The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-02-25

"a
Fathers growing stingy, too. went
on Melissa, still unconvineed. He
/ might just as well let me have that
box-eoat now as not
Melissa
Her mothers voice took on sterner
ring. You don's half-appreeiate your
father she went on Hes one of
the best, the kindest men in the world,
and-he has always loved you 80
dearly Il he doesn't give you money
Tor the coat now. it's only because he
cannot spare it. He knows best. You
don [ know how your lack of consid-
Grafton for your father hurts me, my
dear. It's 50 different from what /
! mad hoped and expected. | remern-
! per how joyful your father was when
you were born, and how he took you
In his arms and kissed you My lit
&c daughter. heard him whisper.
Thank God for her!, And now that
! you are growing up, you might be
such comfort to him if you only
would A daughter can be SO much
to her father. Yet I've noticed a
tendency On yonr part to criticise and
md fault with him. Tit hurts me.
] Melissa
Melissa was silent After a few
minutes her mother got up and left
1 the room. Melissa heard her ascend
| ing the steep and narrow stairway.
| At the top Of the landing Mrs Gray
paused. Il don't think he's asleep
yet, she whispered. sI'n Just go
in and see if he's comfortable for the
! night"
She went noiselessly into the room,
but Nathan Gray was not asleep. He
was sitting on the edge of the bed. his
head sunk on his breast.
Why, father. she cried. putting her
arms around him, what is it-What
| is it. my dear?"
It's Melissa, Ruth he answered,
huskily. II heard what she said
about being ashamed Of me, and about
my being stingy I've SO loved the
child, Ruth, our only one I've been
SO proud Of her. too. I've given her
all I could. I've gone without. I'VE
let you deprive yourself, too, to get
her what she wanted, and yet, after
all, she's ashamed Of me. her father.
It's a bitter cup, Ruth.
She's nothing but a child, Nathan"
his wife, said, soo1hingly, and We
must make allowances. Youth is al
ways exacting. I don't think the child
really means to be unkind.'
She sat by him for some time,
and when she went downstairs her
eyes, too, were red
Melissa was still busy with her prob
lens. You were gone long enough!''
she said, CURLY.
Her mothers eyes filled with tears
again. Melissa" she began, and her
voice trembled, what do you think
father was doing when / found him
upstairs? Almost crying, and because
of you, child. He heard what you
said. It nearly broke his heart, Me-
LISA. He has always SO loved you,
INDUCED you, spoiled you; and II
was in hopes you'd be a comfort to
him when you grew up. But you are
not, Melissa. Habits are hard things
yourself Of your ssault-fnding, dissatis-
fed ways, you'll destroy all our hap
piness.'
It was long speech for her moth
er, and before she had finished Me-
.lissa's eyes were wet. Her tongue was
sharp. but her heart, after all, was
in the right place
She got up hurried1y. I'm sorry,
mother." she cried, repentantly. 81
never-never meant to hurt father so.
He must know | love him. | never
meant that I was really ashamed Of
him I'm going up now to make it
right with him" she added; and,
mother, l wilt will do better You
do believe me, don't you?"
A moment later Mrs. Gray heard her
going impetuously up the stairs. She
turned to her sewing with satisfied
nod
Her presence is just what father
needs she whispered. after all, she's
young, and-yes, believe the child
will do better
Melissa went softly into her fathers
room. The light was turned down,
and he was lying quietly on his side,
but there was trace of tears upon his
weather beaten cheeks.
Melissa crept to the side of the bed,
laying her soft cheek remorsefully
against his.
Father she whispered, forgive
me, won't you? never meant to
hurt you. You're the best, the dear
est father in the world, and I'm the
most ungrateful daughter. y
She kissed him once, twice, and at
the touch Of the fresh young lips upon
his cheek his pain was swept away.
He put his arms about her, those
kind, loving, fatherly arms, and he
lissa put her head upon his breast,
sobbing
There, therel" he said, smoothing
the golden braids Its all forgiven,
all-alI
Melissa lifted Der head and put her
lips humb1y to his, and at that last
tender and contrite kiss, Nathan Gray
knew that Melissa would be different
She might have 70 struggle, perhaps,
but she would conquer in the end
His arms frightened about her slight
young figure. and IN his heart was a
great joy.-YoGth's Companion
Never Saw q ChaIybeate.
An American engineer and architect.