The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-03

you, my dear We should agree in
that; give a deal OF time to the
garden.
Mr.. Cass: (Surprised) All,
there's plenty Of gardening at the
Red House. You've done good
part by Eppie, Mariner, for sixteen
years. 1t 'ud be a great pleasure to
you to see her well provided for
wouldn't it? She looks blooming
and healthy. but not fit for any
hardships; she doesn't look like a
strapping girl come of working pa.
rents. You'd like to see her taken
care OF by those who can leave her
well of and make lady Of her;
she's more At for it than for
rough life, such as she might come
to have in a few years time.
| (Silas Mariner Aushes.)
Silas: l don't take your mean
ing, sir.
Mr.. Cass: Determined to
come to his point) Well my mean
ing Is this, Mariner. Mrs. Cass and
|, you know, have no children,--no
body to be the better for our good
home and everything else we have
more than enough for ourselves.
And we should like to have some
body In the place of daughter to
us-we should like to have Eppie,
and treat her in every way as our
own child. It'ud be great COM
fort to you In your old age, I hope,
to see her fortune made in that
way, after you've been at the trou-
BILE of bringing her up so well.
And It's right you should have ev-
cry reward for that; and Eppie,
Pm sure. will always love you and
be grateful to you; she'd come and
see you very often, and we should
all be on the lookout to de every
thing we could towards making you
comfortable.
Eppie passes her hand behind
Silas's head and let her hand rest
against it caressingly.
Silas: Eppie, my child. speak.
won't stand in your way. Thank
Mr.. and Mrs. Cass.
Eppie: (Takes her hand from
Silas's head and steps forward a
step. Her cheeks blush as she
drops a low curtsy first to Mrs
Cass. then to Mr.. Cass.) Thank
you, ma'am-thank you, sir, But
can't leave my father, nor own any.
body nearer than him. And don't
want to be lady-thank you all
the same drops another curtsy).
couldn't give up the folks I've been
used too.
| Eppie's lips begin to tremble.
She goes to her fathers chair and
holds him around the neck. Silas
sobs as he puts his hands out to
lsrasp Eppie's. Nancy's eyes fill
with tears.)
| Mr.. Cass: "a little angrily. }
But I've a claim on you, Eppie,-
the strongest Of all claims. It's my
duty, Mariner, to own Eppie as my
child and provide for her. She's
my own child, her mother was my
wife. I've a natural claim on her
that must stand before every other
/ (Eppie gives a violent start and
turns pale.)
i Silas: with accent of bitter
ness.) Then. sir, then, sir. why
didn't you say so sixteen years ago
and claim her before I'd come tc
love her, istead of coming to take
her away from me now, when you
might as we'll take the heart out Of
my body? God gave her to me be
cause you turned your back upor
her, and He looks upon her al
mine. You've no right to her
When a man turns a blessing from
his door it falls to them as take i
: in.
Mr.. Cass: l know that, Mariner
was wrong. I've repented Of m!
| conduct in that manner.
Silas: with gathering excite
| ment.) Pm glad to hear that, sir
but repentance doesn't alter what
} been going on for sixteen years
Your coming now and saying In
| her father doesn't alter the feeling
inside us. It's me she's been call
, ing her father ever since she coult
say the word.