The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1900-11-09
BEHIND The CURTAIN,

BEHIND The CURTAIN,
John McMaster was a hot-tempered
man. He was always either bullying
his daughter or fighting with his liver,
the latter an eyer-present enemy,
thoroughly hardened to bad language
and abuse. His wife, for reasons Of her
own, died suddenly when their daugh-
ter Audrey was an unprepossessing
school girl, with her hair in plaits and
her face in giggles, at female college.
She stayed there during her term of
mourning, and soon recovered from
the loss Of crushed and down-trod-
den lady she had called mother"
Then came the gradual expanding
of her soul She bought high.heeled
shoes, sported open.work silk stock
ings, considered her complexion-and
decided to be pretty. 1t was not a
very difficult task, though it cost a
certain amount Of money in corse.
there's bills.
II am not going to stalk through
the world 10 fiat shoes or wear service.
able clothes. They are always hide.
ous," she declared. Besides, | want
Il husband; it would be awful to be
cooped up with father all my life. He
is what kind people call 'hasty.' l
certainly pity the man who offers to
be his son-in.law."
Audrey sighed. She saw stormy
days ahead, but elected to make the
best OF things and take full advantage
OF the goods the gods provided.
When Mr.. McMaster met his daugh-
ter, expecting to see school girl in
frOcks above her ankles and the same
limp plaits dangling below her waist,
he received shock. Here was a full.
grown damsel, ready to grace his
home, to worry him with her admir-
ers; a girl, lie saw at once, who would
require strict supervision. He deter
mined to keep his eyes open and see
she behaved herself properly.
Miss Audrey had developed a fine
figure, wore curls on her forehead, and
played some little tricks with her eyes
that brought speedy proposal of
marriage from Harvey Ward, an i'm.
pecunious young scamp, whom John
McMaster sent about his business by
using violent expressions of impolite
disapproval. After the eviction Of
Miss Audrey's suiter the stern father
found his lovesick daughter in tears
on the drawing room sofa.
"When you have done watering
those cushions as If they were flower
beds," he remarked, "perhaps you
will sit up and listen to what have
to say"
Audrey obeyed. She always "sat
up' in her fathers presence, and tried
to lood good.
"Young Ward has been given to
understand he is not welcome In this
house," began John McMaster, with a
frown. "He has led life which rend-
ers him unfit for the society Of any
decent woman. You must promise
me never to see him again. I Iabso-
lutely forbid intercourse of any kind" :"
Audrey thought a moment Then
she sald "Very we'll, father" in a
tone Of fllial resignation. Now, Mr..
McMaster knew Audrey to be sen.
sable, but he did not believe her sense
capable Of this speedy acceptance Of
his wishes. He looked at her doubt.
fully and grunted.
II wonder what she is up to-" he
thought, with her very we'll,
father?'"
He paced the room waiting for her
to speak.
"It's rather hard" said the broken
voice at last, "for you know yourself,
father, you we're 10 love with Carrie
Dickson"
"Were!" be calculated, flercely. IL
am, and make no secret OF 1t. l tell
you she refused me; me, an eligible
widower, of a reasonable age. She ia
your greatest friend aud you approved
OF the match. Why the devil didn't
you talk her into II, you women have
such tonvuesy"
| II tried, father" answered Audrey,
meekly. II only wish she would &C.
cept you. She likes you very, very
much, but-but--"
but what?" roared Mr.. McMaster
impatiently.
"She is afraid of your temper. She
has seen you 6y into rage with me
and break the china, and though
know she wants TO settle down. she hal
not the courage"
"Boshl | tell you it's ,bosh! NJ
temper. indeed! / never heard any
thing 20 redlculous, When have
lsver lost m temper with Carrie -th'
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