Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-08-11

DeiOie u1il uIu luFuS
toward the door. His quick ear has
detected the swish of skirts in the
passageway. There is but one visitor
who is permitted to thus invade his
private room unaunounced. The door
swings in and young woman enters.
"Ah, Helen" says the gray haired
man. "This is al early visit!''
The young woman runs her hand
caressingly across his scattered locks
aud stopping, kisses him lightly ON the
forehead.
''Just as glad to see me, aren't you,
papa?" she cries.
She is very beautiful young woman
and most bewitchingly gowned and
booted and hottcd, but tlrero is
preston of discomfort on her well bred
face that is not pleasant to see.
"And whntis the price of this queen
ly favor?" inquiries the gray haired man
as he leans back in his chair and looks
Quizzically at his visitor.
She grows grave III q moment and
regards him with troubled gaze.
'There, there" he says. Don't
worry yourself over it. Speak up.
What shall it be? A bracelet, q
coupe, necklace?"
Papa" she says, "you think I'm a
dreadfully selfish little beast, don't
you? I am, I know ] am. I've just
been nuisance and a bother to you
ever since-ever since mamma diel.
Don't contradictme. Everybody knows
it. I'm just a selfish, moneNspending,
proud, little-little pig"
The gray haired man takes the
daintily gloved hand that rests upon
his desk.
"Why, Helen" he says, "what's
this? What's gone wrong? Have 1
ever denied you anything?"
"No, no, papa she half .sobs.
you've been much too good to me-
You've spoiled me-.
''Dear me, child" he slowly muir
murs, chow much you are like your
dear mother" He turns his head a
little away and puts his hand over his
eyes.
''There, there, papa" cries the
young woman, and her soft cheek rests
against the gray hair II didn't mean
to distress you. There. there! I am
going to make you pay for this visit
oh, such a rrice! But not now. No,
not just now. Cousin Mary is waiting
for me in the carriage, and-and, after
awhile I will come back and tell you
what it is. You are good natured now,
aren't you, dear? Say that you are good
natured."
He smiles and mods like anodding
mandarin, and she kisses him again
and darts to the door,
"There!" she breathlessly cries as
she pauses on the threshold. "Just
hold that expression, sir, if You please.
I'll be back in such little while, dear
daddy" And the door closes and she
whisks through.
The gray haired man sighs.
"She grows more like her dead
mother every day." he says. ''But,
heavens, how thoroughly she is
spoiled-twenty-three years old, q
finished coquette, creature Of the
widest and most extravagant whlms.
And yet she has heart and warm
place in it, too, for her doting old
father. I wonder what came over he:
this morning. I never saw her quite
so hysterical. If she would marry
but no, she appears to despise every
man she meets. She fiirts with them
and throws them aside like cast-of
gloves. What load it would be of
my mind Il she would find some hon
est, ambitious young fellow who
suited her wayward fancy. But, no.
She turns from them all, and hanged
if 1 blame her. They are precious
poor LOT. )"
He pauses as the door swiggse open
and boy enters with % card.
'tIn five minutes send the gentleman
in," the gray haired father says, and
the boy withdraws.
"Herbert Torrance, reads the gray
haired man. ga fine young fellow,
straightforward, honest, true. [ hall
wish he was in society. No, [ don't
it would spoil him. Wonder what he
wants with me.
He busies himself with his paper:
for n moment or two, and then the
door swings open an we'll knl
young fellow with keen gray eyes en-
ters.
"Ah, Torrance, says the gray haired
man, ''have chair. What can | dt
for you?"