The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-08-22

long as l live, n when 4 die leave
you enough insurance to keep the
wolf from the door"
That's what mother thinks" l ex-
planned, "but how can you know what
may happen? Mother says hat all
she wants me to do is to live at home
and be company for her. and, while
that sounds lovely for me, l do feel
that one never knows when one may
have to support herself"
so your mother said that, did she7"
he unused. Then, as If to himself:
That would be about all she would
want, l suppose. And yet, it sounds a
bit selfish"
I FASTENED to vindicate my mother.
Indeed, Daddy, she is not SELFISH She
only meant that she loves me so
much"
There are many kinds OF love, and
some kinds are selfish" he insisted
gravely.
And you are willing to have me
live right on here, unless, of course,
something happens?"
81 suppose that something means
your getting married." he remarked,
somewhat grufly. IF / have my way
that so-called happy event will not
occur for many years yet. On this
point at least your mother and l
agree. 1 do not believe she will ever
want you to marry, even when you are
old enough, which you are not yet,
thank heaven!"
An inexplicable impulse embolden-
ed me to ask, "Why doesn't mother
want me to marry some timer"
Because she does not consider mar
riage a success" he declared; then,
as an ~afterthought, he said, at least
most marriages"
Hers is an exception" I suggested
timidly.
My father made no reply, but he
pressed suddenly the hand he held,
and l had difficulty in depressing an
exclamation of pain. Then he changed
the subject, and talked Of Indifferent
matters until, as the clock struck ten,
my mothers pleading voice called:
Bessie! Where are you? Won't you
get me a drink of water, dear?"
l rose at once, but not so quickly
that I did not hear my fathers impa-
tient sigh.
Il am sorry you have to 60" he
said ruefully. Il find it pleasant
to sit here and chat with you, Eliza
beth"
Il kissed him a~ffectionately.
HTbapIY vo,, FCr ooI1ipu NM L11i1o-
beth, Daddy" l said softly. AT
school everybody called me that, but
l just can't get mother to do it."
One just can't get your mother to
do anything she is not in the habit of
doing" replied my father.
I hurried away upstairs, wishing
that he had not spoken hat last SEN
tence. Somehow it almost spoiled my
memory Of u evening together.
My mother had never been very
strong, but after my homecoming she
succumbed more often than of old to
her sick headaches and nervous at
tacks. Therefore almost all of the
housekeeping tasks devolved upon me.
My father used to say that it was too
bad that this was the case, but that,
nevertheless, he believed it was a
good thing for a girl to know how to
manage a household, and l voiced no
complaint. l soon saw, however, that
he did not fancy my taking the part
Of a sick-nurse. In fact, he protest
ed vigorously against it within a few
months after my return from school,
| II uag n uJoriO,,g nafOhor Hou and
when he came home from business he
found me in my mothers room, read
ing to her. After asking about her
head, and regretting that she was
sick again." he turned to me.
Have you been out today, daugh-
ter?" he asked.
No, sir"
why not?"
Il did not want to leave mother
alone when she was suffering" l ex'
planned. To me the reason seemed
all-sufficient. But his face dark
ened.
"Alone!" he exclaimed. Isn't Nora
downstairs"
my mother interposed. Eyes, Tom,
VI SOul DC NV lDg u dOn hONdlIo lSh !
up here. And what good is a servant
when one is ill?"
Just as much good as she has been
for the five years hat she has lived
with u.s." declared my father. when
Elizabeth was away you managed to
survive comfortably with Nora's min
istrations. Now this child is always
doing duty as a sick-nurse. 1t is not
fair"
l interrupted him with: Daddy!
That is not fair! l love to be with
mother, and would stay even IL she
insisted on my going out"
My mother closed her eyes and lay
ve-y still for a moment. Then she
put her hand to her head and moaned
rs the pain so bad?" 1 queried anx
iously.
Awful" she whispered" This kline
of thing is killing me. If it WASH
for you l would want to die"
l knelt by her and put my arms
around her. Can l do anything fol
you before I go downstairs" l asked
her gently.
"Oh, mol don't wish to Getain you
from your father for a moment.
know you want to get down to hin
after-supper dreams long and circum-
stantially worked out, which, could |
remember them more distinctly in