Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-08-11
His Daughter FT0nCeS



The man In the library turned In his
chair and looked at the picture of
woman over the mantel. The woman
was young and beautiful, and the artist
had appreciated his subject The man
looked at the picture long and earnest
ly, and softly sighed. Then he touched
q button on the wall.
"Send my daughter here" he said to
the servant.
Stephen Elliott turned back to his pa
pers But somehow the written words
seemed to run together The mans
mind had turned back to the subject of
the portrait over the mantel. They had
been so happy for such little while.
Then she had gone, leaving him with
Sn iEfant daughter.
How we'll he remembered her last
words.
''Be very good to our child, Stephen.
Watch over her. care for her-be moth
err and father to her"
He had promised with little thought
Of what he was saying, his great grief
blotting out all minor details. Now the
words came back to him. Had he car
ried out that promise? Was he giving
his child, their child, the care that her
mother would have given her? Was it
the right kind Of care?
did you want me, papa?"
He looked up quickly. A slender girl
of Is was standing by his desk. She
was dark-eyed child. pale and list
less.
"Yes. Frances. Sit here. / want to
have a little talk with YOU" He paused
as she took the chair he indicated.
Frances he said. ARE you quite hap
by here?'
She looked at him little startled
"Why. yes, papa"
ssTherc is something else | want to
say to you. Frances. am going away"
Eyes. papa"
IL am going fa- away-to japan and
then across Asia to Europe. | may be
gone for year or even more. Il de-
ponds on my business success"
You couldn't take me with you.
could you. papas" she asked.
NO: that is quite impossible Some
day. no doubt. Won can go with me
after you finish school,"
The child turned and softly left the
room. The father watched the slender
figure disappear. Poor. motherless girl.
A sudden wave OF pity surged through
his heart. Had he done the best he
could for the childl How very tame
she seemed. how lacking In emotion. He
sighed as he turned back to his papers.
He thought OF the lonely figure he
was leaving behind as he sped across
the continent. The child had chung to
him at their parting and cried bitterly,
but his sister Edith had drawn her
away and comforted her-and he had
hurried into the waiting car. Edith
was stu holding her close as the train
sped away.
Il was more than two years before
Stephen Elliott turned his face home
ward He was not WELL The fever
he'd left him weak and irritable. but
ne SUUuSNt4 lett nSfOuS uctS4
10 so back TO America. The details of
his business were In competent hands.
He had become a very rich man. There
was nothing to take up his attention
now save the recovery cf his health.
His family physician was at the
dock to meet him. This old friend
looked at him anxlously as he pressed
his hand
He saw Stephen settled In the bis
easy chair that faced the wide window
through which he could see the Ions
wooded slope and the sparkling Hud
son. Then the. old doctor pressed thf
wasted hand aud growled a word %
two Of cheer and FASTENED away.
AS he sar there be heard voice
Somebody was singing In an inne'
apartment. Ii WAS pleasant voice
low ard mellow. It must be the maid
There wxs something soothing aoou
The voice. The shadows were creeping
up the hills The mists were risLn;
from the river. He closed his eyes
He was aroused BY voice from tn
tnnsr doorway.