The Washington herald., 1907-12-17
CHAPTER XLI-COntinued.

Il wish my father would mind his own
busi--" began Phil. angrily.
No said Vida you must not say
that! He meant we'll"
Worst kindly grunted Phil. with his
fathers exact manner. Vida stamped her
foot with hers.
He is your father. and he only said
that my father. Mr. Romer. might never
get better and that as things looked
now. he had lost all his money. We
might have TO support him all his life.
But ! believe he only said that 10 try
me. could see him watching. and he
was nice to me before he went away"
And what did you say?" Phil de-
manded
Wen, 1 answered for you-for my lad
Tor my husbands you would If you had
been here"
My little girl,'
No, not nQw.-Let me tell you" she
held him of a moment
Nevertheless, It was some time before
Nida-with, of course. the best Will in
the world to expedite matters, could re-
sumo Ler story.
You see. Phil. it's all right for me
because he is my father. And it's all
right for you. because you are going to
have me! But it's not all right as 1
see II, that the present expense should
come of Dick and Billy who have been
so kind TO me all their livesr
on, they-they can stand it," said
Phil carelessly
1 know Billy is rich (or was before he
began TO put up that lighthouse) but
all the same I'm not going 10 have it
do you not see? In a way they had got
10 think themselves my two fathers II
was funny. but true. They always treat
ed me as a daughter-only better. And
now, when my real father comes. who
has never done anything-wel 10 tell
the truth, / think they feel IT, Yet we
can't turn him out-you and u"
I have no doubt that they do feel
like that" said Phil. drawing the girl
beside him down upon "A little seat under
the rowan shadow, but do not let that
trouble you.
Look up yonder-' Phil pointed where
the pit-wheels made steady whirling.
and in the wind from off the sea the
smoke from the brick chimney-stacks. OF
Portogarten Mine curved down land
ward, and dispersed far away from
Portogarten Cove. Il don't say there is
another Incubus up there. We haven't
the space-but there Is a fortune or two
sufficient. at least, to pay any hospital
charges, and to keep your father in COM
fort all his days"
Already the girl looked brighter. Phil
was so comforting Some men are.
We have shares. haven't you-I mean
you have?' she quered
Sold most Of them, said Phil sharply.
What fOr?" She looked at him quick
ly with spark in her eye which might
be anger He had made her a present or
two. concerning the provenance of which
he could not always give clear account
And f-well, with things as they were
she would fling them in his face. He
ought 70 have known better She would
teach him so TO do. Presents. indeed
Yes. I sold them" he said calmly
''and do you know why-to pay the mems
wages till we got the corner turned.
Billy needed all his money for the light
house. Now the corner is turned. and
well turned. We are making money each
week. and with the demand for our class
OF coal for ships on the Clyde-perhaps
even from the navy
WHO bought your shares. Phil7 They
must have known you were in need?
They would give you just nothing for
themY She threw the questions at him.
Your father bought them-Mr. Ro-
mer," he said; ''he gave me ten thousand
pounds. and I have sunk ever penny of
ii in the Heugh up there! Now are YOU
content?''
And, after that. what was there to do
but for the pilot 10 fake his wages and
go.