The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-12-29
A CHANGE
OF HEART
By BELLE MANDATES
copyright, 1904, by Daily story Pub. Co.,

nHlL LAWTON'S dark eyes wistfully
followed the fair form of the young
girl who fitted about the room. She was
bestowing all her glances and all her
little attentions upon her father, Gen.
William Thornburn, almost ignoring the
presence of the man who adored her.
Presently a servant entered and hand
ed Miss Thornburn a card.
oh, it's Miss Lee! She will only
make a formal call. l will be back
SOON" and with lingering caress upon
her fathers bronzed cheek, she left the
room.
Phil looked up disconsolately.
Il might as well confess, General, that
tried my fate with Eloise this morning,
and-she has given no hope"
The generals grey eyes saddened.
is that So Phil? | am truly sorry
and disappointed, but Eloise is only a
child. She was startled, and doesn't
know her heart yet"
The young man shook his head dis
couragingly.
Il had no reason to believe that she
returned my love, general. She has al
ways treated me nicely and courteously,
but with a goodnatured tolerance"
Faint heart. Phil! Try again"
No" replied Phil slowly. Il don't
want to lose even her liking. I think
| will take my departure now before
she returns. Your days together are so
few that | will not intrude a moment
longer"
A few moments after Phil had taken
his leave, Eloise returned to the IL
brary.
Alone, papa! Where is Mr.. Law
TONI"
He has gone. Eloise. He asked me to
he thought he would want our last few
days together uninterrupted"
He is very considerate, papa. In
deed. We do! Every minute of it."
He told me, Eleise, what passed be-
tween you and him this morning."
The girls face flushed and she looked
embarrassed.
Did he? Well, aren't you glad that
am going to remain your little girl
always?"
IF | were to be here with you, Eloise,
I'd be 10th to give you even to Phil, but
now that | am ordered to the Philip
pines-to a country where | cannot take
you. it would be a great relief to me
to see you the happy wife of the man
of my choice for you-the son of my
lifelong friend-a man of honor, and to
know that your future welfare was as
Sured."
Eloise looked puzzled
Now. papa, how absurd! I am to
be with friends. and you'll be back in
Two years. and then we'll be chums to-
gether again"
My dear little girl! The fortunes
and future of a soldier are very uncer-
tain. and you cannot know the anxiety
and responsibility of a father for his
only child who is motherless"
why, papa did not know you felt
this way about it,
1T would give me great content.
Eloise. to go away knowing you were
the wife of man who would give you
his love and protection as we'll as a
home. but if you do not care for him, It
cannot be. and We will think no more
about it,"
But Eloise did think a great deal
about it, and naturally in thinking Of
it. she bestowed more thought upon Phil
LawtOn than she ever had before After
dinner, when the general sat down to
his cigar and evening paper, she knew
he missed and wanted Phil, who had
been such a constant companion. not
only of late, but in the days when she
had been away at school and had known
him only through her fathers letters.
There are times when a man misses
and yearns for another man, even if
the dearest woman in the world is
about" she thought philosophically.
She slipped from the room and dis
patched little note to Phil, telling her
father was lonesome for him and would
he not come over to the house-for
her fathers sake
He came promptly and she gave him
a grateful welcome. The general imme-
diately frightened up and opened an an
mated discourse with the young man on
the question of trusts. Eloise, sitting