The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-11-23

past, Tor the coming OF the poStman. She
left her position presently, and hustled
about, putting little finishing touches to
the breakfast table.
1T is hard on poor dear dad to have
to put up with petty inconvenience"
she said, affectionately, as she laid the
morning newspaper next the roses, and
looked to see II she could do anything
further to beautify the unlovely lodging
house breakfast table. 81 know the sight
of a stain on the tablecloth takes away
his appetite. With the very next few
shillings make by my copying I'll buy
a couple of tablecloths, and then we can
have an extra one without asking Mrs.
Philpott for it and risking black looks
for the rest of the week. Oh, here you
are, papa! / thought you were going
to be late-and it is your Kensington
day, too. All, there's the postman, I
wonder if he has a letter for me? Isn't
it strange that Jack has written only
once in a whole weekY'
Young fellows always find plenty of
occupation in the country; you must not
worry about it, my child" This remark
was rather uncalled for, as Ethel, the
whole week through, had scrupulously
"a fOAaO0 lAS Va
neglect. THE country round Mallingford
is particularly attractive, and l can quite
understand that Jack is + easting his soul
on its beauties"
'Oh, papa, do you know Mallingford?
You never said so Beforehand Ethel
was just about to launch out into 4
string Of questions when her thoughts
were diverted by the appearance of the
servant with the fish for breakfast, and
a letter.
"For me, and from jack" she ex-
claimed, breathlessly; but she did not
attempt to read it until she had attended
to every little want of her fathers, and
seen him comfortably settled for his
morning glance over the leaders in the
newspapers.
Then she took up the letter and be-
gan reading it. As she read, the sweet
anticipation Of pleasure faded slowly
from her face, and she laid the epistle
down, looking perplexed and troubled.
She went on pretending to eat. filled her
fathers cup when he pushed 1t toward
her, and resolutely kept silence until he
had laid down his newspaper aud caught
her wistful look.
"Well, what are you waiting to sayf"
he asked.
81 don't know; Jack has written a
nice, long letter. and yet 1 I'M disap-
pointed. I'm never satisfied; am /, dad?
| He tells me here that he's very lonely,
and a line or two lower down he says
that Miss Mailing, of whom he gave such
a glowing description in his first note,
has left for London. L know I'm mar
row minded, but l can't help fancying
that it's more her absence than mine
that makes him lonely. As if I did not
know Jack to be one of the most hon-
orable men In the world! Please call me
a few hard names, dad, and make me
ashamed of myself"
But Mr.. Mallet did nothing Of the sort.
81 think it extremely bad taste on
Jacks part to I'll his letters to you with
descriptions of another woman's beau
ty."
snow, there you are wrong! It's just
! that that satisfies me as to Jacks good
faith. If there was one scrap Of unfair
ness to me in his admiration for Miss
Mailing he would not write so openly
about it. 1t was only my nonsense about
being jealous, you know"
"You are a veritable little bee, suck
ing the honey and leaving the poison.
I'll not say one word against your hero,
my dear. But 1 don't like to hear of
any slight being put upon you. You
know 1 don't think him worthy of my
little girl"
you conceited old dad" Ethel said.
with a smile, ito think your girl better
than any one else's! Why. Jack is much
too good for me! Even you admit he's
clever"
Granted. But who Is he? He has a
straight nose and a good pair of shout
ders; but what was his grandfather?
Have you ever asked himy"
Papa! What an extraordinary ques-
ton that would be for me to ask him!
l dara say his grandfather WAS as good
a man as mine"
my dear, your grandfather was one
of the oldest commoners in England. The
Mallings of Mallingford hold themselves
among the best people in Exbridgeshire."
Ethel looked at her father as if she
feared his reason had given way.
II dare say you are very astonished.
You have always known me as a hard
working drawing master, and Of course
concluded / had never been anything
else. My dear, that M~allingford Park,
of which Jack writes SO enthusiastically,
is mine by all just avs Of succession.
But my elder brother, the late owner, cut
me off with a shilling because I annoyed
him about a trifling matter, and left the
whole property to my niece. your cousin,
Pauline Luton"
"And l am eighteen, and this ID the
first word l have ever heard of it!'
"Yes, and most likely the last, for It
is a subject / don't care to talk about.
1 don't think / should nave spoken of it
now if I had not felt extremely annoyed
with Jacks for his ungentIeman-iike neg
lect during the past week. You are as
well born as this cousin of yours of
whom he raves. and I viii not allow him
to slight you in any way"
Daddy, will you let me:manage this
matter, myself? You have so surprised
me by what you have just said that /
am. almost bewildered, and can hardly
think of anything else. But I am sure
that / am too self-conceited to let Jack
really slight me. If 1 thought he want
ed me to give him his freedom l would
do it at once. I think it would almost
break my heart, but I would do 1t. I
wouldfsnot bestow myself where I was
lightly thought. Of"
Heaven bless my childl I can trust
yonr to- support the family reputation
for self-respect;> and Ethel If you are
writing to Jack to-day, don't touch on
that subject.s + have reasouus for not
wishing him to know ANYTHING about the
matter until / tell him myself"
Ethel looked disappointed. She hand.
ed her father his hat and gloves, and