Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1915-06-01
@Let US hurry to the taxi
INST not stand here"

with your father but fourteen years.
know but little of his life prior to
that"
why did he leave me all these
years without ever coming to see me?
Why?"
1T is not for me, Miss Florence to
inquire into your fathers act But
do know that whatever he did was
meant for the best. Your welfare was
everything to him"
ut is all very strange" said the
girl, bewilderedly. "Why didn't he
come to meet me instead of your"
Jones stared at his hands, miser-
ably.
"Why?" she demanded. II have
thought CT him, thought of him He
has hurt me with all this neglect.
expected to see him at the station, to
throw my arms around his neck and
forgive him!" Tears swan in
her eyes as she spoke.
Everything will be explained to
you when we reach the house. But
always remember this, Miss Florence:
You were everything in this wide
world to your father. You will never
know the misery and loneliness he
suffered that you might not have one
hour of unrest. What are your plans?"
he asked abruptly of the teacher from
Miss Farlow's.
"That depends" she answered, lay
ing her hand protectingly over the
girls.
you could leave Miss Farlow's on
the moment?"
Eyes"
"Then you will stay and be Miss
Flcrence's companion?"
Gladly"
what is my fathers manner"
"Hargreave, Stanley HargreaTe."
Suddenly she burst into a wild frenzy
of sobbing, her head against the shout
der of her erstwhile teacher.
Jones appeared visibly shocked.
what is it,"
''We read the story in the newspa-
per-" said the elder woman, her own
eyes filing with tears. "The poor
child. To have all her castles-in-air
tumble down like this! But what au-
thority have you to engage me?" SEN
sibly.
Jones produced document, duly
signed by Hargreave, and witnessed
and sealed by notary, in which 1t
was set forth that Henry Jones, but
Ter and valet to Stanley Hargreave,
had full powers of attorney in the
event of his (Hargreave's) disappear
ance; in the event of his death, till
Florence became of legal age.
Said Jones as he put the document
back in his pocket: What is your
name?'
Susan Wane."
"Do you love this child?"
with all my heart, the poor un-
happy babel"
THANK you!"
Inside the home he conducted them
through the various rooms, at the
same time telling them what had ia
ken place during the preceding night.
"They have not found his body?"
asked Florence. "My poor, poor faith
err"
mo"
"Then he may be alive!"
! please God that he may!" said the
butler, with genuine piety, for he had
loved the man who had gone fc- h in
to the night SO bravely and so strange
ly. This is your room. Your father
spent many happy hours here prepar-
ing it for you"
Tears came into the girls eyes
again, and discreetly Jones left the
two alone.
what shall do, Susan? Whatever
shall do?"
"Be brave as you always are.
will never leave you till you find your
father"
Florence kissed her fervently
what is your opinion of the butler?"
II think we may both trust him alb
solutely"
Then Florence began exploring the
house. Susan followed her closely
Florence peered behind the mirrors,
the pictures, in the drawers of the
desk in the bookcases.
What are you hunting for, child?"
"a photograph OF father" But she
found none. More, there were no pho
tographs of any kind to be found in
i Stanley Hargreave's home.
When Norton awoke, he naturally
went to the door for the morning pa
pers which were always placed in
neat pile before the sill. He yawned,
gathered up the bundle, was about to
climb back into bed, when a head
line caught his dull eyes. Twenty-one
minutes later, to be precise, he ran
up the steps Of the Hargreave home
and rang the bell. He was admitted
by the taciturn Jones, to whom the
reporter had never paid any particu-
lar attention. Somehow Jones always
managed to stand in shadows.
Il can add nothing to what has al
ready appeared in the newspapers"
replied Jones, as Norton opened his
batteries of inquiries.
Mr.. Jones, have known your mas
ter several years, as you will recollect.