Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-09-11

tnat was MTB. bThnihShom a. .
name. but / did not know anyone ex
cept the members Of her family called
her that-least of all my father. II
began Dear Tom" and said that
the suggested plan" suited her per-
fectly, that she would be ready at the
time he named, and added, You are
too good to, Yours gratefully, Ida"
You see.' exclaimed my mother
triumphantly, what kind Of man |
he is! Now will you defend him?"
did he show you that letter." l
asked, perplexed.
She looked at me with amazement- |
SHOW it to me, child? He, guilty |
man, show his wife a letter like that?
Never!"
rose to my feet and stood looking
at her Then" asked slowly
where did you get it?"
Her eyes did not fall before my
questioning gaze. Her habit Of self
justification kept her from any sensa-
ton of shame.
THE postman handed 1t 10 me sew
eral days ago. Norah was out, and
/ went into the kitchen and steamed
the envelope over the teakettle. read
the letter, then, while the mucilage
was still damp, sealed it again, put
ting it under book to press It tight
shut. took 1t out just before your
father came home. l handed 1t TO
him, and he did not have the grace to
blush. Afterward / looked In the
pocket Of the coat he wore that day
and got IL out to show to you"
still stood looking at her She
held out her hand to me.
You look sick, darling!" she ex-
claimed. mo wonder you do, con.
fronted with such proof as that
against the father you have loved!"
wet my dry lips with my tongue
before l. could speak. My voice
sounded harsh and lifeless. did not
take step toward my mother.
THE proof against my father is not
all that hurts me-" i said. ITO think
that you, his wife and my mother,
should steal his mail, open it. read it,
give 1t to him in an innocent way, then
steal 1t again to prove to me that he
Is as bad as you paint him-oh, can
not stand i'll"
With groan, l buried my face in
my hands. At this moment the door
opened and my father entered. He
stopped short at sight Of me, and his
eyes fell upon the letter lying on the
floor between my mother and myself.
Darling forward, he snatched 1t up.
Where did this come from?" he
| ava.
swered, he turned sharply to his wife
''You stole this. did your" he sneered
Il took it to show your daughter
just what you are" my mother said
sullenly. THE time has come for her
to choose between US"
My father glanced at the letter
then thrust it into his pocket. He
laid his hand on my arm.
Child he said, there is nothing
evil in that letter. asked woman
friend to go out with me. She &C
cepted, and we went That is al
there is to 1t. / swear 1t before
Heaven!" He caught my hands in hiI
and drew them from my face.
II saw you with her." said duly
"Where?" exclaimed my mother
starting to her feet. Tell me wher'
you saw him? Where did no TAX,
that woman?"
She sprang at me and shook M
as she used to do when l was littl
child four years old. Her face wa
TRANSPORTED with rage, her eye
blazed. My father laid his hand o.
her arm, but she jerked away fror
him.
Il will have the truth" she shrillet
You despise me because / read you
fathers letter, and yet you aid an
abet him in all his evil! Oh, God
And this is the child that loved!
| tried to calm her "Mother!"
expostuIated. BE reasonable! Lii
ten to me! / knew nothing of wheI
father was going. except that | sa
him the other day on the street
New York
checked myself Already she wa
making me lie. What had become I
my sense of honor, of my clear idei
~ of right and wrong? l caught N
y, fathers eye and was silent. N
Id mother turned to him.
be Aren't you ashamed of yourself
g. she gasped. But of course W
a aren't! Not satisfied with running n
Dr. happiness, you hide behind this child
pm skirts! Now is the chance to Il
If me the truth. II you ever do tell
ed How far has this thing gomez
m What thing?" he asked. as II
gain time.
Nv This affair between you and-th
ed woman!" she sneered. What do
80 that note mean?"
That she and ! are good friends
to he said coldly, without any spark
~. excitement. THAT she had a leg
,al matter to attend to In New York. a
ly. that offered to take her to the ON
er, of a lawyer who could Ak 1t up
re. her.
lily Il wonder IL that Is true. my mo-
re- er muttered. looking from my faith
} | to me.
ng believe II or not as you pleas
Ien said he. turning away.
SIS stood silent until he reached
am door. In the moment since he had
gas ished speaking had made up !
the mind.
be Father and mother" ] said,
'ry, think it is as well to tell you now Il
We / have accepted position as secrets
In New York ! am twenty-one. )
see know, and cid enough to be caring
ac- myself. And | want to leave HON
av MY mother died FIVE years a
| - 4haA