The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-10-25
CHAPTER vII.-CoST1suED.


Not a word of affection had passed
Between father and daughter; not a
r mad been interchanged. The re-
1ations between hisimpassive man and
his charming daughter were those of
WelI-bred, if somewhat distant, rela-
tfves. On the one hand there was the
uniform courtesy of the man of the
world toward a woman; On the other,
the Difference of a young girl of good
breeding toward a person much older
than herself. But the note of cordial
and intimate affection between father
and child was absolutely missing.
And yet Agnes Murdoch was natural
ly of an affectionate and expansive ma
ture- During her mothers lifetime the
two women had been inseparable COM
panions, united by a strong bond of
sympathy.
Mrs. Murdoch had been an invalid
Cor many years before her death, and
with Agnes had lived either abroad or
I'm the south during much of the time
In order to escape the rigors of the
northern climate. Thus the father, n
crossed as he was with his occupations
and his scientific researches, had seen
hut little of his daughter during her
childhood, andhad been looked upon by
the child,almost as a stranger.
When at last, after her mothers
death, Agnes, heartbroken at the loss
Sf her only friend, returned to the par
sentai roof. she was a girl of 16. In
Che first loneliness of her bereavement,
when, hungering for human sympathy
and consolation, she turned to her ia
ther, she received patient and cour-
fsous attention, with IN offer of all
the material comforts and luxuries
which wealth could procure; but she
failed to find the only thing she needed
"A responsive human heart.
Y And yet, behind the cold and selfish
exterior of the chemist, the young girl
-.had touched a chord which had never
vIbrated before in this strange mans
being. 1t is probable that the feeling
awakened in him by his lovely daughter
was the nearest approach to an absorb
arg human affection of which his nature
was capable. Perhaps if the child had
been sufficiently experienced to read
her fathers heart she might have per
SISTED in her advances, and thus ulti-
mately have conquered the cold reserve
che had at first encountered. But she
wa proud and impulsive, and, bitterly
disappointed in her first attempt TIC
win from her father a demonstration
of affection. she withdrew into her iso'
Iafion, and ever after met his ain cour
fesy with an equally reserved defer
.ence. The abnormal situation, which
at first was maintained only by an Ell
fort on the part of the young girl, los
with time much of its strangeness, ant
ultimately crystallized under the Pc
tent force of habit, so that it was &C
cepted by the two as the natural out
come of their relationship.
In the first pang of her bereavement
and disappointment Agnes had turne'
for consolation to her books; and,b be
ing left free to dispose of her life a
she saw fit, she had planned a cours
of study, which had in due time re
Seived it's conservation at one OF tn
leading colleges for women.
Upon her return from college sh
had, as far as she was permitted, take
CNdTSc Vi ueI ldtuCi
had presided with charming dignit
and grace over the social functions 10
which DR.. Murdock's house now be
came famous. Up to the time of hi
daughters advent the chemists rels
lions with the world had been chief
through the clubs and scientific bodie
to which he belonged. He was well II
c.eived in the homes of the members {
New York society; but in the absent
of a woman to do the honors OF his ow
home he was unable to return the no
pitality which he enjoyed. Now, hoy
ever, everything was changed. Agnt
was glad to find an outlet for her Ell
ergies in the task of receiving her il
theirs guests, and, being a girl OF T.
markable intelligence andtact, shesu
ceedd in creating a salon, in the be:
sense of the word. Many of the shi1
ing lights of the world of art, liter'
fure. science and fashion were anon
the regular devotees at the shrine
this superb young goddess.
Among the younger men more tha
.onc gay moth, dazzled by the light
h girls beautiful eyes,, had bee
tempted to hover near the flame, on
TO scorch his wings. Miss Murdoc
had already refused several OF II