Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-12-22

LOFTS OOk the ITdN6IIIIS Days
home that night! Doris must be
warned!
The mothers voice was very quiet
and earnest and the words came slow
ly as she said:
Listen to me, Doris, dear. When
daddy comes | don't want you to say
anything to him about the purse. He'll
be angry if he knows it's lost, and then
he'll worry about it. You don't want
to worry daddy. do your
"NO. But, mamma. weren't you
shopping yesterdays?
"Of course, dear"
"But you told the man you were at
Long Branch.
1T was friend Of mine who was
there" said Mrs. Strickland. Il loaned
her tie purse. and she lost it..
"Who was it?'' asked Doris.
"YOu don't know her. dear"
"Why did you lend her your purse?'
Because she hadn't any money of
her own"
There was a puzzled look on the
NoA0
Judge Dinsmore later. she had been
trained, and by the very mother who
was now fibbing to her, to tell the
truth in any circumstances. So she
said:
But. mamma, wasn't it fibbing to
tell the man
NO. I'll explain some other time.
Now promise mamma you won't say
anything"
81 promise" said little Doris.
And now came a great event in the
life of Doris-the homecoming after
few days absence of her dearly be-
loved daddy She had missed him
greatly. so that it was with great joy
she heard his voice in the anteroom
saying to the Stricklands maid:
"Hello, Bertha! How are you?
Everybody all right?''
Almost before Bertha could reply
Doris ran from the room. crying:
"It's daddy, mamma! It's daddy!
Still outside the room in which his
wife waited. silent, for him. Strickland
called out:
eyes, it's your old daddy. Hello.
sweetheart"
There was a bOisterous meeting of
father and little daughter in the ante
room.
Hello, daddy dear! What have you
got for me?' asked Doris.
Something wonderful replied Strick-
land. "Give me another kiss. Are you
glad to see your daddy?"
ooh, mamma and I have been so
lonesomer'
"Where is mamma r
"In here" said Doris. and she took
her daddy by the hand and led MIN
into the sitting room. At one side
stood the wife. AS her husband en-
tered she made one step toward him
and then hesitated. waiting. Strick-
land was still busted with his little
daughter He handed his travelling
bag to her, and she stood holding it in
her two small hands, for it was heavy,
while May, overcoming her hesitation,
ran to her husband. Her voice was af-
fectionate, but high pitched. as she en-
braced him and said:
Robert, dear. I'm so glad you're
backv'
Her words were sincere, and her out
ward manner was that of a loving
wife. glad to welcome back her hus-
band after an unavoidable separation.
To the latter, happy in the reunion
with his wife and child. there was
nothing strange in the greetings.
But a close observer might have
noted that the manner of May Strick-
land at this time was strained and I'M
natural almost hysterical. She was
keyed to too high a point. Her mo-
lions were strained and jerzed, as
though her limbs moved in response to
nerves that were stretched taut. The
face she showed to Robert was aglow
with welcome, but when he turned
aside for a moment to speak with
Doris the eyes took on a staring, strain
ed expression in which one might read
horror, almost.
Was it the loss of the purse that per-
turbed her so? Whatever it was, while
her husbands attention was distracted
by the child, she made a great and
successful effort to calm herself.
Strickland stilled the clamors of Doris
long enough to turn to his wife and
say: