Smyrna times., 1906-08-01

tel his h0 80, 1--WE been wish.
t., t1r YOU, Everything is so topsy
ivy in this ho,Ti placer
Hob lookel anxious. rs it your ia
thtr ag,in!" he asked as he drew her
down 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 were 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 on 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 Il little fearful
ly. no, Bob, dear" she said. Il 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 50 to such Il dear as you"
Bob gr:nned appreciatively as he
drew her to him, but he lost none of his
look of determination. That's all very
well, Alice, darling, but I've a few
rights, and after supper I'm coming
back and read the riot act to your fa-
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. I'll
fix him"
AS Bob disappeared AHce's glance
wandered toward the broad stump of a
tree that stood in the dooryard. AS she
looked her eyes lighted with mis-
ch;evous smile. Then she began her
preparations for supper. In Il short
time she appeared in the yard with two
covered dishes in her hands These she
placed on the top of the old stump
whore the sun hlaZed down on their
= shining cNerS Then she returned to
the house to set the table.
The lay wagon ratified into the yard.
"WcI," called Mr.. Humphrey. seeing
t Alice in the door. isn't supper ready
Alice looked anxiOusly toward the old
. strmp. I'm afraid things have not be
/. gun to boil yet" she answered.
MI. Humphrey looked at the strange
Y array of utensils on the stump. "Al-
;. ice lie said, what nonsense is this?
/ ut means just this" answered Alice
o bravely. You refuse to buy wood fol
|, US. and this noon you forbade me tC
g destroy any more of your property. Sc
II when it came time to get supper the
stump seemed the hottest place a
e hand. and | put the vegetables Ou
e there to let nature take its course. /
# is much easier for me-"
e Mr. Humphrey stood in silence. Al
d ice watched him auXiously. Slowly tn,
Ie ;elgry flush died away. and the corner
i, of his mouth twitched. He turned t
* the man who had been an interested
t spectator.
W Jim" he said, you might as wel
X, finish up the old hayrack. Split u
Of enough wood to get supper with.
is Then he walked into the house wit
I'd never so small Il twinkle in his eyes.
ne That evening, as Alice and her fathe
as sat on the steps waiting for Mrs. Hun
IS, phrey's return. Mr. Humphrey broll
ch the silence.
SIX "Tve been thinking it over, Alice,
Id he said. "and-and-well, l guess f;
ther has been negligent of his tw
p- girls. You see, l didn't realize ho
hard some things are for women folk
ID, Now. do you suppose you could plan
rk "a porch or IA window or som
as thing?" he asked vaguely. "And we
to surprise your mother on her birthday
For a moment there was silenc
ce. then he heard Il low sob beside hill
w. He reached out an awkward hand ~
drew his daughter toward him.
lto why. little girl" he said, Il didi
ler know it meant so much to you"
'Ou Alice nestled against his shouldt
the at means more than a porch" s.
lck sobbed; lit means that, after all, "
len are nice, like other fathers"
the Mr.. Humphrey cleared his thro;
WI "And I've been thinking, Alice"
went on. that I've been hard on Be
ice, A rough old fellow like me gets pref
you diced against these college chal
When you finish school and Bob &c
ing a start well, you'll find that fath
res wants you to be happy after all"