Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1913-03-07
THEIR NEW DAUGHTER
BY EDNA c.

as he stormed up and down the dis.
ordered breakfast room.
His white locks grew more and more
belligerently erect as he excitedly ran
his fingers through his usually orderly
hair; his cheeks were flushed by his
wrath and his piercing ~blue-gray eyes
new storm signals OF anger.
Never heard the beat OF 1t I'm my
Hfe!-never! the young cubi" he
growled. Here I've worked and slav.
ed, and shaved and worked to give him
a chance and a good time, and this
is my thanks. Not even a by-your.
leave! Bless me. it's-it's madden.
ing!' and the old doctor blew his nose
with a loud and valiant sound. which
yet somehow or other ended with a
curious pathetic little squeak that
suggested a very great anger merged
into n very decided hurt.
of course, Maria, you quite agree
with him. ! know" he rumpeted
harshly in a vain endeavor to subdue
the tremor In his voice. but | must
say | had n better opinion OF your
JUDGMENT than to call hat mannish
Elliott creature with her cigarette puff
hngs, a sweet little thing and" here
the gruf voice took on an even harsh.
er tone, that Eric should dare to say
he was bringing you a new daughter
to help fill Nelsie's place-our little
white, golden haired NelsIe!"
But. my dear. / am sure you are
mistaken. Indeed, 1 know you are
judging her wrongly"
Wrong nothing" snapped the doc
tor testify. Il hope I have enough
solid horse sense to put two and two
together when ! see them. I've never
seen the creature myself and I hope
TO goodness ! never do, but duncan
was telling me only yesterday that she
can bet and tipple and smoke to equal
any OF those young fools who hang
around her. Ugly tempered. too. says
she leads her cousin who lives with
them a dogs life"
Now. father, / Just knew you we're
jumping at conclusions" spoke up the
gentle little Dresden lady in such a
spirited and reproachful voice that the
doctors mouth opened in sheer amaze.
ment.
oh, OF course | know nothing. alb
solutely nothing; but this | do know,
even If am in my dotage. that that
mannish creature with her loud voice
and her sports isn't quite the ideal
daughter OF my dreams" The old man
turned abruptly and left the room.
Late that afternoon he made his way
slowly and YEARLY towards the sun.
baked. tenement-choked district called
In town %parlance the poor's acre." and
for almost the first time In his sixty
hale ear he felt the WEAKNESS of life
n Its utter and abject misery as II
Is vo"uchsafed TO some. For years this
peppery little doctor, whose bark was
so much worse than his bite, had
worked among these poor OF a great
city.
For a time he had sought help in his
self-assumed task from his little Ores
den lady wife, but she had grieved so
In her gentle way over their, to her,
sordid and awful sufferings. that he
had comforted her as. he might have
done a child, and had left her in peace
at home.
From that day he had never men.
toned his poor In her presence, and as
II To make up for her deficiencies. he
had thrown himself into his work with
"redoubled energy. But somehow OF
late years he had felt more and more
keenly the need OF a woman's love and
guidance among them, and many n
time n half unconscious signing wish
had crept through his troubled mind.
IF only Nelsie had lived to be a com.
rade and n help"
With stopped shoulders and tagging
ENAHu IA 1901 ~
the first tenement house. and a shrink.
Ing dread of his visit and OF what he
must see filled him. He could picture
the scene quite wildly. he assured
himself. and he sighed impatiently at
his own impotence.
THE baby will be crying, Tommy
and Sue will be a little bit dirtier than
usual, and n good deal Crosser, while
Jimmy, poor wee lad. will be n tiny bit
quicter and just as thoughtful as ever.
III only their mother could have some
one to take care Of her, hguratiyely
and literally, shed stand n chance OF
getting better. and il she doesn't-may
God help them all! If only Nelsie had
lived.' sighed Ncisle's father as he re-.
luctantly opened the door. and then
buuu'ulS nls sIuTp gray eyes nlmed
for the suns rays showed him n Mel.
sle.like golden head bent over n sleep.
Ing baby by the uncurtained window.
while around and about peace and or
der reiEned.
We'll, bless my soul!" uuoth the
doctor In a husky whisper. and he laid
his hand very tenderly upon little
crippled Timmy's head. whose usually
pale face was crimson with the sup
pressed excitement OF his present won.
derful happiness. ITS Miss Delight.
doc" he whispered shrilly. and she's
goin' to take keer on us till mammy's
better. cos she said so. n she brung us
q chicken pie for dinner"
The doctor tiptoed across the creak.
Ing even floor, and all the tiredness
end the fiery petulancc died out under
the warmth OF his kind, grave smile.
Miss Delight" no queried.
Elliott" cmiled the girl with the
Nclsic.like golden hair. you will not
be cross because ! wanted TO help in
Nelsle's place, as Eric has told me-"
che begged.