The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-12-16
The stranger gave a little start.

nam reply.
Perhaps" he hoarsely murmured,
she is ashamed to face me?''
No" Durham answered She
| mas no reason to feel ashamed. but
sne is proud-foolishly proud. Fer
maps you know where she secured
this trait. She has been poor and
tor time she was friendless, but
she has had no thought of asking
your help
There was a brief silence
This is bitter thing that you
tell me-" said the old man slowly.
How can | ever forgive her for the
pain she has caused me-for the dis
grace she has brought to our hon.
ored name?"
Wait" said the young man.
Disgrace is harsh term. She left
her home, it is true, but that
scarcely deserves to be called dis,
graceful action"
The stranger Strengthened up.
do you presume to instruct me?"
he demanded
DO you desire to see your daugh-
ter?' Durham asked.
Yes, yes
The harsh voice softened, the
proud head dropped.
II have something to say to you,"
the younger man remarked. 81 ask
you to listen quietly. My sister has
heard what your daughter has to
tell. My sister, l think, is the only
woman who has spoken kindly to
her since she left home"
Go on" said the old man.
my sister told me what your
daughter said. Will you hear it,"
Go on said the old man.
she is proud young girl and
you often hurt her feelings by treat
ing her as you would a child. In
your effort to keep her safe and un-
contaminated you were too strict
with her. You drove away the young
people of her age. You restricted
her hours of leisure, you restricted
her reading, you failed to appreci.
ate the fact that she is woman
grown and that she would naturally
regard your we'll meant care as I'M
just and intolerant. She is proud
and she reDelled. You curtailed her
most innocent pleasures and when
she asked you 'Why?' you silenced
her with harsh reproof. A woman
would have understood the girl, but
she is motherless.'
He paused and looked around at
the old man.
Go on"
Finally there was a violent scene
she denounced your tyranny and
you said things to your only child
that you should always regret. And
then she determined to go away
When she went out of your door
she had made up her mind never to
return-never to ask your help. 1t
was foolish pride, Of course, but
her heart was very bitter Well,
she came to the big city confident
she could win living. But the lit
tie money she had = money given
her by her dead mother melted
away and she even had to sell her
simple belongings and was very,
very poor"
The old man softly groaned
And then she came to my sister. :"
He paused a moment. "Of course I
know that she is not the only one
who has suffered. | can imagine her
father sitting in his lonely home,
hurt in his pride, wounded in his
love, stunned and grieved, listening
Vainly for the light step he had
. learned to know SO We'll. And it
must have been much harder when
Christmas time approached, the
blessed Christmas time, and the
child, his only child--the child that
had been left him as sacred trust
ny the wife of his youth--was not
there with dancing feet and laughing
eyes to give to the dull old house
the Quickening spirit Of the day.
The old man had been sitting very
still. Now he made a restless moves
Ment.
Don't" he murmured brokeny.
There was brief silence.
IF there could be a new under
standing between this proud father
and this proud girl" the young man
went on more quickly, 'all might be
we'll with them. 1t would mean an
exchange Of sympathy and tolerance
, for love and confdence-and that
looks to me like very fair transac-
ton"
The old man glared at him.
Boy" he hoarsely cried. cant
you see that ! am hungering for a
sight of my child. Where is she?"
Here" Durham answered as the
car drew to the curb.
He took the old mans arm as
they went up the great stone steps,
A servant opened the door and
took their hats and coats. Durham
drew the old man into the parlor.
And then the inner door opened,
and two ladies came into the room
and one was Dunhams sister and
one was the old mans daughter.
They We're like an older and younger