The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1908-12-10
HisDaughier 'sChoice



II want f5Og' The speaker paused
dramatically. ~Don't remind me thar
any allowance Is oTerdrawn already
know n. IL you won't give IL me. call
Il loan and charge interest-any rate
you like. But the money must have
somehow. or be ruined"
-I'm afraid you're that already.
Civel" John Granger. rising from his
chair. regarded the younger man With
scorn. .Anotber gambling affair. sup
poses debt Of honoFf~ be said. in Icy
tones. sweil. youll have no more
money from rne-not penny. ] warned
rou last time that you need never ask
sgain: and my word is my bond e
@And and you1i see me disgraeed.
never abie 60 hook decent man 10 the
face again. for the sake Of paliry
fB0s~
no. For your own sake. clirei
When I promised your dying father 10
look after bis sou. ] vowed that would
carry that promise ont Loyalty for the
sake OF the friendship thar had lived
for years. I've done II. You've been
brought un in ny own house. With my
own child: every possible help that
could give yon. you've had Now it,s
got 20 end You've lived IN luxury too
long: perhaps II sou see a little Of the
sterner side o. life II viii bring you to
your sefses.~
~Oh. don't preach r. resorfed Give
Thornhiii. bitterly. THAT sort Of thing
only make 4 fellow worse: and I've
heard Il al - often. Arr you such a
saint yourseiff~ be asked. fercely.
"Havc you nothing TO rcproaeh yourself
wifh-no skeleton IN your own cup.
boardf I wnnder what Winnie would
think. for Instance. n I were to tell
her"
"whatY' John Granger faced round
sharply: his eyes seemed TO challenge
fbe other In that swift glance. "whatY~
be asked again.
swell. that the mother whom abe be.
lievea 20 be dead still llvesl~ said
ThornhiIl. in suilcn. dow<~d volc~. lie
had not meant to play that last card |
pet: but II had becn forced from him |
somehow. There was = pause. during
which the ticking Of the clock on the
shelf was the only sound that broke
the stiffness.
-Oh. you know that, do your said
his guardian. slowly. How you know
q I'm not going 10 ask don't want
60 know. But II you think that It
makes one jot or little Of difference.
you're mistaken. I'm the last man 10
the world to be bnilied or blackm. He'd
you should know that also. CiIvei And
now good night and--and eood-byel
think we'd better part company after
this. don't youT-
lie did not offer his hand. neither did
the lad attempt 10 take H. Dumbfound
I'd. he stood there an instant; then.
without a word. be turned on his heel
and left the room.
John Granger sank back into his
chair. 'IIow did be come TO known" he
whispered. hoarseiy. ''who told him r
But the question found no answer.
The door had hardly closed when the
French windows nj the other end Of the
room we're pulled back violently. A girl.
With white, tragic face. emerged and
anne toward him. |,
Dad" abe moaned. Fl was In the
and hcard--yes. every
vordi What Give said Isn't true; oh.
ell me II isn't sruei'
She fell on her knees by his side. and
ler hand sought his beseechingly. John
ranger was n hard man. His enemies
aid II often, and his few friends did {
lot deny the assertion. But all knew
here was one soft spot in hls heart I
lie daughter. Winnie. was the flower )
+ his lIfe-his idol he would have cut a
n his right hand TO save her pain.
md now he was powerless to help her. h
Little girl" be whispered 10 that
roken voice. II meant you never to b
now: had told myself that It was /,
ester you never should know. But
ow It is idle to deny 1t. It is true" h
Daddy" d
"Llsten.v he went on. your mothe~ q
nd | were never well mated. she was I
ome years younger than I, butterfly "
+ the gay world; the humdrum exist r,
ncc OF n grImy little manufacturing :,
,wn chafed her after the whlrI and
vlrl OF London. She was always pin y
* for change gaiety, pleasure; she e
,nId not understand my desire 10 re- IL
min here. when You came on the I
.ene things were worse. She looked 81