were shutting in
from his watch: guard in the third lock: and
threw back the cover. An electro light dan
cling Ih,n ~, iy z cord from nad The GSi hr tarGT down
shaio that covered the lamp. The manager
razed for n few moments into the desk. then,
turning to his daughter, said:
Edna. YOU startled mo when you came in
II am very sorry. father. Didn't you OK
YES, but not at that moment, as It hap
pened. You are growing very like your moth
There was a pause. Edna not knowing what
to say. Her father seldom spike OF his dead
wife, and Edna could not remember her
"Somchow | did not realize until tonight
ina, mat YOU were Ctow,nG UP f,o You haze always
ham s ,9i 'w rhh@n' she ine died died o" You 5os src se my G de"r,
Slthonsh | grow older. She, She always remains
man who was her husband is dead. too. for
there is not much likeness to him in me"
his fingers on the desk top as he smoke. Now
he reached M and turned or the electric light
as II its brilliancy troubled him., The lamp in
the centre OF the room was sufficient, and IL
left him in the shadow.
II suppose there comes a time in the lie. of
OF n shock. that the little girl who has been
PLAYING about his knee is a young woman. II
Is Ike when a man hears himself alluded to
it,made me catch my breath when l first heard
myself spoken of rs an old man,
a little indignant half sob in her voice. She
wished to go to her father and put her arms
S Se Sss1re his ss nsI * s sat s aSer rsi. sb int wit. sE,l tll it
tinished what he had TO say.
Il am getting on in that direction. None OF
us grows younger but the dead. | suppose n
daughter is--as blind to her fathers growing
OLD as he is TO her advancing womanhGod. But
the coming rather than speeding the going to,
night. Yon and /, Edna. must realize that
we, in a measure; begin life on a new line
pie. When your mother was n little older
than YOU are | had her portrait PAINTED. She
see. We were really very moor: ant she thought,
poor girl: that a portrait OF herself was not
cxactly:a:necessity. have thought since that
! had IT. copied, when | got richer. by n noted
painter who did It more as I. favor to me than
for the money. for painters do not care to copy
made a more striking likeness OF her than the
original was: Come here; my girl."
her hand lightly on his shoulder. Sartwelll
turned on the electric light At the bottom Of
full woman. The light shone down on the face
and The fine eyes looked smilinglv up at them.
That was your mother. Edna" said tho
father. almost in a whisper. speaking with diff
ficulty.
TIC girl was CRYING softly; trying not to
the shoulder next her to the other; his hand
Poor father" .shS said, trying to speak
besSro AS Il / had saddoniy grown ~" Old"
They.looked ut the picture for some time to-
VIII; did you never show me the portrait
We'll. my dear. It was here and not at the
house. and when you were II small girl you
did not come to the office; you know. Then.
ity OF bringing you, up. and and somehow |
thought II wouldn't be giving her a fair chance:
lie hurriedly closed the desk. Come. come"
he cried: brusGuely. this won't do, you know,
Edna. But this is what I want to say. want
you To remember-to understand. r~athcr-that
YOU and are. as II were, alone in the world;
there is a bond between us in that, as well as
want You always to feel that ! am your best
friend. and there must never come any mis-
un aTharn between cNyfS Vs. rs;nor . cat, .,o 81,
solemnly.
That's right. that's right. Now If anything
come to me and tell me NIL abont It. I wish
there to be complete confidence between MS.
i u an ! w = -, 0e[ RneM' 0 N"I' Il iie II m u scr i 1T Is rriyt
10 know, Sometimes nm apparently trivial
problem is really n serious one. and vice versa.
classify your problem rs to solve it. That's
where l can help You; for even If ! could not
You that il was IS not wortl, unTaveilinrr"'"" '"o"
The girl regarded her father earnestly while
he spoke. and then. as IL TO show that a wo-
which n mans reason is claborately circling,
sh. startled hin by saying;
account. What is IL i think / should know.
Has my stepmothGr been sayins-
" w LII iAAh' SSHA I Nv III IaN
been saying nothing about, YOU. ,And II she
had I would not that IS. | would have given
1t my best attention. and would have no hest
tation in letting you know what IL was. You
mustn't jump Mt conclusions: perhaps ] am
talking with unnecessary seriousness: all
wish TO impress upon yon Is that, although |
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 pc. son who has been of rea.
importance TO me. md so If you want anything
let me know-n new frUck, for instance. OF
exceptional expcnsivcness. ! think YOU will
find that where your happiness is concerned |
shall not allow amy prejudices of mine to stand
in the. way"
The girl. looked mp at her father with a
II don't think my happiness will be endan-
Gercd for lack Of IA new gown she said.
well. dress is very important. Edna, we
forget that; though | merely irstanced
dress for fear you would take me too seriously.
now. my girl. let us get home. This is
our last conference in this Office, Won know.
and there has somehow entered into 1t the
solemnity that pertains to all things done for
the last time. Nov II you are ready. am
Not quite. father. You SEQ. like this
oflce-I Away -a and now nfter Tonight
will always seem sacred TO me. All this
talk hns been about an insignificant person and
her clothes-but what imprcsses me, father.
il how much alone Won 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 helm. nj frat.