Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-11-11

thought was suddenly SUSPENDED no lons'.
hers to
ANSWER me! Whose is it," Kennedy
ceased to- wear the aspect OF the broken
man; he was alive, terrifyingly alive.
'"Patience; Mr.. Kennedy" warned Ban
croft, finding his voice.
patience? Well, yes, that is So" some
Of the tenseness went out OF kenneoys
body. but l demand to- know how ms
box came to be in the possession OF MISS
Bowman"
"Why?" asked Bancroft, speaking Tor
Nancy, who could not have uttered a "oro
just then had her life depended upon II. !,
"Why? Because the box is mine. mine!
!" Nancy" cried Bancroft, beginning to
understand what was toward. He laid his
hand. on her arm.
The touch broke the spell. 1T was with
me when Daddy Bowman found me outside
his door" she whispered, because even to
whisper took all the strength she had:
! 4" Don't you understand. Nancy?" said
Bancroft, the blood laundering in his ears.
NJ Kennedy is probably your father"
"Probably!" Kennedy let go the old ironic
laughter that came from behind walls or
OUT Of caverns. And I thought God was
done with me! My daughter? How do.
Nhow? How does she know" He. laughed
again. . .
Nancy heard her voice: 1t said: Il don't
know, 1 don't know. But if that box is
. yours, it is also mine"
ION the iange is gravenFC. ]. X, Jaipur.
19oO.' Mary bought it on our honeymoon.
and used it as a jewel box. That is my
proof, Where is yoprs?"
P~hantasmaEoria. To Bancroftis vision
Kennedy became something unreal, rterrify-
ing. To judge, to question, to doubt, in .
moment like this, when the man ought to-
be on his knees, grateful to God for this
miracle! -
II haven't any," said Nancy, Was she
real? Was anybody in this room real? Did
the room itself exist?
Sir" said Bancroft, breaking the pause,
wouldn't you like this lovely girl for .
daughter? You bubble! Look at her! She
ID more lovely than any jewel that ever re-
posed in that box. What! Do you need
lawyers, and documents and courtrooms,
when by q simple gesture God places her be-
fore you, your daughter? I believe in this.
miracle"
Kennedy's face softened and the hooking
fire went out of his eyes. He laid aside the
box and approached the bewildered Nancy,
taking her face between his hands and con.
ming the features, one by one. In, the end
he dropped his hands and shook his head.
!" No.. There is not one sign" he said, his
voice less round and steady; nothing that
reminds me of my wife"
But when she. smiles, sir" said Ban.
croft. to whom there was no longer any
puzzlement, F." she reminds me Of you. She
puzzled me that first night. Do you remem.
Der when you smiled at the chair? Well, the
smile she offered me was identical; but I did
not know 1t then"
This rather staggered Kennedy. =. He sat,
down heavily. You don't understand. It
would be easy to put my arms around this
girl--for she is lovely-and call her my M,
daughter. But if she weren't: and then, just
as my, heart was full Of her. to have her
torn from me-? You see. I'm a little sus.
picious of God, as yet" He hid his face in
his hands. "A Jaipur box and a smile! I've
got to know"
Go to him." whispered Bancroft to
Nancy. "'In Gods name, go to him! He is
your father"
She hesitated; but this hesitation was born
OF fear and unreality. This stranger, but
lately, a sinister shadow thrown across their
lives-her father! He might be or he might
not be. A Jaipur box and a smile! Where
was thai attribute men called instinct? WHY
didn't it tell her, one way or the other?
You, too?' cried Bancroft, who could not !
understand why these two weren't in each
others arms. Don't you want himY"
But does he want me?" T.
$50 and find out" .|a 4 =;
Suddenly the confusion went out Of her
and the weakness; and she comprehended
what fate intended her to do. There was no
binding revelation no sudden born love:
put there was pity, and out of this pity grew
a munger and a yearning. No one else would
ever claim the Jaipur box. This man, whom
misfortune had hammered into brass, was
PROBABLY her father, but never would either
of them be able to prove ii. SThe hoy might
not pc hers; she might have been abducted
from another house. Another house! She
mad been born in this house-perhaps She
nao piayed with dolls in this room. perhaps.
her mother had sung lullabies to her, by the
WINDOW with the stars-perhaps. Always
and ever perhaps! This mans tod and hers,
we're irony. She went over to Kennedy and.
Anelt, WIN the sensation of going through q
renearsai, OF entering into a theatricality.
shall, never know, actually. But what other
chance have YOU. Of finding your daughterf
what Sotner chance have I of finding nv
ia.ner: me boxNwas found with me out.
side a good mans door. Abandoned Nv
thieYes VINO We're afraid to 60 on with them:
CRIME Tor some reason. But did / come from
me same house as the boxV Only Cod can
ansWer thaf question:: and He never win
rer Il IN the days to come you NAV dis
sover tnat ! possess some little habits that
we're my mother's--your Mary's-since there
Is nothing in my face that stirs Won, III
accept you. as my father 7 shall never accent
any other man. Do you want me?"
4 NOW ! understand how Mary died. Ny
t = saI ways chance medley, chance medlevi
her baby X ~ 0N# anu
20 YOU .pa want meg, repeated Nancy.
10rcingt his handsfrom his eyes. ~
y music OF her voice. her loneliness. the
~, velvet Of her eye. Suddenly Kennedy5
LOOK s her1 into his arms, crushing her into
. pssasn,sssness The miracle wa4 revealed toti
mem poth In that embrace. Never anv
more doubt. wondsa question; fathers an d
nausnteE 50, lonE as life existed. Nancy
knewa now; her name was Mary Kennedy.
and she shad this minute come home. As ~
Kennedy the marrow in his bones 9srsr
MarM. 81 ne Knew that thereswas no more
iem aTass,s within hin, but Drumming llts.
on. earth. and God besides! nv Msry;. ~irifs
ito hold ssootaething sweet and nyinr III tSsssS
empty arms once nore!. saSA H
with skindltng eye BANCROFT nn,r.oas K ..sdN
This particular bra nch 40 sWh. .SSEIEIG