The Somerset reporter., 1907-07-04

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She stood by the window watching
the retreatng figure of the young man,
too much absorbed to notice the en-
trance of her father until he was by
her side Without speaking she leaned
her arm upon his shoulder and thus
they watched until the young man was
no longer in sight. Then her father
spoke:
at won't do, Elsie You've got to
tell him | said so. He isn't the one"
The hand which had been caressing
his hair was thrown out with indlg-
nant protest and the girl faced him,
panied surprise in every curve of the
dainty lips.
whats wrong, father?" she de-
manded. Why haven't you said that
before?"
The gray eyes gazing into her own
held far more kindness than his words
They were full of stern decision.
Because l haven't been sure. Now
| am Fred Denton can never support
a wife. He isn't able to now, and he
never will be- You've got to call it
off"
But father" she began.
"It's no use Elsie" he interrupted
at isn't in him. A young man to sue
coed nowadays must get out and hus-
tie, and that's something Fred Denton
will never do. He spends his time In
his office reading reading. reading, and
that never brought patient to a doctor
yet
"Why the other night there was an
accident at Cedar Glens Kensett was
mixed up in it, Had drunken chauf-
feur, and the whole ear came precious
near going over the cliff. Would have
gone IL 1t hadn't been for young med
who understood sprinting and who
saved 1t in the nick of time.
"As 1t WAS, Kensett got off with
broken collar bone, friend of his came
home with a smashed hand. and-well,
you read it in the papers. That saw
bones is fixed for life just because he
happened to be on the spot and knew
what to do and how to do 1t. But it
wasn't Denton. He was in his office
reading up the microbes of leprosy or
some other outlandish disease"
Erred was just telling me-" began
Elsie, when her father cut her short.
"rhen, too, he had little money In
one of the banks. Where's that? He
wasn't content to let 1t stay where 1t
was. He asked me what l thought
about Aurora stocks. and l told him
they weren't worth the matches to
burn 'em, but he invested In them.
Where are they now? Whew! Now
you see 'em and now you don't"
Father. II you would only listen
"Listen to what? The same old story
of love In fat and your $500 Year,
I've got a deal on hand and won't be
home before tomorrow night In the
meantime you Just give me that ring
on your finger and I'll return 1t to
Fred Denton, NJ. D."
Slowly bis daughter drew of the
ring. a curious expression growing In
her eyes, one which her father was
quick to observe
"See here. Elsie" he said as he took
1t from her. II want you to promise
that II he calls you won't see him until
give you permission; that is. If
ever do"
you are very unjust, father; If you
would only listen
"I'ye waited too long already" he re-
sponded. starting off mind your
promise, Elsie there isn't to be any
more of this nonsense"
perhaps there'll be more instead Of
less" she murmured as the door closed
behind him. Then she went up the
stairs to her room with tread as full
of decision as his tones had been.
It didn't take long for her to reap
pear dressed for the street. and fifteen
minutes later she surprised certain
young man who was very busily en-
gagged doing nothing at all In pleas
antly furnished Office Of a downtown
business block.
HE wouldn't give me a chance to
say a single word she concluded In
dlgnantly.
Fred Denton smiled complacently
AnlO nei nuonSo laIC. ntlC wac ~
trace of the Respondent lover about
him.
1--WE won't try to explain" he said.
Suppose you take this trip to New
York with me this morning? You look
very bride-y," he answered. white
dress, white hat, white shoes and
gloves. Really, Elsie, one would al
most believe that you had dressed pur-
posely for wedding trip"
Fred Denton. you don't believe
she paused, crimson to the very ears.
Then she added irrelevantly:
"Father ran away with mother; I've
heard him tell about 1t time and time
again"
Come on" Denton cried.
at doesn't seem right, Fred. Father
has always been the kindest, the best
father in existence, and he is doing
Al 4.