The Colorado statesman., 1913-06-07
HIS REAL DAUGHTER
How a Father Discovered the
True Meaning of the Word
Daughter"
BY LAURA A. kIRkMAN.

he's coming to see mel"
Helen's face clouded. He's COM
Ing to take you away!" she suspected.
Il guess so. He says he has a
proposition to lay before me-"
At the torrent of unhappiness that
flowed from Helens lips, Marjorie's
eyes opened wide.
Don't you want me to have
daddy, too?" she reproached. you
ought to want me to go 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 holiday, he would stroll
across the lawn to where Helen was
playing tennis and stand and watch
her as if 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.
81 have always loved my father
Marjorie confided suddenly. 81 loved
him even when mother was alive and
used to talk against him. | 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.
Watt" cried Helen, holding her
back. Are you going to forget all
about me, Margie? Aren't you going
to care that I'll be lonely here with
out you? Won't you even visit me
sometimes?"
81 think I'll wear my lavender
dress" answered Marjorie. He comes
on the 4:3O train-Oh, yes, of course,
Helen I'll visit you sometimes!"
She broke away and flew 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. "and laven-
der ribbons in my hair!"
At half-past four, she was at the
gate all ready to welcome her father
Behind the locked door of her room
stood a packed trunk.
OH" she breathed excitedly, as
covered carriage drew near
The man that alighted from 1t 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 ex
pected him to; somehow his manner
chilled her, made her feel i'll at east
1t was relief when Aunt Jennie
came forward to shake hands with
him
MY child you must take me for a
little walk" were his first words to
her. 81 have much to say to you.
Have you a garden to stroll in?'
She strove for ease in her answer.
mo. 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
naturalness.
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 $50"
Swiftly her father pulled out his
watch.
"Fivethirty," he repeated. That's
my train back. We have barely an
hour for our talk, my dear, so 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 strangle her
Would you like that?" repeated
her father in voice that bespoke his
certainty of her liking it. You shall
have all your expenses paid, an ample
allowance. and the privilege of choos-
ing the college,"
Marjorie swallowed hard, and wink
ed very fast. At last her voice came.
No thank you-father."
He stood still In the path. He
stared at her. first incredulously, then
a little angrily.
Don't you want to accept 1t from
me?" he asked.
She searched wildly for an excuse.
"Oh. mol It's not that! It's just
that l couldn't bear to leave Aunt
Jennie!"
The absurdity of this reason almost
turned the emotion raised by disap-
pointment into wild, hysterical laugh
ter; what young girl would from
choice remain with a spartan-minded,
self-sufficient person like Aunt Jen-
ME?
81 couldn't bear to leave her." she
reaffirmed nervously. Shed be SO
lonely without me! l couldn't ina
CINE myself away from herl"
She had succeeded in convincing
him.
VERY WELL" he said, starting again
to walk. Then you must name some