St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1910-07-22
CHAPTER II.-(Continued.)
who's afrald3" she said, and laugh

ehhyf cdFIgnb u sHah beShot hhou
with keys.
These are yours, my daughter" he
said, and waved his hand with little
touch Of manner
"Oh. so manyi" She poured the keys
upon the table. There were half a
hundred OF them, OF many kinds and
sizes; and they were all tagged with
little bits Of ivory. on which their sew
eral uses were written clearly In Ink.
Your mother was very methodlcal--
very painstaking-"
lie shook his head and turned TO the
fire, as though to hide anw shor OF
feeling.
Zelda was turning the keys over IN
her hand, and she did not look at him
A mist had come into her eyes. She
remembered the dark woman who had
been so gentle and patient with her
childhood. They used to walk togeth-
er In the old pasture: and they carried
their books to a seat that had been
built under a great beech where her
mother read the quaint tales and old
ballads that were her delight. These
were the only happy memories she
had kept OF her mother-the times un-
der the beech, with which her father
was not associated.
I'm sure It's your time 10 go 10 bed.
father. You mustn't let me break In
on your ways" Zelda walked over to
him and put her hands on his shoui-
ders Il want 20 be very good to you.
father: and I know wen live here very
happily. You won't mind mo much
when you get used 10 moi"
She touched his forehead with her
lips.
Thank you. thank you"--and there
was a helpless note In his voice.
She turned away from him quickly,
restored the keys 20 the basket and
ran with Il 90 her room.
The next morning she was down TO
his 7 o'clock breakfast In the cold. for
bidding dininR-room. She was very
gay and made him talk a great deal TO
her. lie had been up for an hour NJ
work IN tho barn. whore he cared for
his own horse. lie carried tho morn
ing newspaper 10 the table, an ho had
done for years
This will never do. fathorl You
must talk TO me and help mo 10 learn
tho American breakfast habit I'll be
lonesome n you read at the table"
His thoughts seemed far away he
had long been out OF practice In the
amenities and Eraeea. and the morning
had brought him once moro face TO
face with this change In his life. The
place across the table had been empty
for 30 many years that no resented the
appoaranco there OF this slender dark
girl. pouring his coffee with an ease
that puzzled and even touched him.
There had been another Girl like her.
In the long ago. and this was her
child. The resemblance between moth
or and daughter was 30 marked that
he grew uneasy ar he pondered ~ ne
made n pretenae OF holding up his
newspaper TO shut out the girl. and
when he dropped Il Zelda was waiting
for him. her elbows on the table. her
hands elaaped under her chin.
"oh. pardon mel" he exclaimed. ris'
ing hastily.
As she helped him into his overcoat
her hand touched "A hammer he car
rled In his pocket with miscellaneous
assortment OF nails. for use In repair
ing the small properties he owned In
many parts OF town. and she drew the
implement forth and inspected Il az
arms length
why. fatherl What on earth is
thlsY"
The nails jingled. and she made a
dive into the pocket and drew form
handful.
why. you've forgotten 10 empty
your pockets. You mustn't so about
with this hardware In your clothes"
He reached for the things. a little
shamefacedly.
"You don't understand. ! need them
to make trining repairs. you know"
lie smiled. and she put the things back
into his pockets. stlll laughing at him
Il must go about with you. 1 can
carry the hammer Maybe you will let
me drive a nail once In while. n !
am good"
He drew out faded silk handker-
chief and began twisting Il about his
throat but Zelda took II from him ana
adjusted Il carefully under his coat
collar; and she brushed his old brown
derby hat with a whisk broom that
lay on the hall table.
He suffered her ministrations with
his patient smile. into which he tried
10 throw something OF look OF pride;
and when she had set the hat square
~ on his head, she drew back and re-
garded him critically and then kissed
him on the cheek.
Now be sure to come home 10
luncheon always. You didn't come
Yesterday and II was lonely. I must
get Polly 10 show me the way TO the
grocery. l don't intend TO let her be
the boss. I'm sure she's been abusing
you all these years"
"oh, In time you win come to H.
Polly will do very well, and you
oughtn't 10 be bothered with such
things. IL usually buy the groceries
myself. one Of my tenants Is a gro
Ger and--and-he does little better
for mel"
"Oh, to be sure You must do II In
your own way father" There was a
note OF disappointment In her voice.
and he would have liked 10 coneede
10 her. but he did not know
how.
She roamed idly about the house,
going finally TO the kitchen, where the
colored woman told her THAI orders
for the remaining meals OF the day
had been given by her father. Polly
Viewed Zelda with admiration. but she
aid not ask advice. and ZeDda contln-
ued her wanderings. going finally 10
the attic with the key basket
The place was pitch dark when she
threw open the door. and as there was
no way OF lighting II. sne went down
and brought several old candlesticks
from the parlor. The attic was a great
low room extending over the whole
Of the house. II was unplastered. Box
es and barrels abounded. Bunches OF
herbs. long dried. and garden tools
hung here and there; in a corner an
old saddle was suspended by one stir
rup. Pieces Of furniture covered with
cloths were distributed under the
raves. their draperies heavy with dust,
and the light OF the candles gave them |
! spectral appearance.