The Washington herald., 1915-12-04
DAILY SHORT STORY.
Peace n the Family.
~ KEITH KENYoN.

L ~S - 0ADS =
By KEITH KENYON.
Dora hunted up her father ana
found him In the garden trimming his
| roses.
Here. the mail. d.ddy-two letter.
Henry Harper eas.at the erispnss,
OF his daughters tone a. she turned
toward the house and Q slight shadow
crossed his face. He knew withou,
looking that one OF the letters vas
from q woman, Q woman he cared for
great deal. and the girls tone hurt
him.
'Doraw
Yes. father"
I'd like to talk to you . minute.
this bench . little while or are you
too husyr"
Dora loved her father devotsdly.
There was something In his tone that
brought . Hood Of red to her checks.
''You dear old goosis. Of course I'm
never too busy to talk to you. There
now. what u itf''
Henry locked At his pretty daush-
ter with . glow Of pride. In her
the roses in his garden Il have put
OF the critical moment 10 long. dear.
It's a little hard to come to Il now,
but before I open this letter I want
to tell you something"
Dora was silent
IT guess you know the writing
pretty we'll now. IT'S from . friend
In Boston"
The girl stinened impercep,ibly and
and the coloE>left her face. She had
been motherless for 30 many years
and her father had been all the world
to her. It was har0 to have him think
Of any one except herself
Yes. daddy" she managed to get
out.
He went on: Il met her last year
when was away. and. ~ you know,
We have corresponded ever since. She
IL 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 saks7 have asked her to be
my WIFE"
Daddy Dora sprans to her feet
with cry Of pain. ''Oh. daddy"
Then she sank Imply down to the
bench. the tears rolling down her
cheeks. Il can hardly believe it." Her
lips trembled % she could scarcely
speak.
Her father put his arm around her
sorry I hurt you. didn't mean to be
so abrupt. I'll tell you all about It
some time. Besides haven't read my
letter yet Maybe she has said no.
But thought ought 10 tell you what
I had done regardless Of her An.
swer"
-It's-its all right. father. But If
she is young and pretty don't see
how I can like her. why didn't you
nirk ala
Henry Harper put back his we'll
shaped head and laughed. "wen.
like that! Do you know I'm only
forty-three? But I suppose that must
seem ancient to twenty"
We'll, not exactly ancient. daddy.
but when I get married I want some
one my own age who can play golf
and tennis and dance and run an
aeroplans. maybe. II he's fich."
An all-round athlete like yourself!
Sc you think because I like books ana
a garden and write for magazines
I'm old and decrepid?"
Now. daddy"
1T sounds pretty much that way.
miss. But II you liked books and dow-
ers better than anything else wouldn't
you like your husband to like them.
too. no matter what his age might
beT' anxiously.'
7 suppose So" with . sigh. But
daddy dear. II she's accepted you
and you seem pretty sure Of 1t or
you'd have beenm more anxious about
the letter-please don't tell me. I'll
know that silence means consent.
And maybe 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 drooped. knowing that herI
father was 70 be married and that
another woman would soon be pouring
coffee at her place at the table.
Her friends. little guessing the
did what they could to cheer
her. The boys with whom Dora was
q general favorite. did their best to
divert her. but 1t 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 birth
ancholy.
Her father was worried. DORA
he said one morning with hnality. II
have q plan. I'm going to send you
away. You need . change OF scsna
and air. II you 20 on this way I
don't know what will happen. You've
got to 20. I've made up my mind!
But. daddy. promise you won't"
she stopped
He guessed the appeal in her sysa
NO. dearr softly. Il won't be mar |
ried while you're gone. know OF
place on the North Shore Of Massa. |
chusetts, Broxton. where q number OF
people have cottages. Some friends OF
your mother live there-two In fact. . |
Mr.. Cyrus Fielding. bachelor. and his
sister Margaret. They have always
wanted us to visit them. but I can't
70 just now. So I'm going to send
you alone. There! That's good girl |
knew you'd do It TIL give you .
check for some clothes and try 70 Do
ready by Saturday" |
The Fieldings were At the station
With their car when Dora arrived At
Broxton Saturday evening. \MargaretI
was clear skinned. dark eyed ana
duiet hammered. and her tender greet |
InR Of the girl won her at once Cyrus
tall and not too good looking. put |
Dora instantly at her ease By re-
marking. How do you do. Miss Har-
per? The last time saw you you were
.uttin9 your first teeth. Some one sug-
xestsd that investigate. and you oiti
me. I still have the scar"
Dora laughed. Il have always won
iered Why my teeth tried to grow !
rocked. i uhderstand now. They got /
wrecked IN. infsncy.
-avsry likely yea are .risht- agrssd