South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-19
Why Madge Swept Memories Aside
and said ooh, My Father!
I've Wanted Won Co.."

and said "Oh, My Father!
I've Wanted You So!"
Ny father Robert Gordon-my
father
looked at the elderly man kneel-
ing beside my bed, and my brain
whirled with the unreality Of IT all.
The man OF mystery" the "Ques-
ter" OF Broadway, the elderly soldier
OF fortune. about whose reputed
wealth and his constant searching
of faces the idle gossip of the city's
Bohemia had whirled-to think that
this man was the father had never
known, the father, alas! whom I had
hoped never TO know.
Everything was clear TO me now
the reason for his staring at me
when he first caught sight of me in
the Sydenham hotel. his trailing of
my movements until he had found
out my name and home. the intro
duction he obtained TO Dicky, and
through him 10 me, his emotion at
hearing my mothers name. his en-
barrassing attentions 10 me ever
since-the explanation for all which
had puzzled me had come in the
choking words of the man whose
head was bowed against my bed, and
whose whole frame was shaking
with suppressed sobs.
1 felt myself trembling in the
grip of a mighty surge of longing
to gather that bowed gray head in
to my arms and lavish the love he
longed for upon my father. My
heart sang little hymn of Joy. I.
who had been kinless, with no one
of my own blood, had found
father!
And then, with my hand out
stretched almost touching my
fathers head, the revulsion came.
True. this man was my father, but
he was also the man who had made
my mothers life one long tragedy.
All my life j had schooled myself
TO hate the man who had deserted
my mother and me when I was four
years old. who had added to the de-
sertion the insult OF taking with him
the woman who had been my
mothers most intimate friend. NV
love for my mother had been the
absorbing emotion OF my life. until
she had left me. and because of that
love 1 had loathed the very thought
or the man who had caused her to
suffer so terribly.
Where Is-?"
My father lifted his head and
looked at me, and there was that in
his eyes which made me shudder. II
was the look OF a prisoner In the
dock. waiting to receive a sentence
"Of course, know you must hate
the very sight of me. Margaret" he
! said brokenly. Il had not meant 10
tell you so soon. But have 10 go
away almost at once to South Amer
lea. and it is very uncertain when l
shall return. could not bear to go
without your knowing how have
loved and longed for you.
Never so great a sinner as I. nv
child the weary old voice went on
/ but oh, If you could know nv bit
ter repentance, my years OF loneli-
/ ness"
His voice tore my heart strings.
but l steeled myself against him.
\ one thing L must know.
/ Where is the person with whom
l could not finish the words.
/ Il do not know" The words rang
true. 1 was sure he was not living
10 me. Il have not seen or heard
OF her in over 20 years"
Then the association had not last
ed I had a sudden clairvoyant
glimpse into my fathers soul. Nv
mother had been the real love OF his
life. His infatuation for the .otheY
woman had been but a temporary
madness. What long drawn-out
agOnized repentance must have been
his for 90 years with wife, child and
home lost TO him?
I leaned back and closed nv ewes
for a minute. overwhelmed with the
problem which confronted me. And
then-call il hallucination or VIVA,
you will heard my mothers voice
as clearly as I ever heard il in my
life repeating the words I had read
weeks before in the letter she had
left me at her death.
Remember il is my last wish
Margaret that il your father be
living sometime you may be recon
ciled 10 him"
l opened my eyes with a little CRY
OF thanksgiving. IL was as IL my