Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-12
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
Disposing of Father
,y HAZEL GRAY WOOD

The altitude with which the Tobey
girls had always regarded their rather
was one Of frank impatience. And now
hat Stella the old-maid daughter who
lad kept house for him since her
mothers death, had, In some unaccount-
able way, acquired a would be husband,
ihc question must be settled as to just
what was to be done with the old man.
II was certainly not to be thought OF
that stella, after her years of faithful
care, should be further burdened. Quite
MS certainly was there no room for him
in Edith's crowded nifty fiat where three
hoys already slept restlessly in one bed.
stella and Edith eliminated, only Susan
was left And Susan. staying now
here, now there. all over the country as
her husbands travelling salesman's job
shifted, offered no refuge for not over
strong, rather deaf parent
Assembled in family conclave during
one Of Susan's brief stays near home,
the three women discussed the problem
whose solution must be determined upon
Lhfore Stella's wedding.
There is just one thing to do" at
fngth gave out practical Edith. 1T
would mean a nice room, nice meals
nice company, nice
Individual under discussion foated in
from the verandah. Here's Mrs. De-
laine."
Stella rose reslgnedly. Mrs De-
ainc Is fathers nightmare" she ex-
planned. you see. she's the leader of
new sect here-Prophetess OF the In
ward Urge. she calls herself--and she's
trying to convert him. She's getting in
heaps Of money from her-disciples. |
think she calls them, and, between you
and me, Imagine she's after what little
fathers got, but" her voice trailed
M as she left the room. to relieve Mr..
Tobey !or his afternoon nap.
Edith took uD her interruDted de-
Scripton of quarters in the Gatesville
Home for Aged Men exactly where she
had broken off Nice grounds she
continued, and what more could father
Him In for life. 1t does seem the best
way out, under the circumstances for
US. And for him, too" she added. as an
afterthought
Thus, II was settled. To fathers 5000
IN the bank was to be added the neces-
sary contributions from his daughters
to make up the quota which would de-
pcst him in a place where ne would
cease to be subject for their solicitude.
stella was informed of the decision at
the supper table In tones lowered out of
DIFFERENCE for the old mans occasional
Iapses from all but total deafness.
To tell the truth. however. when
SSt"lias wedding day finally arrived.
tdlth, who had been delegated to break
,hc news to her father OF ais immediate
removal to the Old Mems Home, was a
,nt nervous In fact. she conceived
ne worthy idea of paving the way
bit ahead
Father" she said, not unkindly. but
very loudly as was her wont in CON
MrslnE with him. Susan and Stella
and ! have gotten together a little pres
rnt Tor YOU, and I'm going to give 1t to
you now, Because right after Stella
goes we're going down to the bank SOS
h...N I..aI
rhen-well the money Is to be used in a
way mat is best for you I'll tell you
an about 1t by and by Anyway, II
means means nice long ride In the automo-
j. During the ceremony, father sat hold
Ihg the pocketbook which contained his
HH'ughters' W., 5000 After the ceremony.
, ,e disappeared and in the confusion at
fenaant fano upon serving the wedding break
nlS absence passed unnoticed.
ever m!'er arI NE I9, crowd had dispersed, how
eyer, ana Edith was getting ready to go,
cnS. co,o missed something. 1t was the suit
r"S, ,n she had carefully packed that
inor iin,orhLhg with her fathers clothes. Their
%%t CSs reminded her that her father had
Fano,i"en ,iTten present when Stella bade her
awav Bo9d-oy and that she had gono
bn ~ IeaNing message of farewell TO
w "ellVered when he showed up.
suddenly; from the front of the house
wonII TIdea a loud and mighty horn. Stella
miould %iould nave recognized IL as tho mouth
T'9 Tor pS 0i Mrs. Delaine's limousine, but
mo, GTulth and Susan It carried no such
tbon bH"',ls. They looked Mt one another
went ,WoLdless, but by mutual consent,
"Tnt 70 the door
from "'nSr ne, Was that father. descending
the c,rha HHe huge yellow car drawn up at
il tbeS bSS' ne announced simply. quite as
a nsSginIaad mad inquired, I'm converted. I'm
simply moom %, tne Inward Urge. That
breasst withln ttn us here" ne smote his
what to "'n L withered hand-"telis us
=" no. Three days ago. for in