The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1909-11-26

1t would be a perfectly glorious birth.
day party. Say yes, do"
Very we'll" he said quietly. Have
your wi way, Doll"
She gave a little ecstatic scream
and few into the hall like a radiant
white bird, too important to ring.
jerks, Jenksl I am going to have
tea with father! Bring It to the H.
orary directly, please, and the cakel"
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
h seemed the very embodiment Of
life.
And after the tea was over he could
not get rid Of her without absolute
sternness.
DO you remember last birthday.
darling? was Q, and mumsey gave .
ball. She promised me one this birth
day, but she had to go to the La
touches, o know. Mumsey Is away
a great lot" she said With a little re.
gretful sigh.
0AA gOu ~ NNAy uA1dpPoAnLGA ~
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 che sent me this,
Isn't she a darling. sweet mumsey?"
She opened a little gold locket at.
tached to a slender chain round her
neck and showed him the charming.
smiling face Of her mother.
He took 1t in his hand and looked
at It long and intently. Tomorrow
those gay blue eyes would be clouded
; that haughtily poised head abased
with his dishonor. Well, he thought
bitterly, she had had her hand in It
They had never run well together
she had gone her own way and he his.
A Once things might have been different
was 1t his fault or hers? He closed
the locket with q little snap and let
1t fall again on Dolls breast.
And this is her letter-look darl-
Q ing. I'll read It to you; so sorry,
I my sweet Doll. to be away on your
birthday-but this is an old Engage.
ment, you know, and Lady Latouche
o would not let me of. Next birthday
indeed, when I return-we must make
up for 1t. l am sending you some
thing to console you. / hope my Doll
a is a good little girl and Toes what
Miss Carter tells her. Take good care
Of father"
And I am. aren't II" Doll broke OF
to say.
Eyes, Doll, yes, old YOU
you would miss me a bit if-supposins
that l was lost, now?"
do men ever get lost?"
"Often, DOLL"
N Then would die" said Doll. trag
ically.
Nonsense! Mothers always coun.
II for more, don't they?" he persisted.
! She pressed round his face ant
looked at him critically.
do they-always?" she whispered.
MOSTLY, Doll"
But sometimes you-they coult
love the fathers Just . wee quarter o
an inch more, couldn't they7'
He considered the question, Will
she watched him anxiously.
They might sometimes, DOLL"
ut wouldn't be wicked?'
NO, OF course not"
She gave a deep sigh Of relief.
He put his arms round the littl
warm body, and pressed her close t
him. And as he held her there
- sudden love Of life-a remembrance
OF all the best and highest of the III
n he had so basely ill-used-came bac
and stirred his pulses with Eiadnes
and pain.
III He closed his Eyes dizzily. an
&c leaned against Dolls shoulder. Ho'
IL near had been Death-and Doll ha
come between them! He reviewed tn
a. mad acts of the last few days-th
maddest acts of his spoiled life. II
had ~dishonored the name that generi
w. tions Of ~good-living men had tran
mitted to him. That very afternoon
y. was It only this afternoon or c~enturit
=. ago?-his lawyers had begged him
a. pull in, to retrench. They had aske
l. him to go abroad until they coul
settle his submerged affairs. The
had sworn that II he would promi'
N them to give up his mad gamblin
they would be able yet In time
lot save an honored name-an honorc
or house. And what had his answ'
He been? He had flung away from the
'er with a laugh. Let my name ar
place go. My whole existence b
nd been a mistake. I shall go to Il
We devil my own way"
GU And then in the place Of Death al
dishonor had come-Doll. He wi
alive. thank God! Thank God!
Doll, darling, wise old woman. d
you ever turn over a new leafT
~ Lots" said Doll promptly.
Well. I've turned over one, all I
az leaves in my book are stained but n