The Holbrook news., 1909-12-10

for many years-happy years"
 Father. let me have tea with you 1t would be a perfectly glorious birth. day party. Say yes, do."
 Very we'll" he said quietly. Have your own way, Doll"
 She gave a little ecstatic scream and flew into the hall like a radiant white bird. too important to ring.
 "Jenks, Jenks! I am going to have tea with father! Bring 1t to the II brary directly. please, and the cake!'
 She was back again. all movement and vivacity. The man from the chair where he had thrown himself could not take his haggard eyes from her she seemed the very embodiment oi life
 And after the tea was over he could not get rid of her without absolute sternness.
 Do you remember last birthday, darling? I was g. and mumsey gave ball. She promised me one this birth day. but she had to go to the La touches. you know. Mumsey Is away a great lot" she said with little re gretful sigh.
 And you are very disappointed tc be done out of your party. old wom an?"
 Not very" said Doll stoutly. "Next year mumsey is sure to be at home she says so. And she sent me this Isn't she darling. sweet mumsey?
 She opened a little gold locket at tached to slender chain round her neck and showed him the charming smiling face of her mother.
 He took it in his hand and looked at 1t long and intently. Tomorrow those gay blue eyes would be cloudeo that haughtily poised head abasec with his dishonor. We'll. he thought bitterly. she had had her hand In 1t They had never run well together she had gone her own way and he his Once things might have been different was 1t his fault or hers? He closed the locket with little snap and lei 1t fall again on Dolls breast.
 And this Is her letter-look darl ing. I'll read 1t to you: So sorry my sweet Doll. to be away on youl birthday-but this is an old engage ment. you know. and Lady Latouche would not let me off. Next birthday | indeed, when I return-we must make up for 1t. I am sending you some thing to console you. hope my Doll is a good little girl and does what Miss Carter tells her. Take good care of father"
 | HA,5 o1, I n1Il I,rol-a oe5 to say.
 'Yes. Doll. yes. old woman. You you would miss me bit if-supposing that I was lost. now?"
 Do men ever get lost?"
 "Often, Doll"
 "Then would die" said Doll. trag- ically.
 Nonsense! Mothers always count | for more. don't they?" he persisted.
 She pressed round his face and looked at him critically.
 Do they-always?" she whispered
 Mostly. Doll"
 But sometimes you-they could l love the fathers just wee quarter of | an inch more, couldn't they?" I she watched him anxiously.
 They might sometimes, Doll"
 ''It wouldn't be wicked?"
 "No. of course not"
 She gave a deep sigh of relief
 He put his arms round the little warm body. and pressed her close tc him. And as he held her there a sudden love of life--a remembrance of all the best and highest of the life he had so basely ill-used- came back and stirred his pulses with gladness and pain.
 He closed his eyes dizzily. and leaned against Dolls shoulder. How near had been Death-and Doll had come between them! He reviewed the mad acts of the last few days-the maddest acts of his spoiled life. He had dishonored the name that genera tions of good-living men had trans. mitted to him. That very afternoon was 1t only this afternoon or centuries ago?-his lawyers had begged him tC pull in. to retrench. They had asked him to go abroad until they could l SSlllS HIS nCy had sworn that if he would promise them to give up his mad gambling they would be able yet in time to save an honored name-an honored house. And what had his answer been? He had flung away from them with a laugh. Let my name and | place go. My whole existence has been a mistake. I shall go to the devil my own way"
 And then in the place of Death and dishonor had come-Doll. He was alive. thank God! Thank God!
 Doll. darling, wise old woman. did | you ever turn over new leaf?"
 'Lots." said Doll promptly.
 Well. I've turned over one. all the leaves in my book are stained but this I hut @0