Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-08-06
His Daughter FI0nCeS


The man in the library turned In his
chair and looked at the picture of a
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
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 a little while.
Then she had gone, leaving him with
an infant daughter.
How well he remembered her last
words.
''Be very good to our child, Stephen.
Watch over her, care for her-be moth
er 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. \ slender girl
of 10 was standing by his desk. She
was dark-eyed child, pale and list
less.
Eyes. Frances. Sit here l want to
have 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"
There is something else l want to
say to you, Frances. l am going away"
Yes, papa"
Il am going far away-to Japan and
then across Asia to Europe. l may be
gone for year or even more. 1t de
ponds on my business success"
You couldn't take me with you,
could you, papa?" She asked.
NO; that is quite impossible. Some
day, no doubt, you 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 child? 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 still holding her close as the train
sped away.
1t was more than two years before
Stephen Elliott turned his face home
ward. He was not we'll. The fever
had left him weak and irritable, but
he suddenly felt a strong determination
to 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 of his health.
His family physician was at the
dock to meet him. This old frient
looked at him anxiously 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 the
wasted hand and growled a word Oh
two of cheer and fastened away.
AS he sat there he heard a voice
Somebody was singing in an inner
apartment. 1t was a pleasant voice
low and mellow. 1t must be the maid
There was something soothing about
abe voice. The shadows were creepins
up the hills. The mists were rising
from the river. He closed his eyes.
He was aroused by voice from the
inner doorway.