The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1909-08-06
HisDaughter 'sChoiCe
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Il want Low ne Spedhel pause"
dramatically Don't remind me that
my allowance is overdrawn already; |
know 1t. If you won't give it me, call
It loan and charge interest-any rate
you like. But the money | must have
somehow, or be ruined"
I'm afraid you're that already,
Clivep John Granger, rising from his
chair, regarded the younger man with
scorn. "Another gambling affair, sup
pose-a debt Of honor?" he said, In Icy
tones. "Well, you'll have no more
money from me-not penny. warned
you last time that you need never ask
again and my word Is my bond"
"And-and you'll see me disgraced,
never able to look decent man In the
face again, for the sake Of a paltry
f5Ow
"No! For your own sake, Give!
When promised your dying father to
look after his son, vowed that | would
carry that promise out Loyalty for the
sake of the friendship that had lived
for years. I've done 1t! You've been
brought up In my own house, with my
own child; every possible help that I
could give you, you've had. Now It's
got to end You've lived In luxury too
long; perhaps II you see little Of the
sterner side of life 1t will bring you to
your senses!"
"Oh don't preach!" retorted Give
Thornhill, bitterly. "That sort of thing
only make a fellow worse; and I've
heard 1t all so often Are you such
saint yourselfT he asked, fiercely.
"Have you nothing to reproach yourself
with--no skeleton In your own cup
board? l wonder what Winnie would
think, for instance, If | were to tell
her."
"What?" John Granger faced round
sharply; his eyes seemed to challenge
the other in that swift glance. 'What?"
he asked again.
"Well, that the mother whom she be-
lieves to be dead still lives! !" said
Thornhill, In a sullen, dogged voice. He
had not meant to play that last card
yet but 1t had been forced from him
somehow. There was a 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
1t I'm not going to ask don't want
to know But If you think that It
makes one 1ot or title of difference,
you're mistaken. I'm the last man In
the world to be bullied or blackm. lied
you should know that also, Give! And
now good night and-and goodbye! I
think we'd better part company after
this, don't your
He did not offer his hand neither did
the lad attempt to take It. Dumbfound
ed, he stood there an instant; then,
without word. he turned on his heel
and left the room,
John Granger sank back into his
chair. "How did he come to know?' he
whispered, hoarsely. "Who told hlm?"
But the question found no answer,
The door had hardly closed when the
French windows at the other end of the
room were pulled back violently A girl,
with white, tragic face, emerged and
came toward him.
Dad she moaned 81 was In the
conservatory and | heard--yes, every
word What Give said isn't true; oh,
tell me 1t isn't true"
she fell on her knees by his side, and
her hand sought his beseechingly, John
Granger was hard man. His enemies
said II often, and his few friends did
not deny the assertion, But all knew
there was one soft spot In his heart,
His daughter, Winnie, was the flower
of his life-hl idol he would have cut
off his right hand to save her pain
and now he was poweress to help her
Little girl" he whispered in that
broken voice, II meant you never to
know had told myself that II was
better you never should know. But
now II is idle to deny It. 1t is true"
Daddy"
Listen" he went on, "Your mother
and were never we'll mated, She was
some years younger than l, butterfly
OF the gay world; the humdrum exist
ence OF a grImy little manufacturing
town chafed her after the whirl and
swirl of London. She was always PIN
ing fer change, gaiety, pleasure; she
could not understand my desire to re-
main here When you came ON the
sene things were worse. She looked