The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-12-26

Their. interrupted
the smiling girl. "if 1t has one dia-
mond less that you wished. III survive
The shock"
IF IL were only that, Paula. j
have always respected your common
sense too highly TO deceive you about
business matters, SO l will not con
ceal from you that the Caster deal
went against me, and | am penniless
Every newspaper in town will have
the details within a few days. / am
an old man and do not care, but natu
rally my keenest regret is for you
though nobody can say that your ole
daddy didn't give up every cent he
possessed for what he knew TO be
right and just"
Paula covered her eyes with heI
hand, while the father watched heI
anxiously.
Don't take it hard. dearie," he
begged. Well not starve, though II
will be struggle for a while"
Father" she said calmly, II an
not taking it hard; I was only won
dering how much we could scrape to
Caster have no right on this earth
I'm ashamed to admit 1t, but as far az
I an concerned. I'm glad, truly glad
It's blow for you. but don't worry
about me. You know / always desired
to make my own way, but it's next tc
impossible for a rich mans daughters
Then when I had to take mothers
place, my hands were too full. All
care about is that we get enough tc
go after Caster. There's a Christmas
party at Barham's tonight, but Tc
rather stay here and talk things over
with you"
"Pol1ie girl, you have no idea how
you have lightened my worry" sale
Mr.. Mercer huskily. 81 know you'6
rather not, but by all means go tc
your party. It's most important thai
the true state of affairs is not sus
pected until absolutely necessary. II
spend the evening across the street
with Judge Simms. When your moth
er was alive, the Judge and his wife
and she and I never failed to cele
brate Christmas eve together. an6
they'd be hurt IL I stayed away"
Paula kissed him absently and ran
upstairs to dress. She was far from
Understanding the disaster, and the
suddenness of it startled her.
It's one thing to talk about earn
Ing your living and another thing to
do it." she told herself. "You are a
success so far because you are your
fathers daughter. It'll mean hard
work Still, work overcomes heart
aches and teaches one to forget"
She brushed the powder-puff across
her nose. and descended. At the door
Of the library stood Mr.. Mercer.
I forgot to tell you, Paula, that I
found 1t necessary to put DR.. Grant
In possession Of the facts"
Paula turned away at mention of
the young physician, and started tow.
ards the door
Goodnight, dearie-have q Jolly
dme." called her father.
Paula swept into the waiting auto-
mobile and settling down for the long
drive into the suburbs, rapidly evolved
numerous plans. meanwhile noting the
Christmas gayety on all sides. The
air rang with the excited chatter of
cnlioren returning from belated shop
ping or sightseeing tours, and min.
gied with their merry voices were the
suodued conversations OF their elders.
Inc sparkling snow, sleighbeIls
bright lights and halliday decorations
struck a sympathetic note I'm her
nears- The huge motor purred softly
anu as Paula reached up to arrange
tne r1cn red ribbons which held holly.
~reaths against the glass doors and
windows, her conscience smota h.-
because OF her real gladness.
I'm forgetting what 1t means to
poor father" she soliloquized. sTt,s
no fun Tor man Of his age to start
all over again.
q quick stop threw her on the floor
and by the time she had reeained her
Ieet and Jumped out to fnvestip.,s
me chauffeur was lifting q prostate
0ooy from beneath the wheels An
awed crowd gathered svtftIv r.
cnauneur was exonerated from blame
as several men had seen the uttIs
ne~sooy run I'm front of the autorno-
Dhe and alp and faIl on thu snovx
street. sno"y
na.s Tim Brownie lives I'm
zoe aney-just over there. ma,.m -
olonteered another whtte-faca6
shopping to pick ND the scat-
tered papers.
III take him home.- announced
'aula brsveiy.