The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-03-06
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WAS HARD TO PLEASE
BY MARY D. ARNoTT.

quietly.
Amusing, isn't it? Very! About
the most humorous. the most heart
breakingly funny thing a girl can dc
nowadays is to defy her parents and
elope with some good-for-nothine
mani"
The senator's apopletic countenance
became more apopletic; his pacing OF
the soft-carpeted library floor became
more accelerated, He snatched the
note from his secretary's hand
''Why-why! holy mackerel! she
hasn't even told me the idiots name
this time. That's the latest amuse-
ment of her set | suppose L" He
spluttered himself speechless and
sank into a deep leather chair.
John Craven stood quietly beside
the great fiat mahogany desk, one hip
partly supporting him as he leaned
against it. 1t was thus he always
stood while the storms that ragged
within the elderly senator spent them
selves. They never took long. but
their effects we're telling.
Miss Virginia doesn't give his
name?" he asked quietly after the
ticking of the clock had become mo-
notonous.
Senator Alcott stretched out fee
BILE arm with the crumpled message in
his hand. He heaved deep sigh.
The secretary took the message,
smoothed 1t out on the polished sur
face Of the desk. and re-read 1t.
Dear Father; was sure you would
not want me to marry the man love,
SO | married him anyway. II you
think you can be nice to us, write
me a note-write to Virginia Alcott;
I'll ask for 1t in that name at the post
ofice-and I will bring him home. Az
fectionately,
VIRGINIA"
Senator Alcott watched the secre-
tary as he read the note for the sec
ond time. See any clue to his name
in that"
The secretary shook his head. NO,
sir; don't"
Pretty independent little note from
a girl of twenty-five to her father-of
sixty-two Well, this time she's gone
too far. Why-why-she never even
gave me chance to object-just took
it for granted that would. He must
be entirely beyond the pale"
"Or perhaps Miss Virginia just nat
urally knew you would consider no
one good enough for her. senator, "
ventured John Craven.
she just naturally knew nothing
OF the sort. Craven; she's just natur-
ally spoiled and willful and-well. I'm
done with her. She can paddle her
own canoe now"
Senator Alcott rose from the depths
of the great chair, walked toward the
door of the library, opened 1t. and
passed out. His morning mail lay un-
touched save the note which had
caused his distress. and he left not a
word as to its disposal.
Nor did he return to his desk that
day. This was a most unusual pro-
ceeding for the statesman and his sec
rotary knew that the man was fight
ing II out alone; that when he did re-
turn 1t would be with his mind made
up as to his relations with his daugh-
ter in the future. The elderly man
had been mother and father both to
his only daughter. but even the mex
perienced eyes of John Craven could
see that he had been poor substitute
for the latter and a meager attempt at
the former
1t was not that the senator did not
have sympathy with his daughter, but
that he had failed to show 1t; and
youth is not prone to search for it
He had left her to servants; he had
deprived her of intimate friends, even
saying that he had no time to investi,
gate the worth of those with whom
she chose to associate and since that
was the case she had better keep to
herself. He had forgotten that she
was growing up-that she had been a
woman for the last few years. Az
such he had never treated her; he had
disposed of affairs concerning her as
quickly and In as business-like q
fashion as he disposed OF his daily
mail.
When he returned "a hours later Il
his desk there was no sigh of regret
for what he had done. no mention o
the incident OF the preceding day.
That he had written to his daughter
John Craven knew from the fact tha
letter addressed to her lay in tn,
mail basket addressed by hand.
But after his daughter was no long
er in the house, the old man grew
perceptibly older He became a trin,
more irritable each week. trihe hard
er to please; his letters took longer I,
write; he concentrated less easily.
Senator Alcott," said John Cravel
one morning after three or fou
months had passed and neither o
them had referred to the note Virgini,
had sent, Il am resigning."
"What?" Numbered the senator.
81 am resigning my post as you
secretary. I-somehow / feel tina
perhaps you would find a new assist
ant more atisfactory-some one VIII
did not know who. perhaps. woul
mot detect the reason for vour vrou