Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1904-09-08
HER
FATHERS
WA y By
ATTAIN D
Oy
ALLAN p.
AMES
Copyright. 1901. bp
4. e.. Ucf7ure


| young man happened to be the first
whose ambitions had received serious
| attention. Like a wise parent, South
| ley made no overt attempt to influence
| her decision. Nevertheless his mind
| was hard at work, because among all
| the youngsters who aspired to be his
| son-in-law Robert Lorland was his
| choice. Had Lois shared his opinion
| there would have been no occasion
Cor the discussion now progressing in
| cool corner of the veranda.
"But, father" she was Directing, Ibis
| .hin is so square ana firm and his
| mouth so hard. His face is almost re-
| pellent at times"
Ills features are rugged" said
| Southley, but see gentleness in them
as well as strength. Roberts worth a
| dozen of those round checked. chinless
boys that have been hanging around
| here this summer
but, dear daddy, how can l love a
| man I'm afraid of? Why, if he ever
commanded me to marry him I'd just
| have to. Oh, | don't know what l do
| think Sometimes
"Then he hasn't asked you YETI"
| said her father.
Yes; he asked though he looked as
| IL he preferred to pick me up and run
| off without word. How | ever de-
| MED him | don't know. but | begged
| him to wait and he's coming AT this
| afternoon for his final answer
Southley laid aside his cigar and
| turned to regard the perpleXed face
| more intently. Daughter" he said
| you don't know men like your old
| daddy. Those blue eyes of yours have
much to learn. Take good, long look
before you send away a fellow like
Robert Lorland."
| "Really, | wish | could see him as
| you do; but I'm afraid ! can't. | have
the feeling that If he We're ever
| crossed he'd be positively brutal"
You never knew him to do n
harsh or nnkind thing. did you?
| mo; nor anything markedly kind or
| gentle. either
well, it's hard luck" he sighed.
"Superficially, his looks are against
| him"
For long while after Lois had left
| him to make those changes in her APP
pearance which she thought were es-
sential for the coming ordeal he re-
| manned thoughtfully smoking, with his
| eyes fixed upon the long white stretch
| Of road down which young Lorland
would shortly come marching to his
| fate. Notified shadows of the shelter
| ing vine crept across the veranda floor
until they reached the spot the old
cat had chosen for her family's after
noon siesta. Apparently considering
| shade unhealthful she opened her eyes,
stretched and yawned, shook her clus-
tering offspring from their snug COM
| fort and sauntered toward the master
| Of the house. Arriving by his chair,
she gazed a moment into lis preoccu-
| pied face, then sprang upon his knee
and rubbed her ears against his waist
coat
"Why, Poosie," said the old gentle
man, rousing from his reverie, de
serted the nursery? For lady Of so
many family cares your familiarity is
shocking. There. You see? That's
generally what comes Of it,"
One of the kittens had started to
roll down the front steps. Southley
| sprang to the rescue in time to pre-
vent a completion of the descent
Poosie watched him with approval, but
In the end wished she had attend
cd to the matter herself; for, after
standing n moment with her venture
some child held thoughtfully before
him, the man suddenly tucked il uu-
| der his arm and started off around the
house
Edward" he shouted to the gar
dener, Edward. | want to borrow
your high rubber boots. And see II
you can find nae small wooden box"
A few minutes before 3 Lois re-
turned TO the yeranda, a vision in
white, but with her white face clouded
with indecision. II almost wish l
hadn't told you father" said she Be
fore that l had my mind made up TO
send him away. Now | don't know
what | shall do. And he's SO master
full that II ! show the slightest hest
tation he's sure TO make me do as he
wants. Won't you stay and help me?"
Her father did not answer He was
standing at the end of the porch watch
Ing some one down the road Lois went
10 his side and with a hand on his
shoulder followed his gaze.
Wonder what that chaps up toY' he
remarked
Hes too far away 10 make out who
he IS, she replied indifferenty.
Tbs unknown had ha'tad and taken
stand beside the road with his back
toward them. Something in the field
had attracted his attention.
lets see what he Is looking at"
said Southley. as he handed Lois a pair
Of field glasses ana took another pair
for himself
Without stopping to wonder how
they happened to be SO ready at hand.
the girl received the binoculars and
leyeled them toward the figure on the
road. Judging from his dress the man
was young and prosperous, for his
white fannels were OF jaunty cut, and
q gay ribbon encircled his stiff straw
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