The Delta independent., 1914-02-20

They were day out at sea when
Myrta began to learn the object of her
sudden return.
My child, 4 want to tell you some
thing"
She turned surprised eyes toward
her mother. She could not remember
that that faithful parent had ever told
her anything except to be quiet and
not laugh SO much, and that pickles
were bad for the complexion. and she
had not been ceremonious about those
communications. She waited and her
mother went on nervously.
You must know, my dear, that
things have not been going well with
your papa. At one time we thought
all was lost. and even the house must
apartment, fifth story, back. and a
woman shaking carpets over my win
dow from the fat above,"
piece OF Dresden china on a
wooden chimney piece. Myrta's i'm
I aginat!on declined the jump.
Happily the misfortune has been
averted by-whom do you think?"
Again speculation halted.
Mr. Lester-your fathers old
friend. you ember?-though, of
| course. years younger than your father
who retired from the street last
year just before the crash in Great
Western came and put his money in
! What is It they put 1t in, Myrta?"
Pianos said Myrta, unconsciously,
! looking back to that last evening.
Mercy! No, child, Whoever heard
| Of putting money in pianos? Some
times they put it in bureau drawers,
though Mr.. Lester did not. Well, he
put ii there, wherever 1t was. and 1t
brings in an income that would make
! your head dizzy. He is willing to put
up the money to save US, and all be-
cause he wants to marry you. AS soon
1 as he sees you and gets your consent
| your father will have enough TO put
/ him where he was in business. Your
I father told him that he need have no
/ doubt Of your consent You never have
/ been disobedient and you certainly
would not begin now when so much
depends upon you How could I live
1 .u a seventh story fat on some un-
/ known street and do my hair myself?
/ Are you not glad that you can save me
from it,"
Poor. pretty. weak mamma! How,
iudeed2
Myrta leaned out and dropped some
] thing into the water. She fingered a
moment gazing after it as If she might
/ be wishing that she could follow it
1t cleaned in sparkling shades OF red
/ g- coll hn x1-OrrlH
/ hide away in the wreck OF a lost ship
/ down at the bottom OF the sea. and If
diver would bring it up into the sun
again some day and If it would
| sparkle on the finger OF girl happier
than the one who drowned 1t in the
waves.
Yes" she said family.
| Her mother drew her into her arms
and embraced her with a languid affec
/ ton more like the real article than
she had ever before bestowed upon
her.
What a mistake l have made all
these years! l have regretted that
/ had not son instead OF daughter.
[ / see now. how much more real value
| there is in girl. What boy could save
/ his family in such a crisis by the sim
| pie and beautiful process of walking
up church aisle in clouds of wonder
| full lace. surrounded by q wilderness OF
[ lovely flowers and murmuring { few
words in a shy, pretty way, and then
| going of to do the grand tour of the
world? You ought to see the exqui'
site prayer book MI Lester mas bought
for you TO carry-all pearl and silver
and the inscription in diamonds. Isn't
II glorious to be a girl?"
Suppose so? You will know Sc
when you see that prayer book and
costume. We ordered the gown in
Paris and Felix said 1t was the most
elegant thing he had ever created. We
could afford TO do the handsome now
that we are in such luck Your hus
band can never say that you came to
him beggar II we have been on the
verge OF ruin"
II all came back to Mrs. Lester as
the carriage rolled along-the low, sad
music of that last farewell and the
face that looked out from the white
moonlight OF that night in Paris. She
had never again seen that face until
Here we are. Are you asleep? No
wonder. after that stupid play
enough to set the whole town asleep,
She alighted from the carriage and
followed the burly figure of her hus'
band up the steps In the doorway she
turned and looked out into the pale,
starswept east.
By and by the dawn would giimmer
over that horizon and new day
would begin-a long, dull. wearisome
day. so like all the other days that II
would not be known from any yester
day that ever was.
lCnnxri.-ht naIlN Story. Dlih Cal