The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-11
The EUening Story
Peace in the Family.
(By Keith Kenyon.)

Here's the mail, daddy-tWo letters
for you
Henry Harper caught the crispness
of his daughters tone as she turned
toward the house and slight shadow
crossed his face. He knew without
looking that one of the letters was
great deal.
"Dora!"
Yes, father
'I'd like to talk to you a minute,
dear. Can you come and sit down on
this bench a little while or are you
too busy %
Dora loved her father devotedly.
There was something in his tone that
brought a flood of red to her cheeks.
you dear old goosie, of course I'm
never too busy to talk to you. There
now, what is it?'
Henry looked at his pretty daughter
with glow of pride. In her white
dress, she looked like one of the roses
in his garden. ct have put off the
critical moment so long, dear, it's a
little hard to come to it now, but be-
fore 1 open this letter 1 want to tell
you something"
Dora was silent.
81 guess you know the writing pretty
well now. It's from a friend in Bos-
tom
The girl stiffened imperceptibly and
the color left her face. She had been
motherless for so many years and her
father had been all the world to her.
1t was hard to have him think of any
one except herself.
Yes, daddy" she managed to get
out.
He went on: "I met her last year
when 1 was away, and, as you know,
we have correspondent ever since. She
is young, scarcely older than you are,
but mature in her ways and wonder
fully sweet and clever. I'm sure you
would love her, Dora. Won't you try
for my sake? I have asked her to be
my wife"
Daddy" Dora sprang to her, feet
Then she sank Imply down to the
bench, the tears rolling down her
lips trembled so she could scarcely
speak.
Her father put his arm around her
tenderly. Don't cry honey! I'm SO
so abrupt. I'll tell you all about it
some time. Besides haven't read my
letter yet. Maybe she has said mo-
But I thought I ought to tell you what
"It's-it's all right, father. But If
she is young and pretty I don't see
how 1 can like her. Why didn't you
pick some one old like yourself"
Henry Harper put back his well
forty-three? But 1 suppose that must
seem ancient to twenty
well not exactly ancient, daddy,
but when I get married 1 want some
one my own age who can play golf and
tennies and dance and run an aeor-
plane, maybe, if he's rich"
"An all-round athlete like yourself!
So you think because like books and
a garden and write for magazines, I'm
old and decrepit?"
Now, daddy
at sounds pretty much that way,
miss. But if you liked books and
wouldn't you like your husband to like
them, too, no matter what his age
might be?" anxiously;
'T suppose so,' with a sigh. "But,
daddy dear, if she's accepted you-and
you seem pretty sure of it or you'd
have been more anxious about the
don't tell me. I'll know
that silence means consent. And may
be some day. mean I'll try to get
used to it, She kissed him and went
quickly back to the house to sob her
heart out in her room.
The days passed and Henry Harper
never returned to the subject they had
discussed that morning in the garden.
Dora dropped, knowing that her faith
er was to be married and that another
woman would soon be pouring coffee
at her place at the table.
Her friends, little guessing the trou-
Bile, did what they could to cheer her
The boys, with whom Dora was gem
eral favorite. did their best to divert
her. but it was of no use. Golf with
Bob had no charm, tennis with Homer
seemed dead, motoring with Dick
bored her, dancing tired her and the
party the girls gave on her birthday
caused not ripple on her melancholy.
Her father was worried. Dora"
he said one morning with finality, 81
have a plan. I'm going to send you
away. You need a change of scene
and air. If you go on this way L don't
know what will happen. You've got
to go. I've made up my mindi'
But. daddy, promise you won't"
she stopped.
He guessed the appeal in her eyes.
mo, deari' softly 81 won't be
a place on the north shore of Massa- |
chusetts, Broxton, where a number of |
people have cottages. Some friends of
your mother live there-two in fact, a !
Mr. Cyrus Fielding, bachelor, and his |
sister Margaret. They have always
wanted to visit them, but 1 can't go |
Just now. NSo I'm going to send you |
alone. Therei That's a good girl. 1 /
knew you'd do it, I'll give you a /
check for some clothes and try to be |
ready by Saturday.
The Fieldings were at the station |
with their car when Dora arrived at |
was clear skinned, dark eyed and |
1uiet hammered, and her tender greet /
ing of the girl won her at once. Cyrus, /
tall and not too good 10. king. put |
Dora instantly at her ease by remark
ing How do you do, Miss Har-
per? The last time 1 saw you you
we're cutting your first tceth. Some /
one suggested that investigate. and /
you bit me. still have the scar