The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-11-08
II LOVE OF
Watkins GRAY
BY S. &. kiSER

~peunilesS young mar become your
gon-in-1aw? Have o no more love
for our only child than to permit her
to throw herself away on ar artist
who never sells anything and whose
father cloped with a music teacher? I
should hin your conscience would
trouble you. Beatrice might choose
among the sons OF a dozen million
aires tomorrow if she would only get
owe the idea that she cares for Wat
kins Cray
Don't worry, Margaret" he re-
piled without the least indication OF
excitement. II don't believe our
daughter is in any immediate dan
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 homc be-
fore IL o'clock. 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 a bad sort, and he may paint
something some day that viii make
him famous"
Mrs. Dalton looked at Ter husband
hopclessly.
Il want you to promise ne ono
hing he went on. Don't say any
thing to beatrice about this matter.
Don't let her know that We have dis
cusscd it. Let her 80 on in her own
way"
II promise nothing"
Very well, then; if she is misera-
bic all the rest Of her life it will be
your fault"
A ftnr NSrot1i,. Cr,,- ,rI 80 i
to being an artist was a large man
and a 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 at
fcctionately as he said:
Little girl, l want to talk to you a
moment. | have bee thinking very
seriously about you for the past few
days. Can you imagine why?"
She looked up at him and bIushed.
Il will not deny" he G on, that
| have often entertained the selfish
hope that our mother and 1 might
keep you with us always; but I rea.
lie that it is only natural for you to
begin to think of leaving us, and since
1t must be SO there is no one to whom
| would rather intrust your happiness
han
But father, l."
Don't give yourself a moments
uncasiness on u count. I regard
Watkins Gray as one of the fines
young men l ave ever known. If it
wcro left to me to choose a husband
for you he is the man I would think
of first"
but L"
"Don't imagine for a moment, Bea-
trice, that q man must ave mono
to be worthy. Watkins Gray is all
that I could wish my son-in-law to be.
I have liked him from the moment I
first saw him. 1 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 a curtain, stole upstairs,
crushing her nails into the palms and
permitting angry tears to triclle down
her face.
On the following day Horace Dalton
went to the studio of Watkins Gray
and invited him to luncheon.
They sat at a table in a corner by
themselves. Having given a generous
order, Mr.. Dalton said:
81 cannot deny myself the privilege
of congratulating You on your work.
MY vile and l are both proud of you.
We have, for reasons that you may
easily guess, been greatly interested
in o 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. "I am glad
to have your good opinion"
beatrice, as you will discover in
time" her father went on, is q girl
who becomes more admirable the
longer you NOV her. She wears we'll,
Watkins. And hcr mother has very
wisely taught her all of those useful
domestic arts which every girl ought
to know and which SO few Of them,
unfortunately, do"
Watkins Gray swallowed hard sew
eral times and tried without success
to think Of something to say.
IF it were necessary tomorrow for
her to begin housekeeping on your
income" Mr.. Dalton continued. Il have
no doubt that h would be able to do
1t to your entire satisfaction. OF
course she is still rather young, but I
am inclined to believe in early mar
VIII you excuse me for q mo-