The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-06-01

She approached the door of her
fathers study with the hope that af-
Ter ali she might not find him there.
and the ordeal OF telling her great
news would be thus mercifully post
poned. Under her admiration Of him
had always been a real fear of his
Judgments. Of his old-fa shiOned. mar
row code concerning the place of wo-
men in the world. Of his unalterable
prejudiCes; a fear intensified in this
5nstance by the knowledge OF her di-
rect disobedience Of a command laid
two years ago upon her. She had not
only disObcyed IL in becoming friends
with Robert Underwood. but had gone
far beyond that forbidden point.
Her timid knock brought re-
Spouse. She entered softly. a certain
rightly i'm her slender hSure. the re-
suit of her effort at selt-ContrOl. Her
dark. straight brows were drawn
slightly together. Her eyes. in which
all the beauty Of her romance seemed
for the moment concentrated, sought
her fathers face wiStfullY.
He was not a figure to inspire con-
fidence as he bent his heavy brOws
over the ledger OF his domestic eX-
penditures. The suggestion of granite
in his hard features was borne out by
his immobile attitude and the static
look OF his surroundings.
over the fireplace hung a portrait
Of her mother, a pale, dehcately-fea-
tured woman. of whom one would
know instiuctively that she had al
ways bowed To the will Of her hus-
band. content to measure her exist
enCe by the four walls of her home
Felice resembled her in the fine CHS
cling Of her features, and the gar
denia Wilderness of her complexion;
but the daughters face possessed =
certain strength lacking in the moth
er's
She waited until her fathers stub
born. expressive thumb had made it's
slow way down the row OF figures and
his lips had ceased their soundless
calculation.
May / interrupt you?"
He raised his head.
We'll. Felice ?"
Il have come to tell you something,
father"
What is it. my dear? The cook
isn't going to leave. l hope
It's something about myself"
About yourself he repeated un-
easily. He had not always approved
OF his daughter since her entrance
into society. for she had frequently
girl of breeding should know eek
cept as she knew Of far-off jungles.
or dark. unVisited mines; topics such
as strikes on the East Side and the
problems of the poor.
We'll. what have YOU to tell me
about yOurselfI''
i am engaged to be married. faith
err
The color left his face for an in
slant. He looked incredulous. The
words, why, you're only a child, "
sprang to his lips. Then he remem-
bered that she was twenty-one, that
she had been already two years in
society. His surprise gave way to a
feeling OF pleasure. If the man We're
acceptable-and a daughter of his
would, of course. choose wisely-this
was the best possible outcome of her
two years of gaiety- He was glad
that she was going thus early TO her
natural destiny. for he had been
haunted of late by the fear that she
would turn into one Of those strange,
unclassified beings who wishes to re-
form the world. to live her own life"
divorced from all that nature intend
sd her 10 be. He knew such women
were abroad in the land. leaving. in
his opinion, their sure home duties
for vague will-o the -wisps of social
obligation.
so you're going to be married,
You've stolen a march on me. eh?