The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1902-10-02

was. Her father would DC pdie' wv
bur how different his pallor from her
own-his pallor like noue other IN the
world.
A shlver passed over her. Did she
love her father: But anger Went out
to him. not her love. Her love was Tor
Jack. and he could never be anything
to her. Last night she had written 10
Jack and told him the truth. and the
truth would separate them forever she
was the daughter of a thief
What uselessness it had been for her
mother TO move hundreds Of miles from
the old home. Ii had been done for the
husband. not for the daughter For the
daughter there had been half years
residence in the new place, and learn
ing TO love man whom she had last
night declined 10 marry. Her father
had wrought this nnhappiness as he
had wrought so much more.
What grief had her father not
wrought! The day he went to prison
for The defalcation in the bank where
he had been cashier and her mothers
fathers manager. had not her mothers
father fallen dead? The world had
said the old banker could not stand the
disgrace. And what more? Had not
her mothers mother. always an invalid,
been stricken ny her husbands death,
and never been told of her son-in-law's
crime? There had been a mass OF de-
ception. the poor. feeble woman being
led to believe that her daughters hus-
band. whom she loved as sou. had
gone away on business. and letters
written in his prison cell had been read
10 her. and they told her of great
prosperity in the West, with cheerful
ness that WAS appalling. Yes, the girl
almost hated her father as she thought
over the events OF the past four years.
And yet would she have hated him save
for Jack:
She pressed her hands fiercely to her
eyes
step on the stairs Her mother was
bringing her farther up to her How
should she meet himl Had 1t not been
for Jack she knew how she should have
met him. But her father had forced
Jack from her
The steps ascending the stairs
stopped. There was cough outside
the library door She knew the sharp
little cough. She used TO hy to meet
her father four years back when she
heard that little cough In the ball In the
dear old home. Now she did not move
from the chair she sat in.
She heard voice outside the door
her mother urging her father to enter
the room. Then the handle of the door
turned and her mother led in strange.
II aged man.
The girl arose. Her father stood he.
lofe her sSpeessney y %r Its and ar nseid
her forehead up to his lips Her moth.
<er looked angrlly AT her, but she went
back TO her seat and caught ND some
sewing.
Annie, said the mother sharply, lis
this the way 20 meet your father? DO
you know that all that has occurred
has been more to me than to any one
else in the world? And vet | forgive
because | love. And you who have a
loyer?'
Il have no lover" coldly interrupted
the girl. Il couldn't deceive him any
longer. wrote him last night. told
him the truth and that | would not
marry him."
All, said the mother, now | un-
derstand"' She turned TO her husband.
Mark. do not mind. dear. You have
me, and shall never fail you. Have
ever failed you? What is done is done.
1t Is all wiped away. 1t is only remeIn.
bered by your daughter. not by me. and
Fou are as much TO me after all the mis-
takes and sufferings al the day when I
stood by your side and vowed to be a
loving and true wife till God should
part US In death. We always spoke of
you. mother and l."
Your mother" his dry lips said.
where Is shey'
His wife caught his hand.
Dear" she said, "ean you bear a
little moref'
He looked at her.
Annie" she said, sternly, yet me
those letters"
The girl went and took from the hook
case packet, which she brought TO her
mother.
My letters to your mother" the
mans lips seemed to say, and unop.
ened."
His wife fondled his hand.
1T was only few months ago she
said. Il could not tell you the truth
any more than | could tell her. The
truth would have made you unhappler
and ! wished TO tell you myself. She
loved you as she loved me. One mora
ing one Of your letters came, and until
l could read II. to her she asked me to
let her hold 1t. An hour later we found
her with the letter held up to her heart
and she was very white and ouiet
There had been no struggle whatever.
no pain. We laid her beside father.
whom she never ceased grIeving for
and who had given her every comfort
In life, even when am sure he could
hardly afford the extravagances order.
ed by her physicians. 1t Is all over. and
happily over for both OF them, dear.
and you were always kind ana good TO
them"
/ A low, long sigh broke from the man.
Then silence fell. the sound of tram