Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-05-11

~ O)f KEY XXI vi ~ was very
W7 rich and successful merchant.
He had no wife. and but one
"hild-a daughter-w whom he adored,
and upon whom it WAS his delight to
lavish everything she asked for if
money would buy il.
Annis Prime was very beautiful. and
she WAS. beside, a girl OF considerable
sense; too much. indeed. to be easily
satisfied in her choice OF n husband.
She had many sutors. but none Of
them suited her
One day the merchant came home to
his splendid mansion looking like a
ghost. he was ~ pale. His hair had
grown several degrees whittier since he
went away in the morning
Going to his private room. he lock ed
the door aud loaded his pistol
III kill myself" he said "Annis
viii he obliged to uarry some one of
her rich admirers. because she will
have no home without. could never
endure to live. and see her suffer the
miseries OF a poverty which her rear
ing has 50 lily fitted her to bear"
Then he took the pistol in his hand
and looked at it calmly.
Shall | blow out my brains. or
shoot myself through the hearth" he
said
You will do neither. II you please.
papa, said Annis herself coming for
ward from behind the curtain Of a
window in which she had been sitting
ever since he entered the room What
is the matter: Why do you wish to
Kill yolrself:'
"Annis," said the merchant. sadly.
ever since your mother died | have
lived only for yOu. All cared to get
wealth for was for you Hut of late
] have been unfortunate. stand to
day on the verge OF bankruptcy"
We'll, I am sure that il had enough.
without killing Yourself" said Annis.
DO you Imagine Oh foolish papa that
all the riches of the world could make
up to me the loss Of YOU
The merchant started, and looked
down as II ashamed. Then he opened
his arms Wide. and his daughter flew
into them.
Promise me this moment. papa"
she said. that you will never. never
think OF such a wicked thing again"
my darling" answered the mer-
chant. with emotion. "a never will,
Now you must make me a promise |
can stem the tide think. month
I0nger--pOssibiy six weeks. | should
not care for myself, how soon the
crash came, II could see yoll provided
Tor. VIII you not. in that time. choose
yourself husband from all who are
80 anxious to marry YOU"
AunlS made face. Then. seeing
how anxious her father looked. she.
said.
"ill honestly try, papa. l'ut who
ever | choose must know the truth
about your affairs before will marrA
him"
"Certaln,y," said her father: but
am sure 1t will make no difference
You are too sweet and beautiful to be
loved for anything but Yourself"
Upon tue following evening. when
Annis resolved company. she made a
careful toilet.
She was blue-eyei blonde. and
she wore II pale green tissue OF silk
Topped with water lilies and sea grsss
~. aud water lilies in her yellow.
floating hair
She looked siren: but no siren was
ever so Indifferent to the homage law
1shed ri her feet
One after another they came-the
tall, the fair, the dark. She looked In
blue eyes. and she looked in black
tut not heartbeat Quickened even
when the handsOmeSt man in the
room bowed low before her. and muir
INJURED hattering words in hopeyed
tones
All would not do. She felt a posi-
tive aversion to some OF them. and
la wing got into foolish habit OF hay.
ing everything she wanted. because
Of her fathers indulgence, she could
not reconcile herself to the idea of
marrying u man for whom she did not
care half as much as she did for her
pet canary.
When the month was nearly up, dur.
ing which the merchant. while he wait
nd anxiously. said nothing. Annia
spoke.
Papa" she said. you are worth q
dozen Of them. 1 had rather 1--we In