The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-06-14

ed and tied his horse, 1--WE been wish
ing for you. Everything is SO topsy
turvy in this horrid place"
Bob looked anxious. lis it your fa-
thar again?" he asked as he drew her
dow. on the step beside him. Alice
told him of her mornings experience.
Bob's face darkened.
Look here, Alice he exclaimed,
I'm not going to stand this. l knew
things We're pretty bad, but l never
knew you had to do this sort of work.
He took her hand looked at the pretty
pink palm with the row of blisters
across it. I'm not going to say any of
the things to you that l think about
your father. But this is going to stop.
This architect business is slow in start
ing, but I've got enough to keep the pot
boiling. I'm OH my way out to the
Scots summer home now. They want
me to plan an addition for them, But
tonight I'm coming back to tell your
father that we are going to be married
at once.''
Alice shook her head a little fearful
iy. mo, Bob, DEAR" she said. 81 can't
leave mother that way, and l want to
finish college first. No; father has got
to change. There is no sense in his act
ing so to such dear as you"
Bob grinned approximately as he
drew her to him, but he lost none of his
look of determination. That's all very
we'll, Alice, darling, but I've a few
rights, and after supper I'm coming
back and read the riot act to your ia
ther.'
Alice sighed. Then she nodded her
head. Yes, come back. l don't know
just how. but some way I'm going to
shame father
Don't you worry said Bob. "Ill
fix him.
AS Bob disappeared Alice's glance
wandered toward the broad stump Of
tree that stood in the dooryard. AS she
looked her eyes lighted with mis-
chievous smile. Then she began her
preparations for supper. In short
time she appeared in the yard with two
covered dishes in her hands, These she
placed on the top of the old stump
where the sun blazed down on their
shining covers. Then she returned to
the house to set the table.
The hay wagon ratified into the yard.
'Well," called Mr.. Humphrey, seeing
Alice in the door, isn't supper ready?"
Alice looked anXiously toward the old
stump. I'm afraid things have not be-
gun to boil yet" she answered.
Mr.. Humphrey looked at the strange
array of utensils on the stump. cal
ice" he said, what nonsense is this?"
ut means just this" answered Alice
bravely. You refuse to buy wood for
us, and this noon you forbade me to
destroy any more of your property. So
when it came time to get supper the
stump seemed the hottest place at
hand and l put the vegetables out
there to let nature take it's course 1t
is much easier for me-"
Mr.. Humphrey stood in silence. Al
ice watched him anSiously. Slowly the
angry flush died away, and the corners
of his mouth twitched. He turned to
the man Who had been an interested
spectator
"Jim," he said, you might as we'll
finish up the old hayrack Split up
enough wood to get supper with"
Then he walked into the house With
That evening, as Alice and her father
sat ON the steps waiting for Mrs. Hum
nhrey's return, Mr.. Humphrey broke
the silence.
"Ive been thinking it over, Alice"
he said, ''and-and-well. guess ia
Their has been negligent of his two
girls You see, l didn't realize how
hard some things are for women folks
Now, do you suppose you could plan
"a porch or "a window or some
thing?" he asked vaguely. "And We'll
surprise your mother on her birthday"
For moment there was silence:
then he heard low sob beside him.
drew his daughter toward him.
why, little girl" he said, 81 didn't
know 1t meant so much to you"
Alice nestled against his shoulder
ut means more than porch" she
sobbed; sit means that, after all, you
are nice, like other fathers"
Mr.. Humphrey cleared his throat.
"And I've been thinking, Alice" he
went on, "that I've been hard on Bob
A rough old fellow like me gets preju-
diced against these college chaps.
When you finish school and Bob gets
a start = we'll, you'll find that father
wants you to be happy after ALL"