El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-08-11
= One WOman's Story =
By Virginia Terhune Van de Water
CHAPTER XIV.

OE1AELEfs AlN.
/ y 4 AIRY DanfOrth aWOke early on
/ MI the morning of her graduation
day. She lifted her watch from
! the table at the head Of the bed and
/ glanced at it sleepily, noting with sat
1sfactiOn that it still lacked more than
/ an hour to breakfast time
She lay half awake and let happy
} thoughts drift through her mind
( light, girlish thoughts Of the beauty
I of her graduation gown affectOnate
thoughts Of her father, speeding home
I from a business trip in the far west
I to be with his daughter on this i'm
/ pOrtant day; tender, timid thoughts OF
Gordon Craig.
In a letter written a week ago her
( lover had repeated his assurance that
! he would see her graduate. This
eplSJle had reached her only the day
before yesterday, and since then she
/ had heard nothing from him, yet she
was sure that he would be true to his
word She smiled now as she lay in
her ddrkened room, smile that was
! full Of pure joy. She knew that Craig
would have a question to ask when
! they met, and she also knew what her
answer would be. She had no doubt
now that she loved him dearly and
was proud and happy in her love The
smile faded slowly from her lips, and
she slept again.
Her mothers gentle knock on the
door awakened her a half hour
It's time to get up, girIieF' she
announced, entering the room Break
fast viii be ready soon and father has
telephOned from the Grand Central to
say that he will be with US as his train
is Just in So try to be ready when
he comes"
She kissed Mary as she had done
each morning since the girls birth,
then hurried away on her household
tasks intent.
The trio had a happy breakfast to-
gether IN the sunlit dining room Mr.
DanfOrth, haggard and pale-''from a
sIeepless night on the cars" as he ex-
plained-Was once more at the head
Of the table, cherry and happy in spite
Of his evident WEAKNESS
The morning meal over, he pushed
his chair back from the table and,
drawing Mary down upon his knees,
qesHoned her with affection and
interest about her plans for the day
He did not mention Craig's name An
unusual reticence had Kept the Texan
from his conversation ever since the
young man had returned home and
when Mary had mentioned with studied
indifference the fact that Mr. Craig
might possibly happen to be in New
york on Commencement Day. her
father let the statement pass without
comment
After few minutes chat this morn
ing he declared that he must go to his
Office for part Of the day. At the
'front.' door he paused and came back TO
the dining room to kiss Mary, although
he had already bid her an affectionte
gOOdby.
This is just to kiss my little girl
once more" he explained, patting her
cheek fOndly- She viii be a groWnup
lady when I see her again"
It was late in the afternoon that
Mary left the house to 90 down to her
school Her classes were 10 have an
early farewell supper in the gymnasium
and would so directly from that TO
their graduation exercises
At eight O'Clock she and the rest Of
her class took their places in the great
scnOol auditorium, which was already
crowded Mary looked vainly among
the sea OF faces Tor the three persons
VINO made her small world Of course,
her parents were here, she mused. al
though she could not discern them
but was Craig here, too?
Inc white haired principal arose to
speak and a hush fell on the house
suddenly Mary knew that her lover
mad come. She felt his eyes upon her
and looking up, saw him in the gallery
above her Their glances met and he
smiled, but the girl blushed holly and
dropped her eyes Her heart throbbed
yV1rIdly- She had been eager TO see him
but now she wished 10 eFade his steady
gaze and hide herself, yet she was
happy to be in his presence She
raised her hand TO her throat, and
caressingly, touched the hidden silver
trinket he had sent her.
Those who knew her said Mary Dan
IorJh had never looked sWeeter and
talrer than when she arose at the call
ing Of her name and went forward to
receive her diploma She did not think
OF the thousands OF glances resting
upon her, hut only OF the look OF the
man she loved She lOnged to lift her
eyes and gaze into his face. but she
could not Through the Taledictory
she sat silent, funhearing, her eyes up
on her diploma and the mass OF flowers
which had been handed her She knew
some OF them were sent by Craig. the
rest BY her parents
AT last she became aware that IL
was all over. that people were rising
and that everybody about her was
talking A gray haired, sweet faced
teacher acCOSted her.
May I speak to you a moment. dear
ehildZ she said quietly. Come with
me-"
Puzzled and vaguely alarmed the
slrl obeyed the older wOman's bidding
and followed her into small ante
room adjoining the auditorium As
Mary noted the wOman's grave de-
neanor a dread clutched at her heart
and she held her breath to listen
I have bad news for you,7 said her
teacher simply. You must go right
home to your mother. She has sent for
you. Your father
She paused and the girl clasped her
lands in an agony Of fear.
oh, what is it?7 she gasped. 'eTeu
ne quickly! Is he hurt or i'll, or
Her voice failed her suddenly, for
Gordon Craig stood beside her She
lad not seen him enter and he took
Ter trembling hands in his firm grasp.
Dear" he said quickly, but softly,
While his body shielded her from the
slances Of persons. passing the door,
your father will never be hurt or III
-Saln- Be brave, dear. He died an
Jour ago.
Continued in next issue)