The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1914-01-30

Agatha without my fathers suspect
ing It i don't know. Perhaps he did
suspect it. 1t may be he knew It. II
he did, he didn't trouble himself about
It, He had named the conditions IN
der which 1 might inherit his wealth,
but he made no effort to impress me
with the importance Of my fulfilling
them. Doubtless he argued: Il have
settled the matter so Far as I am con-
cerned. II the boy chooses to throw
away a fortune and at the same time
take a serpent to his bosom. he IS vel
come to do So"
Agatha was well born and well bred.
but she was at the wrong end Of a
period OF prosperity In her family.
When she became old enough to choose
a career for herself she decided upon
being a trained nurse. She knew the /
conditions of my fathers win and /
would not for the world stand be- |
tween me and a fortune. Her action
IN the matter alone saved me from
giving it up, for begged her to mar
~ me. Yet, looking backward, don't |
see how / would have supported her
for, being brought up as l was to in
herit great wealth, was not practical.
A strange coincidence happened. !
frequently visited my mother and stay
ed as long as [ pleased. When 1 went
my father never asked me how long !
intended to remain away. and when ]
returned never complained that I had
been gone too long, though / am quite
sure he missed me. While 1 was away
be never communicated with me. The
house might have fallen on his head
and l would never have known it IN
less by report
On one of my visits to my mother
/ stayed two weeks I wrote to my
father every few days. though / did
not expect him to write to me. When
I returned l was informed that he had
been taken i'll a few days after my
departure and had been under the care
Of several doctors ever since. l ran
upstairs and was met on the landing
by woman in nurses uniform.
"Agathav l exclaimed. what are
you doing hereT
Nursing your father. A nurse was
called suddenly; / responded and did
not know where was coming till ar
rived"
'What a dispensationl"
went in to see my father and found
him still quite i'll. though his doctors
had pronounced him improving. He
seemed much relieved at my return,
but said that he had had every care,
having been fortunate in his nurse.
He had asked for a man. but his doc
tors had dissuaded him. MY nurse is
4 treasure" he said. That's one thing
women can do well; they can take
care of sick persons"
"And persons sick at heart. too" l
added. But he did not seem to heed
the remark, for he closed his eyes, and.
knowing how weak he was, left him.
He was III for several months
months as full Of bliss mingled with
bitterness for me as Of suffering to
him. Agatha remained at her post all
this while, and when be became con
valeseent and she wished to be re
ieved, tint she might get a rest, he
begged . ito rest where she was
turning - his care temporarily t.
me. 1t is needless to say she con
scented.
One morning she came out Of the
sickrOom With a joyous look on heI
3 face.
what is It2' 1 asked eagerly.
What do you suppose I 3Eeye sue
ceeded in doing?" X
b "What3"
, Il am the bearer to you OF your IA
+ theirs request that you go to you
, mother and ask her to return to he
: home"
was thunderstruck.
But / gasped.
y "But the conditioner There are N
! conditions except that the past, o
, rather, its cause. is not to be men
3 toned"
y "And you have accomplished this1"
"NOt | alone. Invalids are -, com
L batants. Your father has -. I'm
pressed with what have dofle for him
& though 1 have been paid fok doing II
" This morning he asked me what b
e could do for me besides paying me
10 and I replied that II he would tax
L. steps for a reconciliation with his wifi
E. 1 would feel amply repaid. / hav
n done my part. 1t is now for you I
lie do yours. Persuade your mother t
re come back"
or clasped Agatha in my arms. the
d, ran downstairs three steps at a tim,
he fastened into the street, called a pas
I ing cab and bid him drive as fast a
ar his horse could go to my mother
" home. 1t was some time before pc
suaded her to return with me. by
In when I pictured how near father ha
as been to death she decided to go
ne him and, having once decided. coul
ne not go quickly enough to satisfy b.
Id Impotence.
OF The spell which hung over my
at Their had been broken by the kind
v feminine attentions of a good wOma
NJ and 1t never returned to him.
n Frank" he said to me on the day
- our reunion. IF you don't marry Ag
- tia I'll disinherit you"
- That's pleasant" / replied. "F
years I've been living under the expe
20 tation that you would disinherit me
did"