Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-23

been able TO find out, Is that you are
afraid to let yourselves enjoy any
thing am an indlviduallst. | am
also a Frenchman, and II Miss Dora
Il going to be happy | should hate
to think in the years that are TO come
| that besitated TO enter into the spirit
Of her happiness merely because her
fathers legal adviser had an over
developed bump Of caution"
The girl sat down and faced the
three men calmly and with set jaws.
This was not the first conference OF
this kind which she had attended. and
she was more than Injured to them.
I'VE want to talk this thing over
with you. Dora" began Professor Full
lerton.
"Of what use will II be?" asked the
girl. Haven't we talked II over
enoughi. Hasn't Aunt Cornelia told
you that 7 am so much like my moth
er l never will be any goodT Hasn't
she said TO you as well as to me that
even II I do give up this great oppor-
tunity I will be doing something just
as evil 10 q short timer
"But ! have told you" said PrOfes-
sor Fullerton. that l have reproved
Aunt Cornelia for talking that way"
"Yesi" cried the girl. But have you
been able 10 stop her? She sat In my
room last night until . o'clock and told
me what 4 deyilish being ] was-just
like my mother. Mother. too, ran
away. she says. to go on the stage.
SO what II the user'
"Iiut you wish to do as your father
asks you. Dora 2" said Fullerton. with
az much gentleness as he could put
into his voice.
Under ordinary circumstances
should not think Of doing anything
else but what he asks me, but am
weary OF being told that have moth.
Ing but the most despicable traits, aud
I want to live my life as | see It."
vsvin moved over to where the girl
sat and took her hand soothingly. Her
father. he explained. bad asked Judge
Elliott and himself to spend the week
end with him that they might help her
by their advice and suggestion. The
girls eyes flled with tears as he gently
endeavored to show her that there
was not the opposition TO her plans
that she believed.
Il am here, my dear child as much
as your friend as l am here as
friend Of your father, Let us talk the
matter over"
The girl declared that she was
weary. "Let me CO." she said. "and
you fight It out among yourselves
you" and she took vavin's hand be-
tween her own-"you. know. are my
friend, and II you decide that should
not take this part In Mr.. Holcomb's
play then won't do It,"
spoken like a sensible girl" said
Elliott, aud even Fullerton felt that
with that attitude the matter was
practically disposed Of.
at is very fortunate" said Judge
Elliott when Dora had left the room.
that you have this influence over her.
as am afraid she has come to feel
that the rest OF us are not sympa-
thetic"
"Are your asked Vavin.
Fullerton and Elliott looked at him
with surprise.
"You are both affectionate. but are
You sympathetic TO her mood? DO you
| put yourself inside OF the young girls
| mind? Are you once again young
/ yourselves. with the wide world be-
fore you as wonder book? 2"
Then you sympathize with this er
ratio desirer'
"Errati' for a Judge" replied Vavin.
'erratlc for a professor. erratIc, may
he. for an author with a gray mus
| tache. But for a yOung girl with
beauty, with a heart. with imagina-
tion. with fire, with sensibility, that Is
not necessarily erratic."
"Yon encourage her. them" said FuI
lertOn. beginning to doubt the proyI
dental quality OF yayin's lnterposi
| tIOn.
| u don't know. What is betterf"
The Judge tried to explain to him
that ln America persons connected
| with the theater did not receive the
social recognition accorded them in
! France and went over much the same
! ground a. they had covered the night
before at the dinner table.
II am afraid" said Fullerton. who
| had walkel up to the closet In the
| library and taken therefrom an oak
l'"x. that We are wasting n great deal
~ time. / had hoped when you came
here. NJ. Vavin. that you would give
Dora the advice that | had suggested.
You are apparently Ia sympathy with
her. and this makes II necessary for
NE TO tell you something which not
even you. Judge, had suspected. The
money that enables US TO live here
| with a sweep Of his hand he indicated
the comfortable surToundlngs-"a pro-
fessorship as you can Imagine. would
hardly support us-is the Interest upon
fund in trust. | mention this be-
cause If the property were my own
my nrst thought In this situation
would not be of that. But / must pro
tect what hold In trust, and only my
proper heirs can inherit It. This leads
me To tell you something that Is known
only to myself and my sister. Dora Is
not my daughter"
Elliott stared blankly at him. while
Vavin, whose ironic calm had once
been referred 10 as institutional, turn.
ed nrst white. then red. while his
hands twitched nervously.
"Ceci est absolutement vraip" be ex-
claimed.
Il Knew II would surprise you both"
said Fullerton, "and / hated TO tell H.