The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-09-27
the LOVE OF
Watkins GRAY
BY s. Z. kISER

y PehHliess young man become yoI
y sohln'iaw? Have you no more 10,
Tor our only child than to permit h,
II 70 throw herself away on an arti,
> VINO never sells anything ana who's
iather eloped with Il music teachero
: should think your conscience wouI
trouble you. Beatrice might choos
among the sons Of dozen millio,
. ares tomorrow II she would only 90
over the idea that she cares for Wat
kins Gray
Don't worry, Margaret he re
phed without the least indication q
excitement Il don't believe on
daughter is in any immediate dan
ger"
But he comes here every night
lhey are in the parlor now and he
nas taught her to talk about motifs
ana genres, and never goes home be
iore ~ O'Clock. 1t is your duty to dc
something"
III they love each other why not lei
mem so on being happy? Happiness
IS so rare, you know. Besides. the fell
10" ism bad sort, and he may paint
something some day that will make
| him famous"
MRS. Dalton looked at her husband
| hopelessy.
| want you to promise me ono
| thing, he Went on. Don't sav any.
| thlhg 10 Beatrice about this matter.
Doh let her know that we have dis.
cussed it. Let her so on in her own
way"
! promise nothing"
Very well, then; If she is misera-
bic all the rest of her lie ii win be
your fault.
AFTER Watkins Gray, who in addition
to being an artist was q large man
ana 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 a
moment. have been thinking very
seriously about You for the past few /
days Can YOU imagine why?"
she looked up at him and blushed
VIII not Aeny," he went on, that 4
nave often entertained the selfish
rope that your mother and might
teep you with us always but rea
ize that il is only natural fer Won 10
'egln to think Of leaving us, and since
must be SO there is no one to whom
would rather intrust your happiness
han"
But father L" i
Don give yourself moments :
neasiness ON our account. / regard |
Watkins Gray as one OF the finest
Dung men have ever known, If IL
'ere lett to me to choose husband l
Or you he is the man would think
t first"
But l."
Don imagine for moment. Dea-
ice, that man must have money
} be worthy Watkins Gray is an |
lat could wish my son-in-law to be-
nave liked him from the moment I |
st saw him. | am sure that Won
Ill never have cause to regret your
oice."
She looked down and was silent,
lile her mother, who had been list,
ing behind curtain, stole upstairs
ushing her nails into the palms and |
angry tears to trickle down
r face.
On the following day Horace Dalton
mt to the studio Of Watkins Gray \
d invited him to luncheon.
They sat at a table in a corner by
Having given a generous
Ter, Mr.. Dalton said:
! cannot deny myself the privilege
congratulating YOU on your work.
wife and ! are both proud of YOU Il
have, for reasons that you may R
lily guess, been greatly Interested d
You of late. and # is highly crafty. f
to both of us TO know that there -
nothing in your past to which the be
fest parent could object
Thank YOU the artist replied with Ad
lent embarrassment 81 am glad
AVE your good opinion" q,
}eaEice, as you will discover In
2, her father went on. is girl
becomes more admirable the -
er you know her. She wears well.
kins. And her mother has very
~ taught, her all of those useful
este arts which every girl ought
now and which so few of them.
rtunately, do" IA
atkins Gray swallowed hard sew ~
times and tried without success U
ink Of something to say.
it were necessary tomorrow for
o begin housekeeping on your
ne. Mr. Dalton continued. Il have
,ubt that she would be able TO do
your entire satisfaction. OF
c she is still rather young. but Z
lclined to believe in early mar
III you excuse me for a mo. Il
?" the artist desperately inter
4. There's man just going Il
r. door whom ! want to- soc"
week later Horace Dalton casual u
Sed his wife how Beatrice snd e,
ms Gray were getting on.
hasn't been here since tho
when ! told You ] thought their
was becoming serious she re- g
and Beatrice says she could
care for him If he were the Last