The Colorado statesman., 1913-06-07

1t was a wish her aunt had expressed
a week ago:
'If you could only rent the Berkley
place"
THE Berkley place?" he caught up
quickly. Tell me about it, my dear!"
She described the rambling, old
homestead with such enthusiasm as
she could feign.
And it has a stable" she ended
"and a garden, and fountain in the
front yard"
Her father drew out notebook and
scribbled hastily.
You shall have horses in the sta
ble." he promised, "and plenty OF
flowers in the garden. and a tennis
court like your little chum's, If you
wish"
She interrupted him sharply
Il don't want tennis court"
She could not have explained why
she said this; she knew only that she
on her tennis court could never be
like Helen on hers-for some reason.
But her father demanded no ex-
PLANTATION; he was once more writing
in the note book.
you said the agents address was
River road?" he asked. Let me see,"
he pulled out his watch, 81 have just
twenty minutes in which to see him
and catch my train"
She was glad when they neared the
house and the strain of the call was
at an end.
Yet she detained him a moment at
the gate; she could not bear to let
him go before finding out why he had
no love to give her. Questions abou'
his other daughter-the daughter who
had grown up beside him-sprang to
her lips and forced themselves out:
Tell me about my-sisteri I sup
pose she wouldn't go to college for
anything"
look of pain CROSSED her fathers
face
"On the contrary she wouldn't stay
at home for anything" he said lit
tie bitterly.
Marjorie could have murdered her
half sister at that moment. She saw
the whole situation-saw the fathers
pain at the GOODNESS of the child he
had watched grow up-saw why he
had no love to give the first daughter.
And she no longer asked for his
love; she knew at last that she had
no right to it-that she was not his
real daughter
Good bye!" she said, more brightly
than she had been able to speak
throughout the entire hour. And
thank you ever and ever and ever so
much!"
Even with resignation in her heart,
she watched him disappear down the
street
Il shall be happy again, now" she
told herself. For of course there's
no reason in the world for me to be
disappointed-there never was a rea-
son. AS the politicians say, at isn't
an issue'"
Cheerfully she went up to her room.
She sat down on her trunk. With
locked hands she stared clear-eyed
out of the window.
'I wonder If I look-actressy-ln
this lavender dress?" was the thought
that presented itself most persistent
ly to her mind
She got up and walked to the mir
ror and stood looking long at her re-
Election.
81 think these gold beads make me
look-garish." said her lips as though
speaking independently of her will.
Through the open window she saw
Helen and her father drive up to
their door. She watched the man
take his arm from his daughters
shoulders as one watches the actress
of beautiful play
Then suddenly her calmness went;
she sprang alert and stool listening.
Her heart almost suffocated her.
"MarjorieN came up the stairs in
her fathers voice.
He found her on the floor beside the
trunk. He would have flown for doc
tor-water- -stimulants, but, seeing
him. she sat up; she needed no other
stimulant than his arms.
"My child" he said tenderly, "why
didn't you tell me that you love me?"
She clung to him.
Il should never have known 1t II
your little chum had not run up to me
at the depot and asked me to let you
visit her sometimes. Marjorie, why
did you let me think that you
wouldn't leave your aunt?"
She clung to him.
81 thought daughter meant a child
who found companionship only IN
young people of her own age" he de-
fined Now I know the real mean
ing of the word"
She clung to him.
Copyright 1913, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)
"Hailstorm Belt" In England.