Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-08-11
CHAPTER XIX.

Zelda had carried in her heart for
weeks the fear of some such disclosure
as that which she had just heard from
her uncle. In her Ignorance of bust
ness, she had not even vaguely guess :
ed what had taken SO strong a hold
upon her father. He had acted strange
ly during the long summer, but she
had attributed his vagaries to the Ia
trinity Of years.
Zelda went at once to the living
room where her father usually sat
with his newspaper. but he had not
come home; and she went up to her
own room, glad Of a respite. She had
acted her part SO long; she had de-
tended him in her own heart and by
her own acts; she had even sought 70
clothe him in her thoughts with some
thing of the dignity, the nobility even,
of honorable age; but this was now at
an end 1t was clear that q crisis
had been reached; and while the pure
lv business aspect of the situation did
not trouble her at ALL she felt that her
relations with her father could never
again he the same. She had been
shielding him, not from the contempt
IF her kindred, but from her own dis
trust as we'll; and now that this was
at an end, she went slowly to her room
with a new feeling of Isolation in her
heart.
She made light and put aside her
- and coat with the studied care tba
vs give to little things in our perplex
,ties, Then she unlocked the draw r
If her desk in which she kept her
mothers book. 1t opened at the page
+hat had meant SO much to her. that
had been her guide and her command
ond she pondered the sentences anew
when she heard her father come In
che went down in her street dress. with
the little book in her pocket, slowj,,
and with no plan formed.
He stood with his back to the 6ane
his hands behind him, and reea rda5
zelda warily, In a way that had grown
habitual of late.
'Where have you been. Zee?" he
asked
..I went down to Zimmer's to look ,
some pictures they are showing there:
and on my way home stopped at I'm
Gle Rodney's."
"Ah, yes: your Uncle Rodney. I
haven't seen him since he came home. +"
He did not seek the evening paper
with his wonted eagerness when they
returned to the sitting-room after din
ner, but continued talking.
There are some business matters
that l should like to speak Of to- night,
Zee"
Every well, father"
"As to your affairs, the trusteeshID
established by your dear mother Is
nearly at an end. 1t expires by the
limitations of your mothers will on
your twenty-frst birthday, that is. to-
morrow"
Yes; I believe that is So
He looked at her quickly; he found
her composure disquieting. Perha os
Rodney Merriam had been giving her
counsel!
"As we have just said-and I WAS
glad to find you agreeing with me-a
woman does well to let business alone
There Is an immense amount Of detail
connected with an estate-even a COM
paratively small one, like your moth
er's There are many accounts to keep.
I have kept them for years in my own
way. l am not an expert accountant,
but l hope that my work Is accurate.
At any time that you would like to e1-
anime the books, 1 should be glad 20
aid you"
Thank you-yes. Of course" said
Zelda, hurriedly. She had been think
ing Of other things; but she now fixed
her attention upon what her father was
saying.
7 have thought. Zee that perna ps
you would like to continue this trds-
teeship. No one else understands the
nature Of the property SO well as L
have given the best years of my life 70
studying 1t. The burden is a consid-
cradle one for my years. I am nearing
70-but If you would like to have me
go on, I should be willing to do so.
Your dear mother gave me her entire
confidence; 1t would please me II
could feel that your own trust In me
was equally great"
4 suppose there Is no bury abou.