The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-07-25

"Oh. no,"-she shook her head slow.
ly. my position is mere sinecure,
thanks to Miss Lawton's wonderful
consideration. l have been little de-
! pressed-a little worried. that is all. .
Worried" Morrow paused, then
added in a lower tone, the words COM
ing swiftly, Cant you tell me, Emily?
Isn't there some way In which | can
help you? What is it that is troubling
you?"
Il don't know" A deeper, pain
full flush spread for a moment over
her face, then ebbed, leaving her paler
even than before. You are very kind,
Mr.. Morrow. but | do not think that
] should speak Of it to anyone. And
indeed, my fears are so intangible, so
vague. that when l try to formulate
my thoughts into words, even to my
self they are unconvincing, almost
meaningless. Yet l feel instinctively
that something is wrong"
Won't you trust me?" Morrow's
hand closed gently but firmly over the
girls slender one, in clasp OF com.
pelhng sympathy, and unconsciously
she responded to 1t. II know that
am comparatively a new friend. You
and your father have been kind
enough to extend your hospitality to
me, to accept me as friend. You
know very little about me, yet want
you to believe that / am worthy Of
trust-that want to help you. do,
Emily, more than you realize, more
than ! can express to you now!"
Morrow had forgotten the reason for
his presence there, forgotten his pro-
fession, his avowed purpose, every
thing but the girl beside him. But her
next words brought him swiftly back
to a realization OF the present-so
swiftly that for moment he felt as
: II stunned by an unexpected blow.
20, do believe that you are a
friend! do trust you!" Emily's
voice thrilled with deep sincerity, and
in an impetuous outburst Of conf
dence she added: 1T is about my
father that am troubled Something
has happened which l do not under
stand; there Is something he Is keep
ing from me, which has changed him.
He seems like different man, a
stranger"
You are sure of it," Morrow ask
ed, slowly. You are sure that it isn't
just a nervous fancy? Your father
really has changed toward you late
ly?"
Not only toward me, but to all the
world beside!" she responded. Now
that | look back, / can see that his
present state Of mind has been COM
ing on gradually for several months,
but 1t was only short time ago that
something occurred which seemed to
bring the matter, whatever it is, to
a turning.point. I remember that it
was just few days before you came
i mean, before l happened to see
you over at Mrs. Quinlans.'
She stopped abruptly, as If an ar
resting finger had been laid across her
lips, and after waiting moment for
her to continue, Morrow asked quiet
ly:
What was it that occurred?"
Father received a letter 1t came
one afternoon when l had returned
from the club earlier than usual. l
took it from the postman myself, and
as father had not come home yet from
the shop, placed it beside his plate
at the supper table. l noticed the
-'Brooklyn'-but it didn't
make any particular impression upon
me; it was only later, when I saw how
it affected my father, that l remem.
bered, and wondered. He had scarce
ly opened the envelope, when he rose,
trembling so that he could hardly
stand, and coming into this room, he
shut the door after him. l waited as
long as could, but he did not return,
and the supper was getting cold, so /