The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-31

Rosa Fredericka Rosa Frederfcka !" she whiSr
Aunt Remson tapped softly at her DOORS SIX o'clock
wake up, lazy bird !" she cried.
A muf1ed sound reached her. Rosa, open the door
for I want to help you dress-here are the new
hair ribbons"
"I-I can't open the door," faltered Rosa.
"Can't open it! What did you lock 1t fsr7 Don't
you know that lock sticks? I'll shake and you lit
up That will do It,"
II don't want TO-" Rosa said in q very man veice.
"Please don't ask mel can't"
Mrs Remson stood still and thought Outtde IN the
maple for bons She listened e s
happy shout. and then the hafstiaed breathag q
"Rosie, dear" she said softly. Its almost time cor
. 4 know" said Rosa, brotenly Don't tail me-
"Do you want to stay here until he eomes7" asasas
Il guess do" faltered Rosa and as she heard her
aunts retreating steps she pressed her face against
the door sobbed. Aunt Remson went back swiftiy
"Rosa," said she, shaking the door sharply. what
is the matter? Are you III"
Nom, I-I"-a white envelope pushed under
the door, can't my father-I-you give him
this letter."
Her puzzled aunt stared At the little letter ma
GIRL but ss e
Mr.. Stephenson ana his surprise arrived at the
= e
the twins and Billy. Rosa stared through her psep-.
swhere's my daughter cried the beloved votes.
who's hidden my daughter? She what3' he de-
manded-"a letter. Goodness, how formal!"
window. "Heavens Jane" he caught his sisters facs
in lis hands whats all this aboutT
smile Ct relief. II thought It must be seroas The
poor child seemed to feel bad it."
e sse eatea the ,n letter into nee hands a Sus
Mrs Remson read the letter:
DEAR FATHER: should like to 60 to some convent
please ard be nun, IL you will just say yes think
had better 60. am sorry can not see you, but
you must not talk to perspective nun because men
can't would like to kiss you goodby tonight when
ROSA FREDrn1cxA STEPHENSON.
Isl am sorry not to be a PRESBYTERIAN any more
but of course can't and be nun.
He had bounded up the stairs and was standing at
Daughter ~ he said. softly.
Father, dear" cried Rosa, "p1ease please go away
"Its nearly dark now. Hurry out! They're all
waiting We're all going down the river for ride
and dinner!" The door did not open.
"Daughter:" His voice stern II want
you to come out directly"
Il can't can't" insisted Rosa, stubborny. you
IF it's the nun business" he said brusquely "you
can tell me that Tomorrow. Come open the door y
II won't - she sobbed
The quick temper he thought he had lost In hts years
Of suffering Jared out. The door gave way with
crash that sent her flying wildly to the fartest
She was weak with fright when she heard him
stumbling her little stool in the darkness He
fumbed for the light caught at the swinging bulb and
snapped it on sharply.
Her slender form looked almost ludfcrously small
wardrobe. 'A Her dress was dsordered, her head
swathed rdiculously in frnged bath-towel aud her
them from the light with quick lift Of her crooked
elbow. Somehow the movement irritated nm
Good Lord I'm not Ss going to beat y0u he Dur
She did not move. "Come herew h repeated.
go away" she begged piteousiy. "Pieass -,
The abJect terror in her voice gave him curious
thrill of sympathetic fright whats the matterT
Il can't tell" she murmured. ~You-you-yos
mustn't ask me-"
IF were you" he said. awkwardly. as though 10
were wheedlins an hysterca woman. I'd wash n
face and take off that silly towel and put pretty
frock. They're waiting .you know"
II can'tw she moaned.
toward es utter rb.P he 81. ss y &: me
dressingtable he stopped abruptly
The locket was there 1t was propped open On top
IT, He was silent so long, standing with his bach q
"Rosaie" he murmured "Rosaile-" The room
was quite still; Rosalies daughter was forgotten he
was then that be saw for tho rst time the tai bottle
with the gaudy label that stood beside the bocs he
words that his daughter had read the fatsful day shs
scrubbed Mrs. Thompson's empty bottle: "Warrsnte1
to produce r,eh gIos;v satarai colder shads 9sft
lie strobe across the room and jerked the towsl
from her head. Matted and dampened. one side oddly
splotched with brown and the other bcached vivid
yellow the little head bent low under his startled
-
her humiliation
"Don't-dm't look at IT," she cried "It-it said
beautiful golden but II told awful liethat b0ttlel
truly didn't mean to be bad--I just wanted to make
1t nice sos you'd love But II I'm II won't
matter Tner mr. don't show at ALL psnse let mo
night. because tonight thought you'd be calling me
GoldiIooks!"
In the long moment that he stared down at the
Ridiculous little f@uro sharp consequences OF his
Of seIesh devotion tn the dead and his grndg.
ing love for the living swept him. He turned
down the merciIess light and in the darkness bent
over his little "irl.
"Dnr~hter door," he r,-"-'r-eA rItvt-oiv. ms he
cnuoht her IN his ard kissed the stained tresses
"Dou~hto~ door"
Tho 1On~-"~N e-6er-,,o,t Fc'to-nd hfS 1t1s the
Of w. not ~,t
vh'r''""s eo''"1ed i bow Is'-n he"venIv music
"f"t1ilocks" he ef~hPd. "My dear little Gol0t
locksW
roo,p"iobt. tofn IN
MetrnnOHtGn NcarspnDer Size dicGfe.