The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-20

Of the nature of my profession until
l should have retired from the stage
forever"
I could see, in the face which I con-
frOnted, incredulity, too guarded to eX-
press itself openly.
You do not believe meH' I ex-
claimed. well, it is a matter of no
consequence to me. 1 am content to
know myself that [ have no more rea
son to blush for my childs existence
than you have for Allan's. L care not
whether or not others believe it,
A very panied and distressed express
sion came into the mans dark gray
eyes. He hesitated an instant, as if
in uncertainty, then said:
You will think me a brute to insist,
but 1 can't help it. If you could know
what [ have been through, you would
forgive me, think, and have compass
sion for me even if 1 offend. But that
money! It was so large an amount %
pay for SO paltry an end"
My heart stirred gladly, even in the
midst of it's inquisition. I rejoiced to
feel that I alone had not been the vic
tim of his cruel injustice. My voice
had a lighter note in it as I replied:
THE end which that money was pail
partially to secure was by no means
paltry one. 1t had to do with only hap
piness the world holds in store for me
that resulting from my daughters
love and good opinion. But l had an
other reason, quite independent Of this.
for enriching the man who was your
servant Nature has given him
claim upon me Of which he is ignorant,
and which I do not highly esteem.
However, I cannot shut my eyes to II.
and therefore l have sought to respond
to it in ways which perpleX while
they relieve him. although they do not
further his enrichment
n Mt
upon the rug. In truth, [ was not
proud of the fact that I was about t.
diyulge Apart from the low rank
to which my parent had fallen, there
was a meanneSs and want OF reSpec-
liability about him that made me 10th
to call him mine. But L drew myself
together, and, with my head held high,
met my companions glance of puzzled
wonder proudly, and with lofty disre
gard of consequences.
'"The man is my father" I an
nounced simply.
If had exploded pistol in my COM
| panion's face he could not have been
regarded me as if 1 had gone mad.
"Whatr' was all he could find to
say in reply.
1 smiled derisively, holding myself a
| little more haughtily.
you are inconsistent in your amaze
all sorts of low and vicious motives
and actions, you hold me capable of
| immodesty and lack of Womanly deli
cacy, you perhaps encouraged and alb
! betted your wife's appeal to my cupid
i ity-should it surprise you to find
me sprung from such antecedents?
Am l not the worthy child of worthy
father? Do you not recognize family
traits and characteristics? Look
closer at me. Perhaps you will find Ill
| my countenance the same features
with which you have become familiar
! in that of your servant. DO not womb
! er hereafter at anything you may here
of me- You can easily account for all
/ lapse on the simple ground that L am
| my fathers child
AS I reached the end of my little
speech, the irony within me suddenly
! gave away to a feeling of shame and
! self-pity NV voice broke quite unex-
pectedly and I was constrained to COW
err my face with my hands and retreat
| to distance, where l dropped help.
lessly into the nearest chair and sat,
| with pride oil undone and dignity
routed, weeping like very child. My
| humiliation was now complete. / had
uncovered the nakedness of my chagrin
| and modification to man. from whom
! Of all others / would fain have con-
! cealed them, and nothing OF comfort
! remained to me but the mpotent re-
source Of tears. There is. as one may
| see, nothing Of the heroine in me:
ain q disgrace to the order of the new
woman. All my attributes are purely
feminine, and sentiment and emotion
| govern me to a degree that would pro-
woke the contempt of my stronger
sisterhood. Menaced by threat Of dan
ger, l can hold my own against the
world; but my gcrtler sansibilities
| Weld easily to assault.
A:tcr I finished my protest, silence