The Washington herald., 1907-11-01

Romer?' the girl went on. with the I'M
piacabiAty of youth
II could not help it-I could not do
otherwise" quavered her mother. You
see. Jacob said I must. Ny father and
mother said ! must So I did And I
think he carcd-at frSt-oh. YES. a little
We Were poor then. and-except for his
finding fault with the housekeeping and
my wrong additions in the money books.
/ was happy enough But then De was
cleyeT-far too clever for me- lie was
always inventiug things. so that It ended
In his uncle, old Mr.. CORN. not being
able 10 do without him. and he had
always TO be az the works. and we-that
is. you and l, stayed on az Th0rsby 10
be near grandfather and grandmQther.
Jacob used sometimes To come st week
ends-for a while. AfterWard he was too
busy or something-aud he could not be
bothered with the journey Then my
father and mother died within three
weeks of each other. After that it was
much lonelier for me- and but for you
should have wearied. Yes. I know what
they said-what Uncle Tom said-horrid
things-that ] took opium-that I was out
of my mind, and if It had not been for
YOU. Vida. they would have put your poor
mother away. But now We are going
home at last-and Jacob viii be good To
us. as he was in the first days when we
were poor. You see he has sent for US
Of his own accord They tell me-Uncle
Tom says-that il is such a magnificent
place, with gardeners and lighthouses, and
grapes in punches Though ! don't be
heve your father viii allow us 10 cut
them), and more than one man-Servant
Oh. l don't know how 1 shall ever ven
ture 10 speak 10 them
Il do" cried Vida. bristling Up, lioness-
like; "TN speak TO them, If they so much
as dare to look as if they would smile
al my mother"
And how kind of dear Jacob to give
us this splendid cruise in his own snip
all around by the north Of scotland
Rubbish said Vida, shortly. Now.
sit up, mother. and l will arrange your
pillows for you You are slipping down
much too low. TheTe-th3ts better,
Father wanted us out of the way a while
longer. that's all. / suppose you think
he ordered this nice. smooth weather.
too. especially. so that we would be nice
and comfortable"
1t would have been just like him if
he had" said Mrs, Romer, smiling
family, but with a certain CLINT Of pleas
ure in her dim eyes Il mean like what
he used to be long ago, He was quick
tempered and masterful-Jacob. Oh, al
ways And, do you know, Vida, some
times I think you aye like him
God forbid" said the girl quickly,
thrusting out her hands as if pushing
something horrid away.
The mother raised her hands in pained
depreciation.
"Oh. Vida you must nOt-remember the
Fifth COMMUNICATIVE first with
promise"
"Oh. yes, I know, mother. that is all
very we'll, said Vida, but it says. too
like as father pitleth his children
doesn't il? And Jacob Romer hasn't
pitied me a bit. Why, then, should !
honor him?'
The mother found no other reply than
the simple restatement Of the command
ment and Of the fact. equally incOntesta-
bic, that he WAS Vida's father The girl
shrugged her shoulders a little behind
her mothers back, and made a grimace
that said, clearly that Jacob Romer. when
he came to reckon with his daughter,
would find quite other material on his
hand than in his wife's case.
On board The Good Intent there
appeared 10 be but little cargo 1t was.
in fact, a pleasure cruise for the bene-
fit of the owners wife and daughter.
The master had saluted them with curt
civility when they had come on board
with James Kahp. The two or three
sailors went about their duties as usual,
but seemed to give the passengers as
wide a berth as possible So the super
cargo was invaluable TO them. James
Kahn was not above serving their meals.
and as interim ships cook was evidently
an artist in his way. He had found