New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-14
DADDY'S DAUGHTER.

"Stupd old thing. What did it want 10 go
and tear Itself for she murmured. pehui"s
down to investigate the damage TIL the gone"
curls tumbled Owe: her face and into her eyes
preventing further search
Marjorie Winter would have described hersei
rs sole housekeeper, general manager ana
needlewoman-i in chief Of Daddys Nat "hen
all these various Offices rest upon cight-year-
Old shoulders an additional rent is matter OF
Importance.
Rex Winter in his turn would have described
himself as housekeeper. general manager
reedlaman as well as mother. nurse, play
fellow AMI teacher; but. then, fathers ana
daugh ers very often see things In dihereh'
lights Marjorie knew that she busted the si'-
ting-room every morning with her pocket-hahu-
kerchief if no buster was to be had. she knew
that she polished Daddys boots when he was
not looking with her flannel petticoat She knew
that very often she took large Jumps OF coal oil
the fire because poor people should nave sha"
fires She knew that she had once saved inc
plums out of her pudding for whole week Tor
Daddy to give Mrs. Masters to use again IN the
next pudding. She knew that she cut his paper
and opened his letters, and brushed ms mar
and his coats. and sharpened his pencils, ana
put weights over his loose pages of manuscript
ard told him every day what to order Tor dn-
ner She knew that once she had tried to wash
her clothes so as to save the laundry bill but
that had not been a success for Daddy had to
stop writing to come and dry her and the room.
sill il doing all these things did not mean
that she deserved the name Of hous' Keeper,
Marjorie would have wished to know what did.
1T Is stupid that | can't remember what
Mummy lid when Daddy got froWns and
couldn't eat. COS horrii men won't read his
books and give him pounds and pounds OF
money" thought Marjorie still lying on the
hearthruG. with her thin legs waving upward.
DADDY says shall s,arve II some one doesn t
take story soon. | wonder what Mummy
would have done if she thought he was going
to starve? She would have done something.
an quite sure. | don't mind starving. II would
be new play. but Daddy said he wouldn't like
to play starving. and my Daddy shall not do
anything he doesn't want to"
The chds face grew wistful. the sensitive
mouth dropped the great blue eyes cloudcd as
Marjorie looked into the fire and wondered how
she could prevent Daddy having to staryc Then
a step sounded on the stairs. and she turnblcd 10
her feet and made a headlong rush as the door
opened. crying:
Daddy. Have they taken your story"
"Not yet Birdie: better luck tomorrow. per
haps" answered Rex Winter. as he swung rs
little daughter into his arms. and kissed both
the pleading eyes. perhaps to prevent them gaz-
ine into his own.
Have you brought il back? Bad Daddy. you
were pretending. | can feel it," And Marjorie
bent down from her perch. CROPPED while in his
pockets and then pulled out bulky parcel
Little witch said Rex. trying to laugh as
ne put the child down. and crossed the room TO
his writing table, but not succeeding very well.
won't you allow me to have any secrets"
NO secrets Daddy" remarked Marjorie.
severely, hiding away the packet in a drawer.
and then sitting down on the floor to hug and
comfort the poor legs that were so dreadful
tired with walking
Rex Winter looked far too young to be the
father OF an eight ycar-old daughter. Yet had
lie been ask ID he would have declared that
youth had dropped from him once for all when
lis young wife died. For three years. now. h"
and Marjorie had been fighting bad luck and
poverty As Rex locked down on the golden
head nesting so close to him. ne knew that the
crisis had some. that III luck had conquered,
that he and the child at his feet. had lost. and
must part COMPANY now that ne could no
longer give her even the necessares Of life.
Birdie would you like to go and live in a
beautiful 1ouse with lot Of other children
where you could learn lessons tocethcr?'
Hum, said Marjorie. medtatively. Il don't
suppose I'd mind much COS you would be there
lut ! don't like chdren-theyre silly things
why, Birdie. you have hardly spoken to one
for three ycars-you can't know what they arc
like
Il knoW-they bowl hoops. and hold then
purse's hands, and carry dolls with their faces
.,,,l,I,i into hci at nd q