The Republican journal., 1903-10-22
For Father and the Town.
BY RUTH HUNTINGTON SESSIONS.

inIow over her glasses with pleased
ypfession; visitors came seldom to the
iters. But Sarilla, opposite her, froWn-
i at the approaching figure. why
.anld Mrs. BaScom, six-months' ad-
mon to Speedwell society, visit house
nose occupants had never called upon
5r9 Sarilla bristled; this city woman
nom she had thought charming and
pgressive was a interloper.
Good evening"" said Mrs. Bascom,
eeetly. rs your father in, Miss Slater?
want to see him on little business
.nuected with the library we're start
think he's round somewhere an
0ered Sarilla, with some stiffness.
Won't you walk in?" She swung open
.- parlor door. The shutter stuck
en she attempted to let in more
1at, and her guest hastened to say,
aoh, like the twilight. Pray don't
n.ble."
The room needs air as much as any
ne else" Sarilla had suddenly be-
Gne alive to every uncouth detail in
s- surroundings. "I'll call father"
added, and disappeared.
TO see me, did you say?" asked Jor-
a slater, coming in from the back
,rth. "What does she want of me in
.4l of your mother?" Sarilla pre-
-Wed not to hear.
Nrs. Slater seemed trifle disappoint-
IT., her daughter returned to the
ttIuL-room.
, don't see why she couldn't have
10, right in here and made family
was the mothers comment. airs.
-.l was telling me today how nice
IS. and how she's worked for that
.iy. They say she has the greatest
,k with people, the men especially.
us it seems LonZo Berts put up all
shelves for nothing, and you know
lreadfully close in his bargains.
Uu s'pose, Sarilla, she'll get pa to
4uything9 He don't set much 10y
and libraries.
81 ,e might" But Sarilla's ears were
a-d to catch echoes of the inter
across the hall She could see her
IS lank figure in silhouette against
-.m-hghted window, rocking gently
is armchair. one hand stroklng his
.rav beard. Mrs Bascom's grace
.4re bent toward him persuaslvely.
tme to you, Mr.. Slater she was
-.r "because every one assured me
.uuld help us. Your contribution
M in books or money, you know,
IL. You like. They say you are so
spirited"
IA felt the moisture stand out on
ehead.
It's what they call Mrs. Bascom's
s'pose." she reflected. ''If It's,
. care for it. She's nothing much,
tll. She was just farmers daugh-
uyway, before she married and
10 the city. She thinks she can
.e ound pa
g get your love for books from
AUNT Marie not from me, OBJ
rd Mrs. Slater, musingly. Does
-.+m to be convincing pa?'
-f.-s speaking now" Sarilla could
ear the low toned words, but she
Isl . smile break over Mrs. Bascom's
geally?" the birdike treble exclaim-
Twenty OF thirty volumes, you
a- Why. Mr.. Slater, that is mag
-ut gift, certainly magnificent, L
sure the ladies will be delighted. No
0ds done so much for u.s." The two
,.v out of the parlor together, Mr..
arr's face wearing a curious battered
Smrssion which contradicted his dry
-.,, evening" to the visitor as she
.a 4er leave.
e.3llla sank into her chair with sick
1- sensation that had attacked her
..8' times of late. She had always
ted careful calculating as a matter
arse in the household, enjoyed
she could, and tried not to wish
lything further; but recently a
sing suspicion had flashed upon
lore than once, a suspicion that
recurehowever tiercely she tried
.N it low. that her father was not
y what is called generous. 1t pos
-,- ' Aer now as he entered the room.
ell" began Mrs. Slater, laying
. her work eXpectantly, and taking
-r glasses. Did she want you to
Jmething to the new library"
1t was what she came for" Mr..
t.-. seated himself by the other win
md folded his hands Oh his knees.
soil spoke up uneasily:
lou promised her something, didn't
ather?'
5. | want you to go up tomorrow
aung, Sarilla, and take the books
IT, f that box in the attic, I'm going
eve them to the library; the ones
l9 put up there when we got the new
ar1r bookcase. There's round basket
WITH two handles in the courthouse
ia,ll hold them, and you can tie a
IotA over the top. I'll take them down
go tr hall tomorrow afternoon in the
wagon"
Those books?" Sarilla's face blanch-
ID with dismay. "Why, father, there
snr a single one that would do! ] put
rm there because they weren't OF any
lse Oh, don't send them"'
1t was the first vehement protest that
I'D yer been made to the head OF the
'a,ei family. His face hardened.
That isn't any of your affair, Sarllla.
l5ok's a book. l told the woman
Lao intended to do, and she can use
a-lu OF not, as she likes
>tTiIla almost wrung her hands IN the
darkness. The room seemed
'l1ug. She hardly heard her mother
aomur, Maybe they could sell them
lr omething, or exchange Them" The
leadful misgiving had received contir-
la-Ion. Jordan Slater was neither
landed nor public-spirited. He
'as and the neighbors must have
ilYWu it long-a close -fisted man. He
Vas simply unloading rubbish on the
pary.
nat evening, when Mr.. and Mrs:
,ater went to their room on the ground
Ioor Sarilla lighted her candle and
''oe softly upstairs. The attic stairs
Ieaked as she ascended them. A wave
u hot air met her at the top, and the