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

planned. out now can you KNOW WHAi
may happen? Mother says that all
she wants me to do is to live at home
and be company for her, and, while |
that sounds lovely for me, do feel |
that one never knows when one may |
have to support herself"
so your mother said that, did she?"
he unused. Then, as II to himself: |
That would be about all she would i,
want. suppose. And yet. It sounds
bit selfish"
fastened to vindicate my mother. |
Indeed, Daddy, she Is not selfishi 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?"
Il suppose that something means
your getting married" he remarked,
somewhat grufiy. "If have my way
that so-called happy event will not
occur for many years yet. On this
point at least your mother and /
agree. / 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
rage a success" he declared; then,
as an afterthought he said, ''at least
most marriages"
Hers Is an exception" ! suggested
timidly.
My father made no reply, but he
pressed suddenly the hand he held,
and / had difficulty in REFRESHING 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 your Won't you
get me a drink OF water, dear7'
rose at once, but not so quickly
that did not hear my fathers impa-
tient sigh.
Il am sorry you have to co. he
said ruefully. Il find It pleasant
to sit here and chat with you, Eliza
beth"
II kissed him affectionately.
Thank you for calling me Eliza
beth. Daddy" i said softly. AT
school everybody called me that, but
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
/ hurried away upstairs, wishing
that he had not spoken that last sen
tence Somehow 1t almost spoiled my
memory of our evening together.
My mother had never been very
strong. but after my homecoming she
succumbed more often than of old t.
: her sick headaches and nervous at
tacks. Therefore almost all of the
housekeeping tasks devolved upon me
My father used to say that 1t was toe
bad that this was the case. but that
nevertheless, he believed 1t was 1
good thing for a girl to know how Il
!. manage a household, and voiced n.
complaint. ] soon saw, however, tina
he did not fancy my taking the par
of sick-nurse. In fact. he protest
ed vigorously against II within q few
! months after my return from school
=. It was a glorious October day, AM
when he came home from business h
found me in my mothers room, read
e ing to her. After asking about he
head, and regretting that she wa
20 sick again." he turned to me.
le Have you been out today, dangt
% teri" he asked.
mo, sir"
u why not?"
. Il did not want to leave mothe
d, alone when she was suffering / e.
~ planned. To me the reason SCENE
ID all-suficient. But his face darl
2 ened.s
Or "Alone!" he exclaimed. Isn't MOI
ID downstairs?"
~ MY mother ihterposed. Yes, Tor
Of course she is; but downstairs ism
he up here. And what good Is a serval
ne when one Is ill.,
1T Just as much good as she has bee
for the FIVE years that she has livt
n with u.s." declared my father. "Whe
ou Elizabeth was away you managed
be survive comfortably with Nora's mi
istrations. Now this child lie alwa.
ed doing duty as sick-nurse. 1t is n
fair"
err interrupted him with: "Dadd,
to- That Is not fair! love to be wi
ad mother, and would stay even IL 81
I'M insisted on my going out"
LIP My mother closed her eyes and L
lily We ! still for a moment. Then s.
re put her hand to her head and moane
rs the pain 50 bad?" queried AZ
he lously.
he Awful" she whispered" This XII
a of thing is killing me. II 1t wasl
ny for you / would want to die"
ad. l knelt by her and put my arr
to around her Can co anything
you before go downstairs3" ask
err her gently.
ZEN "Oh. no! don't wish to detain y
from your father for q moment.
In know you want to get down to h
to and that he will be waiting for "
bic / am used to being alone"
Ihesitated. Dear | pleaded, y
a know that will not leave you IL y
len are lonely and suffering. l viii W
but for my dinner until you feel bette
IA But she shook her head. No, chi
her go down. It will only make 1t hart
to for me If you don't. But do not Sc
me up anything to eat until you Ia
DOL finished. Then bring 1t up to me 20
i'm self. And II your father goes out