The Raymer enterprise., 1923-01-25
Her FATHER
BY JANE GORDON


Tillie stood before the old-fashioncd
mirror In her neat but quaint bed
room and looked at the picture. She
looked at this photograph often-as
often, that Is, as her querul0us aunt's
le,uunds left time.
Titles time was, for the most part,
taken up with mixing eggnogs and
cooking tempting meals for her in.
valid, hurrying out to market and hur'
rying back again-anxi0usly fearing
that Aunt Susan might have needed
her in the meantime.
Perhaps II Miss Susan Bixby had
really been Titles aunt she might have
had more kindly consideration for this
tireless nurse and companion. But
the name "aunt" was merely by adOp-
ion.
The picture she loved to gaze ut was
picture Of the handsome irresponsl.
BILE father who had long ago left her
to Miss Susan's care. How often had
Tillle been forced to listen to the CON.
planning tale
"And when your poor, silly young
mother died, Tillie, there was that
neerdo-well left with child he didn't
inOw what to do with. And because
| i,ad been kind In sending jellies and
things to your mother. who, goodness
knows, had little enough to do with, he
brought you over to me. You live
alone, Miss Susan,' says your father,
and little Tillie will be company for
you. When find the right work III
send you money from time to time.
Guess Miss Susan would add
dryly, "he never found the right
work."
But he did come to see me- Tilly
would put In timidly; "every year
father came. And he was always far
away"
Yes, and went on again without In.
wiling you to go with him." Susan
would reply, though you adored the
man. just like your mother did"
Tilly had secretly adored the good.
natured big father; always with tears
In her tired eses, she recalled the
threadbare shabblness Of him--the
love In his dark eyes-as he bade her
good-by.
In later years the rowing father
wrote less and less frequently. Then
his letters ceased altogether and Tlllie
was unable to locate him.
Dead, probably" Aune Susan un.
sympathetically supposed.
Titles brown hair had tinged with
gray In her devoted service. But Til.
lies life had not been altogether col
orless. Sometimes she sang CHEEKY
song about her wOrk-if Aunt Susan's
door were closed to the sound, or IL
her invalid's chair had been pushed out
into the garden. And sometimes when
Aunt Susan was carefully wrapped up
for slumber Tillie would tuck red
flower In the waist Of her gray dress
or add soft collar Of lace. And she
was never too tired to greet David,
when he came to call, with smile
David deserved all the comforting
companionship that lilly could give
him. 1t was because Of his love for
her that he had remained through the
disappointing years Of his youth in
the narrow confines Of the tiny village,
leaving for others the greater work
that he would have chosen In an outer
world; measuring success only us hs
succeeded in Frightening the days Of
the woman whom he loved and who
loved him.
David had no cause for affection
toward the invalid. Jealously was his
presence forbidden; coldly his over.
lures Of friendliness received. But
each year Miss Susan grew more de-
pendent on TITLES care; more exact.
Ing her demands. "Tillie!" her voice
called now sharply. The woman re.
placed the photograph she had been
lovingly regarding. David had brought
the mail from the post Office. In the
chilly hall he dared to llnger.
'The postmark on the letter Is
stamped Nebraska" he said.
II am anxious to hear II you have
word from your father, Tillle."
She sank down on the lowest step
Of the stair and deliberately read her
letter, though the invalid's dominating
tone still summoned.
David watched her tenderly.
Titles cheeks grew softly pink, her
blue eyes looking up startled, brought
forth his question:
What Is 1t, dearl Your father
dead?-but we have thought that for
a long time, Tlllie" She had pressed
the letter into his hand.
"Why, my dear" he said slowly, IN.
bellevlngly-"my dear, 1t Is like Il
story. Yet 1t must be true; a lawyers
letter. 1t seems that your father
bought this land In Nebraska years
ago, when first he left you.
"Now, on this land. barren and far
from u city years ago, they wish to
erect great apartment building.
"Tillie! do you realize? You will
be rich |"
Sudden realization shadowed Dayid's
face-"While l." he added sadly, AMI
| stopped.