Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-10-13
THE Love or
Watkins GRAY
BY s. z. kisER

| son-ln-laW? Have you no more love
Tor our only child than TO permit her
to throw herself away on an artist
who never &lls anything and whose
| fathSr eloped with a music teacher?
shcAid think your conscience would
trouble you Beatrice might choose
among the sons of a dozen million
aires tomorrow If she would only get
over the idea that she cares .or Wat
kins Gray"
Don't worry, Margaret" he re-
| piled without the lea 81 Indication of
excitement. 4 don't believe our
| daughter is in any immediate dam
| ger"
But he comes here every night.
They are in the parlor now, and he
has taught her to talk about motifs
and genres, and never goes home be-
fore Il ocloc1 1t is your duty to do
something"
If they love each other why not let
them go on being happy? Happiness
| is so rare, you know. Besides, the fell
low isn't bad sort, and he may paint
something some day that will make
| him famous
Mrs. Dalton looked at her husband
hopelessly.
Il want you to promise me one
thing" he went on. Don't say any
thing to Beatrice about this matter.
Don't let her know that we have dis
cussed it. Let her go on in her own
way"
Il promise nothing"
Very well, then; if she is misera-
bic all the rest of her life it will be
your fault"
After Watkins Gray, who in addition
to being an artist was a large man
and good deal of an athlete, had said
goodnight Beatrice found her father
waiting for her. He put an arm
around her and drew her to him af
fectionately as he said:
Little girl, | want to talk to you
moment. I have been thinking very
| seriously about you for the past few
days. Can you imagine why?'
She looked up at him and blushed.
Il will not deny" he went on, that
| have often entertained the selfish
hope that your mother and | might
keep you with us always; but I rea-
lie that 1t is only natural for you to
begin to think of leaving us. and since
it must be so there is no one to whom
I would rather intrust your happiness
than"
But father, L"
Don't give yourself a moments
uneasiness on our account. l regard
Watkins Gray as one of the finest
young men | have ever known. If it
were left to me to choose a husband
for you he is the man l would think
of first"
But T."
Don't imagine for a moment, 'Bea-
trice, that man must have money
to be worthy Watkins Gray is all
that ! could wish my sonin-Iaw to be.
have liked him from the moment l
first saw him. I am sure that you
will never have cause to regret your
choice"
She looked down and was silent,
while her mother, who had been list
ening behind curtain, stole upstairs,
crushing her nails into the palms and
permitting angry tears to trickle down
her face.
On the following day Horace Dalton
went to the studio of Watkins Gray
and invited him to luncheon.
They sat at table in corner by
themselves. Having given a generous
order, Mr.. Dalton said:
Il cannot deny myself the privilege
of congratulating you on your work.
My wife and I are both proud of you.
We have. for reasons that you may
easily guess been greatly interested
in you of late, and it is highly crafty
ing to both of us to know that there
is nothing in your past to which the
fondest parent could object
Thank you" the artist replied with
evident embarrassment. Il am glad
to have your good opinion"
Beatrice, as you will discover in
time" her father went on, SIS girl
who becomes more admirable the
longer you know her She wears well.
Watkins. And her mother has very
wisely taught her all OF those useful
domestic arts which every girl ought
to know ard which so few of them.
unfortunately do
Watkins Gray swallowed hard sew
eral times and t~ied without success
to think of sonst hing to say.
IF it were necessary tomorrow for
| her to begin housekeeping on your
| income" Mr. Dalton continued, Il have
no doubt that she would be able to do
| it to your entire satisfaction. or
| course she Is still -a.Ser young, but
am inclined to believe in early mar
"Will You excuse me for mo-
ment?" the artist desperately inter-
| rupted There's man just going
out the door whom | want to see
A week later Horace Dalton casual
| ly asked his wife how Beatrice and
Watkins Gray were getting on.
| HE hasn't been here since the