The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-12-24
which were addressed to old o'Hlg-

my little girl
Insult" cried lngraham. astOnish-
ed. Who Despard? Has Nanon'-
Read these" said O'Higgns. hand
ing him l'renchy Dpspard's notes. He
took the opened one of O'Higgins frs,
You have deceived me grossly" II
started. without introduction. You
have tried To foist your ugly daughter
on me under false pretenses. and re.
bel. i have gone away-so far that you
will never be able TO find me to marry
your daughter that cannot cook"
Bewildercd. the man opened the 9th
er note.
Dear NJ. Ingraham." it read. IL am
forced TO the flight. ignominious. Mile
Nanon, my tiapcee. | find Is no cook
at all. On arriving at her home unan-
nounced today l saw her father pre-
pairing those so elegant dishes we have
thought she made OF course l cannot
marry her. but fear they will try to
force this so unpleasant state on me.
Your mOtOrboat | return from Miami"
Uncertain whether to laugh or join
the O'Iiggins' lament. lngraham stood
staring ut the epistles. Then the thought
Of the girls sad eyes came to him.
And Nanon?" he asked somewhat
awkwardly.
KNOWS. and it will break her proud
heart to see you all again. oh. my
poor little girl. to think | brought this
on you. And | thought | was doing
it for your good" The old mans sobs
broke out afresh.
Did she love this Despard so much,
them" queried Ingraham.
NO. no. was the hasty answer.
Lately I've come to think she didn't
love him ut all, but was doing it to
please me. She knew | wanted her
to marry Frenchman and thought
this was her only chance. You know.
my poor NanOn isn't exactly what
might be called beautiful" he broke
Off dcprecatingly.
InGrahamS face broadened in a sup
pressed smile. but the father went on.
IL have Il confession to make to you.
Mr.. lngraham." he said. something
you should have known before. but Ma
non said mustn't tell. The reason
goes back a long time. Once | had
everything | wanted, and then ii
wouldn't have been necessary for me
to do what | have to get Il husband
for Nanon. You boys maybe thought
we didn't know what brought you here
so much. but we did. 1t was the cook
ing. Nanon knew. but she only laugh
ed and let me have my way. Always
have my way and please me. But, to
go back. after my wife died things
Went wrong. and | lost all had.
had never been taught to work. Sc
could do little. and there came a tune
when we didn't know where to get our
next meal. Then came this chance
down here. Nanon told me TO accept
it. Put ! can't keep accounts told
her. Never mind said she: well fix
that so they'll never know And she
did. ON account of my lameness ! got
permission TO work here in the shack.
Now. don't you see? She did the work.
while kept the house and cooked.
do. you see. but can cook. French
cooking has always been my hobby,
and learned from some of the best
experts alive. Well, ! began to think
Nanon ought to get married. for |
wanted some little children about in
my old age. She never attracted men.
though. IL they knew how beautiful her
heart and mind are. instead of looking
at the face | would not have had to
plan Il scheme for getting attention for
her. thought If man really got to
know her it wouldn't matter about the
means. But I've failed. you see" he
finished. land that's all. I've disgraced
my child. and we'll have to start all
over again somewhere else
Where is the girl:" asked Ingraham
soberly O'Higgins nodded ut the pines.
Seated on Il dead tree trunk he found
the girl. her somber eyes gazing out
the vista Of pine trees into the
patch of opal sen beyond.
"Nunon." he said. Offering his hand.
1--WE come to see IL there isn't some
thing ! can sy-something can do
What is there to be said 2. she an
swered, ruefully smiling. "Only-only
please don't say you'll bring him back"
Then you don't love-didnt love-
u love my father" she said simply.
"And he wanted me to marry"
As the man looked down into the
deep eyes that told so much Of self
sacrifice and love. that would have
made her even sacrifice her life to give
an old man passing happiness. the
slow dawn of comprehension broke
over him. n comprehension of what 1t
meant to know woman who knew
only one law-the law of devotion.
He had never been a man Of impulse,
but rs Ingraham gazed ut her the one |
thai came to him was needed.
There are other men to marry, Ma
non." he said looking her squarely i'm |
the eyes. The girl WINGED bit. but |
replied:
1T cannot be that you, too, are
looking for q cook?''
'Tm looking for woman" he said. |
81 nj I fbiuk I'va found har I xvou'f /