The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-01-07


When the men csusarn later Ingra
ham hurried to the O'Higgins shacI
Old O'Higgins, more bent and farIor
than ever. sat In the little doorwa
softly weeping.
"Despard?" queried the superintend
ent. HAS he been here: Isent him.
He was here-yes.' answered tn
old man bitterly. And has gon
away. but IL live long enough to fin
him he will answer for this insult L
my little girl''-
"Insult!" cried Ingraham. astonist
ed. "Who-Despard? Has Nanon'-
Read these said OHiggins. hand
ing him Frenchy Despard's nQtek II
took the opened one of O'EligEMS d.
You have deceived me grossly 1
started. without introduction. "Yo,
have tried TO foist your ugly daughte
on me under false pretenses. and re
bel. have gone away-so far that yor
will never be able to find me to marry
your daughter that cannot cook
Bewildered, the man opened the 9th
err note.
Dear NJ. Ingraham." it read. Il an
forced to the fight. ignominious. Mile
Nanon. my fiancee. / find is no cook
at all. On arriving at her home unan.
nounced today | saw her father pre-.
pairing those so elegant dishes we have
thought she made. OF course | 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 Origins 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.
mo. 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 a Frenchmau and thought
this was her only chance. You know.
my poor NanOn isn't exactly what
might be called beautiful" he broke
off deprecatingy.
lngraham'S face broadened in II sup
pressed smile. but the ather went on.
IL have Il confession to make to you.
Mr.. lngra ham," 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 it
wouldn't have been necessary for me
to do what have 10 get n 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. Nanou knew. but she only laugh
ed and let me have my way Always
she only had it IN her mind to let me
have my way and please me. But, to
90 back, after my wife died things
went wrong. and lost all | had.
had never been taught to work, so
could do little. and there came time
when we didn't know where to get our
next meal. Then came this chance
down here. Nanon told me to accept
it. But | can't keep accounts told
her. Never mind said she. well fix
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.
Cooking was the only thing | could
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. if they knew how beautiful her
heart and mind are. instead of looking
at the face | would not have had to
plan a scheme for getting attention for
her. thought if Il 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 at the pines.
Seated on a dead tree trunk he found
the girl, her somber eyes gazing out
through the vista of pine trees into the
patch of opal sea beyond.
'Nanon," he said. offering his hand,
"Ive come to see if there isn't some
thing can say-something can do
What is there to be said?' she an
swered. ruefully smiling. "Only-only
please don't say you'll bring him back"
Then you don't love-didn't love-
II 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 a comprehension broke