The Irish standard., 1913-06-07
HIS REAL DAUGHTER
How a Father Discovered the
True Meaning of the Word :
Daughter"
BY LAURA A. k,RkMAN.

.. BY LAURA A. kiRkMAN.
Marjorie told her chum the good
news even before she told her aunt.
"See!" she cried, excitedly, waving
the letter. my father has written
he's coming to see mel'
Helen's face clouded. "fIe's com
ing to take you away!" she suspected.
II guess so. He says he has q
proposition to lay before me-" !:
At the torrent Of unhappiness that
flowed from Helen's lips, Marjorie's
eyes opened wide.
Don't you want me to have a
daddy, too?" she reproached. "You
ought to want me to 60 away with
him-and be happy. Oh, I'll be like
you with your father!"
Helen's jolly, big-hearted father had
always been a source of envy to Mar
jorie. On a holiday, he would stroll
across the lawn to where Helen was
playing tennis and stand and watch
her a. II he asked no greater pleasure
Of life; pride was written on his face
when he drove home nightly from the
depot beside his pretty daughter.
II have always loved my father"
Marjorie confided suddenly. II loved
him even when mother was alive and
used to talk against him. I have al
ways wished he would love me and
try to find me. I don't care If he Is
married again and has another daugh.
ter; I'm his daughter, too-his first
daughter!" Her voice rang on the
last words, and she started through
the hedge towards her aunt's house.
''Wait!" cried Helen, holding her
back. "Are you going to forget all
about me, Margief Aren't you going
to care that I'll be lonely here with.
out you9 Won't you even visit md
sometimesl"
1T think I'll wear my lavender
Dress" answered Marjorie. "Ie comes
on the 1870 train-oh, yes, of course.
Helen, I'll visit you sometimes!"
She broke away and few up the
steps Of her veranda. Passing her
aunt in the hall, she tossed her the
beloved letter, and ran up to her
room.
"And I'll wear my gold beads, too. =
she planned flutteringly, land laven-
der ribbons in my hair!"
= At halfpnst four, she was at the
gate all ready to welcome her father.
Behind the locked door Of her room
stood q packed trunk.
"Ohi" she breathed excitedly. as 4
covered carriage drew near.
The man that alfghted from It was
older and more iron-haired than the
man her memory pictured.
"Father!" she cried gladly, running
forward: -;;,.,..,... ;,
: ! He kissed her, but not as She 81 en-
pected him to-; somehow his manner
chilled her, made her feel Ill at east.
It was relief when Aunt Jennie
came forward to shake hands with
him.
"My child. you must take me for .
little walk" were his first words to
her. II have much to say to you
Have you a garden to stroll in?"
1. She strove for ease in her answer.
- Nc, we have no garden; but we
could go into the orchard back Of the
house"
AS they started for the orchard. she
fought again for self-possession and
haturalness.
That's where my chum lives" she
Informed him, waving her hand to-
ward Helen's house. "See, there she
is now-on the tennis court! Why,
her horse is hitched up already-and
she doesn't have to go to the depot
until $780,"
Swiftly her father pulled out hid
watch.
"Five-thirty," he repeated That's
my train back. We have barely an
hour for our talk, my dear, 50 we had
best go straight to my proposition.
How would you like to go to college
this fall?"
She did not answer. She could not:
something had come up into her
throat that threatened to strange her.
Would you like that" repeated
her father in voice that bespoke his
certainty Of her liking 1t. you shall
have all your expenses paid. an ample
allowance. and the privilege Of choos.
ing the college,"
Il Marjorie swallowed hard, and wink.
ed very fast. At last her voice came.
mo, thank you-father."
He stood still in the path. Ee
stared at her. first incredulously, then
D little angrily.
Don't you want to accept 1t from
met" he asked.
She searched wildly for an excuse.
"Oh, no! It's not that! It's just
that couldn't bear to leave Aunt
Jennfei"
The absurdity Of this reason almost
turned the emotion raised by disap.
pointment into wild, hysterical laugh.
ser; what young girl would from
choice remain with a spartan.minded,
self.sumcient person like Aunt Jen.
ME?
II couldn't bear to leave her." she
reafirmed nervously. Shed be %
lonely without me! couldn't lima,
Rino myself aWav from heri"