Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-10-12
HIS FATHER
Dy JANE GORDON

% Asss. Western NswspsDsr union.J
DMSOLLA DAWN looked coldly
= at her fathers guests. She was
.. strangely particular young person.
herself perfect In polse and manner.
Perfect, too. her admirers said. In face
and feature.
Jun Langham. when he met Pris-
ella Dawn. thought with q quick In
drawn breeth Of pleased surprise, that
here was hIs dream woman personi.
aed.
Jim. like Priscilla, demanded a GER
tain perfection. but jim might not be
% consistent in his demand. For
while Miss Dawn was favored In so
ctal position and fortune, Jim had
come to the great city~to make his
way.
That the beautiful young woman's
father had been SO kind as to include
an Office employee among his guests
was In Jim's favor.
Douglas Dawn honestly liked his as
sistant Office manager.
Priscilla, the pride and delight of
his old age. was nevertheless to her
father q problem. For as his years
advanced his anxious desire was to
cared for and protected in home Of
her own.
Robert Wentworth was his favorite
because Of the name Of prominence he
bore. John Stern was notably sue
ceasful in his profession.
At the conclusion Of the dinner
party the young woman arose, her
calm face expressive Of boredom. She
forced smile-the meaningless
smile, the prejudiced father thought.
learned at the school on the Hudson.
Il will leave you." Priscilla told
the regretfu young men, ito the en-
joyment Of your cigars"
Jim Langham's dark eyes followed
her eagerly. She was always nice to
Jim. Courtesy, he detsrminedly re-
minded himself, to humble employee.
Yet there were glorifled moments when
jim, working tirelessly and dreaming
great dreams of ambition, allowed
happier thoughts to sway. He found
her later, walking In the garden at
Robert Wentworth's side. Priscilla
beckoned.
"Mr. Wentworth has been bored
long enough by my society" she smil-
ipgly remarked. "Will you relieve
him, Mr.. LanghamY'
Thus frankly was the disappointed
Mr.. Wentworth dismissed.
"You appear to be able to entertain
Priscilla, JIM. Mr.. Dawn said. "Glad
you can do that What the girl L.
looking for In her frisnds-and fails
to finds most perplexing. Stern
seemed to find q sort Of favor until
something disappointed her. Yes, I'm
Eiad you can entertain her. at least"
AT leasti" echoed Jim. To relieve
an hour Of boredom for the lovely
Priscilla, was ell that he, In his hum
BILE position, dare hope. And 30 he
walked In the gardens at her side.
And every moment. Jim. his only
wealth his ambition. fell deeper and
deeper In the yearning Of the love
which possessed him.
Through the gate opening In the
hedge came a bent old figure. Jim.
with q breathless stare Of surprise,
recognized a the old man came clos
er. the kindly trusting smile Of greet
Ing.
"Jim" called his father happily
"Jimw
Priscilla Dawn stood observant. Her
cold glance appraising.
Jim glanced at har hastily, then on
to the wrinkled pleased face before
him, then the yeung mans hand went
out heartily.
Father" said jim, "how did you
Get herer'
"Drove in with the wilkins folks
this morning." ed jamie Langham re-
piled. Invited me and seemed l
couldn't walt q minute after got here
to see you. We're going back tonight
Over at your boarding place they told
me you'd be herA"
JILL 4NCAO& W. AO0 8CAA&AAy e~"~A~
Jim's hostess. "You're Mr.. Dawn's
daughter, Of courps, and can't tell
you how glad u makes me. back
there In the country. to think that
some one - kind to my boy--sivinS
him 4 bit Of real home life now and
then" Old Jami6s smile wvinkled.
"And the comfort Of your garden. l
Try to keep up Jim's mothers garden
a he left it-bashslor buttons and .
rambler rose. I'd like to thank your
father. too. my dear. before 60. for
ths great help hs's been to my son."
The words were spoken with bis
fathers simpla dignity, but James
LAngham with his knowledge Of con-
vention, gaspsl at the kindly my
dear" Priscilla Dawn, the eourtsd Of
fortuns-favored associates - what
would she think Of this-yes, shabby
old man, and his "my dearr
Jim's troubled eyes sought hers
for understanding. And In Priscilla's
eyes shone that remembered soft blue
hre. Impulsivly her hand reached
toward old Jamie's knarled one.
.Come in and msst my father" she
invited, land later will show you
bachelor buttons like those Of your
garden-and = rambler rose. I am
dad to know James Langham's
father-it makes me realize that I