The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-07-07

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which existed between them, there was
really very little in common between
Dorothy Meredith and her father. As
n child, when by her mother she had
been taken 10 live in the old family
home at Brooklyn, her father had been
TO her as fairy prince whose occa-
sional visits had meant lavish gifts and
unlimited indulgence. She had been
fond of him, in frank, childish selfish
ness, for what he did rather than what
he was to hereafter the canny method
of children, who see so much of that
To which they are supposed TO be blind,
half guessing at the incompatibility
which led her parents to dwell so much
apart, and instinctively divining some
what of the jealous regard of each for
her, by means of which she might, rs
il were, pit one against the other, 10
attain her own small ends. AS she
grew older the colonel, always hand
some and debonair, gradually assumed
good-humored elder-brother attitude,
which perhaps the girl appreciated the
more for the pecvish fretfulness which
had grown upon the invalid mother
with passing years. Her father. al
though, as she well knew, naturally OF
choleric temper, was TO her generally
amiable and always carelessly indul-
gent. lie sometimes ventured upon adj
vice or criticism, occasionally even car
rying interference so far as to tease her
to the verge Of tears by his rather merci-
less Gift of satire; but he never seemed
TO dream of demanding any actual
obedience TO his wishes. He appeared
TO regard her, indeed, as a somewhat
interesting young woman, whose ac-
quaintance. on the whole, he quite en-
joyed, but whose conduct he considered
rather outside the limit of his legiti-
mate jurisdiction.
This easy-going attitude the girl had
found very pleasant in the time they
had been together since her mothers
death. He made it clear that he liked
to have her with him; but he was also
at pains to have her understand that her
own wishes were To have full weight in
determining all her movements. When
their plan of going abroad in the early
summer had been broken up, the colonel
had been at some trouble to mitigate
her Disappointment by proposing the
pleasantest possible alternatives. She
might have gone 10 any of the fashiona-
BILE resorts of the east, under the
chaperonage of convenient relative;
but she knew that he was pleased when
she elected to 60 with him to Colorado
instead, and even more pleased 10 hear
her speak of it as going home. Under
his cool, noncEalant reserve she knew
that he was really fond of her. really
anxious to make her happy; but, though
in turn she was intensely loyal ir her
devotion TO him, she could not disguise
from herself the fact that in a way they
still were almost strangers.
He looked up and saw her after n mo-
ment, but beyond brief nod, convey
ing some surprise as well as a certain
shade of disapproval, he gave her no
further attention for the time, going
on with his talk with McCready, the
superintendent, who also looked out
TO greet the girl with a smiling familiar
ity which she secretly resented. He
was a tall, mus tular fellow OF some 30
years, his face presenting a certain type
of coarse, bucolic good looks. of which
he seemed overweeningly conscious,
carrying himself with an air Of COM
placent egotism which to Dorothy made
him almost insufferable.
well. YOU make n paving trip of it
this afternoon. sure" he was saying,
when presently he accompanied the
colonel down the steps. IF you've got
brigham solid, it's about all we want"
well, ] guess we've got him." the
colonel rejoincd, stopping on the last
step to button his gloves. lie was n
fine-looking man Of the sandyhaired
rudy blond type, carrying his thin,
why form with an alert, military
grace which cheated time Of no less than
ten good years in the visible record Of
his age. There was conscious strength
in the glance of his cold gray eyes;
stubborn will-power in the thin-lipped
month, half covered by n dropping
blond mustache just lightly touched
with gray; boundless pluck and en-
ergy in the whole poise of the man.
$50 you had to come out and get your
self ?" he called out to his daughter.
regarding her with frank irritation.
YES; had TO come" she nonchalant-
~ returned, in no whit disturbed by his
passing peevishness. Il hope did not
keep you waiting"
"As it never entered my mind that
you would be here at all, in view Of the
rain, can assure you that you certainly
did not" he answered, his tone still
caustic, but his face softening some
what as he looked up at her youthful
loveliness, glowing from her ride. lie
turned away to get his horse, which was
fastened 10 post at one side, while the
superintendent came on to speak to
Miss Meredith.
You're your fathers own daughter,
Miss Meredith" he observed, bold ad-
miration in his small, shifty eyes. ut
takes more'n cloudburst 10 stop you
when you set out to do a thing. And
the colonel-Td like TO see the cyclone
that would feaze him."
The girl smiled vaguely, in recogni-
ton of the intended compliment, her
eyes following her fathers movements.
1T was quite a storm" she remarked,
feeling that the pause demanded speech