El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-11-02

face at his use of the title mother
He saw il, flushed, hesitated, and with
an effort, spoke more firmly.
Remember that you are at my taOIe,
girls" he reprimanded-. w nat want
to say is that I'm not going to nave
your mother doing all the work OF
this house while you fritter away your
time in school And what say 1
Julia had been sitting silent her
ewes downcast. apparently absorbed IN
her own meditauons. She had &C
quired SELF control during months or
unhappiness. but she looked at her
father now with an expression OF sur
or.se mingled with disappointment
You mean that you are not willing
to have me remain in school ana grad
uate2" she asked slowly.
The man moved uneasily in his chair,
met his wife stern gaze and cleared
his throat again
Yes. that's it." he acknowledge
awkwardly.s I've been talking the
matter over with-ycur mother" There
was a defiance in the emphasis he
placed on the last word. The girl
started to speak. but checked the i'm
pulse. I'VE have decided" the man
went on, that it's time that you and
Caryl were helping her a little and
doing something toward earning your
own living"
Caryl spoke quickly. Then I won't
have 10 so TO high school at anZ' she
asked There was a note OF hope or
ing It. looked at her reproach1ully-
"CaryL" she protested. It's bad
enough for me 70 have to leave school
before my graduation and before the
completed. But as for YOU. you ought
to stay long enough at least to-
The stepmother interpOsed impat-
ientiy. hard lines about her lips.
There you go again. she exclaimed.
You are just proving. Julia, the truth
of what ] said 10 your father last night
and this morning about you and your
highfalutin notions. / have shaved for
YOU girls all that I'm going TO slave. II
YOU don't like the way you are treated
here. suppose you go somewhere else,
and try supporting yourself, and see
how you like the change"
The elder girl sprang to her feet, the
dark color flooding her usually pale
face.
When my own mother was alive"
she began passiOnately, but her father
interrupted her.
Now Julia" he warned nervously.
don't say anything you'll be sorry for
You're very unreasonable nowadays.
You don't show any appreciation Of
what is being done for you all the
time. 1t oughtn't to be a hardship to
you and Caryl TO take care Of your
selves from now on. Lots Of girls OF
the age of you two are earning their
own livingS- If your mother and felt
that we could afford to keep you in
school longer we might
It's not a question OF what we can
afford" the wife broke in sharply, her
black eyes swapping. Il simply say
that they've got to work as long as I
remain in the house. 1 am mistress
here, and III have you all remember
that fact.'
You needn't bother to remind US Of
it, exclaimed Caryl pushing hez chair
back from the table and starting for
the door If ] had my way I wouldn't
stay another night under this roof I
O Tr-h frrn II hrrrs
she fled sObbing from the room
You couldn't please me better than
by getting from under this roof her
Srermother called after her, her face
crimson. her lips twitching
Julia as she heard the challenge, felt
the hot tide of rage throbbins in her
throat, ana with an effort she steadied
her voice.
Father" she said. her forced calm
ness making her speak with unnatural
elaboration. since YOU and your wife
1eeI that you cannot support Caryl and
me any longer and since YOU would
be glad to be rid OF US, we viii go away
and relieve you of the burden of taking
care of your own children. We shall
be as glad to leave you as you viii be
to have US go"
Her fathers resentment f1ared into
the puny rage of a weak man.
Go then, and good radiance to you
bothE he burst out shrilly. I'm sick
to death Of your Spats and fights dav
and night. but If you leave my house
don't you come back on me for support,
syn
Pale to the lips the girl turned and
went upstairs
An hour later James Marvin knocked
at the door Of his daughters room and
entered Caryl stood at the mirror
arranging a new hair ribbon about her
yellow curls- Julia sat on the bed. Her
eyes We're red. and in her left hand she
held clenched a crumpled handkerchief
while in her right hand was cheap
little photograph which her father rec
ognized- He prefaced his remarks with
the customary clearing Of his throat
Girls, he announced, 'I was a little
out Of patience this morning. and I said
some things that perhaps I oughtn't
to have said. I've come up now to
tell you that III be willing for to have
you stay on here with US if You'll do
your share toward helping with the
homework and with the family income.
can't have you go away and people
saying that my daughters won't live
with me"
He tried TO smile. but failed. Julia
loked at him so sravely and steadily
that he shifted his feet uneasily. and
his pale eyes wandered about the
room, avoiding her stern gaze.
There were some things said this
morning" she answered in an even
voice. that neither Caryl nor I can
forget We viii not put you to the
bother OF caring for US any longer.
Since YOU evidently fear what the
neighbors viii say about you and your