The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-06-14
VIII.
THE LETTER.

had found him in very fit state TO
accept her version Of the awkward facts.
That half Of Mr.. Bingham's brain which
operated his being when he was emerg-
ing from the delirium of drink received
the distorted tale, and took coarse.
sullen satisfaction in conceiving that
possibly it might be true. He pur-
posed to treat it as the truth, az Abby |
had given it to him; it suited him In |
several ways to do so. For one reason,
it helped him to a sort OF apology Tor |
himself, in his conscious betrayal of |
his daughter, to be able to construct
countercharge against the girl herself.
He had been bored by her face OF inno-
cence; now he could confront those
blue, astonished eyes with questions as
searching as their own.
The manager had returned to tho
mine with his temper at skies and sew
ems, and himself in general state of
disrepair. Faith had been summoned
to speak with him in the library, de-
mand which very much surprised her.
for she was the last one he yearned
to see, as rule, after one OF his temper
airy evanishments from the affairs of
men.
Abby, with her bangs more maenad-
like than ever, was seated, rocking her
self, both feet leaving the floor at once.
She looked hard at Faith as she entered
the room, but did not rise or cease rock
ing.
Mr.. Bingham languidly rose, and
placed chair for his daughter; she
could not look him in the face, his APP
pearance was so deplorable.
"Sit down, Faith" he requested, for
the girl had remained proudly standing.
81 thought you wished to see me only
for a moment; am not very we'll" she
said
ID am sorry you are not WELL" said
her father. II feel pretty rocky my
self. Sit down. Ah-Abby, I have some
thing 1 wish to say to Miss Bingham;
will see you after awhile-about the
dinner, you know"
Abby seemed half disposed to resent
this intimation that her company was
not desired; but, apparently thinking it
not worth while, she rose, and left the
room. Her chair continued to oscillate
for some seconds with the parting re-
pulsion communicated to it by her re-
treating form.
fathers face.
Mr.. Bingham began hurriedly in a
querulous key, clearing his throat, and
tapping the buttons of his vest with his
gold-rimmed eyeglasses.
st does not become you, Faith, under
the circumstances, to be so excessively
on your dignity; little more respect
for yourself in more important ways.
and these little forms would not matter.
III am afraid you have had a very artih-
cial training. Upon my word, don't
know how. a man is to bring up his
daughters, or whom he can trust them
with; thought that your aunts had
made at least good girl of YOU"
Father. if there is anything you have
to hnd fault with me about, please don't
do it through my aunts. If have dis
appointed you, it's not their fault"
mo; youare right. It's not their fault
any more than it is mine. We have al
been deceived. But, i say, it's enough
to shake a mans faith in the daylight
Why, thought that you were pride ant
innocence itself"
Faith replied with a sad little laugh
, is it my pride or my innocence that
in doubt?"
+, "Bless me, bless me, did not thinl
you could be 70 hard; / must be plain
then. You cannot be ignorant of tn
, critical situation we are in: war be
tween capital and labor seems newt
able. have serious responsibilities o.
both sides, and friends, hope, on bot
sides But it's imperative 1 should kno,
who are my friends and whom / ca
: trust. A man would naturally thin
that he might trust his own child.
Mr.. Bingham paused, but Faith simpl
;, Hooked at him in pale-faced astonish
ment. How do you suppose I fee
i. when / discover that / am hnrboring
i spy. and that 1 owe his presence in m
house to the-connivance and symps
thy of my daughter?"
"a spy!" Faith repeated. "a spy o.
whom? If there is such a person i
this house did not know it."
!. "You did not know it? And you ca
: face me down with that innocent look
r Are you acquainted with Mr.. job
1. Darcie, as he calls himselfY'
II The pink rose of consciousness in tn
r girls cheek famed into a red rose {
h anger. Have you any reason to SUI
IL pose that he is not what he calls hin
self?" she asked.
d at have his own signature to prov
n that he is not. l will show it to yo
1T presently. He is cowardly detectiv
g sent over here by the faction in Londe
that is trying to down me and discred
r my management. He sneaked in her
.e and has been doing the scavenger on d
ye sly for months; raking up lies and dirt
gossip, listening to every sorehei
lie that nurses grudge against me or Il
mine. He has been carrying the stu
~ around with him, waiting for chan
he to send it ofI-his letters and repor
Is and 80 and 80 onto his hackers in Lo
-