The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-01-17

let that be sufficient. I can at least
account for my incomprehensible cos
tune. That much you shall have. If
no more. This frock is a new one.
1t has just come up the river from
st. Louis. have never had 1t on
until today. Another one, equally as
startling, lies in that bedroom over
there, and beside it on the bed is the
dress l came here in this afternoon.
1t is plain black dress, and there
Is veil and hideous black bonnet
to go with It,"
"You-you have lost mean, you
are In mourning for some one?" he
exclaimed. The thought rushed into
his mind: Was she a widow? This
radiantly beautiful girl widow?
For my father" she stated sue
cinctly. He died almost a year ago.
was in school at st. Louis when 1t
happened. l had not seen him for
two years. My mother sent for me to
come home. Since that time I have
worn nothing but black-plain, hor-
rible black. Do not misjudge me.
am not vain. nor am as heartless as
you may be thinking. I had and still
have the greatest respect for my IA
ther. He was good man, fine man.
But In all the years Of my life he
never spoke loving word to me, hc
never caressed me. he never kissed
me. He was kindness itself, but-he
never looked at me with love In his
eyes.
"As l grew older l began to think
that he hated me. That is terrible
thing to say-and you must think II
vile Of me to say 1t to you. a stranger
&lIt I have said it. and would NOT
take it back When | was thirteen
wears old he hired me out as a serv-
~ II u turmeiss family and worked
'.rip nl.i was fourteen. II was
90 20 iiti> nrigllorhood. | worked
ift ~-.rr nnd keep. II thing could
~ =. tv,~iand ntd bitterly resented
s. ne ,a- prosperous. Then my
.on't zen III She was a strong
s",t;.n riii she broke down in health.
fe t.itt ana got me and took me
-nisr WAS II big girl for my age
as big as ! am now-and strong. ]
ilid all the work about the house
until my mother was well again. He
never gave me word of apprecia-
ton or one of encouragement.
He was never unkind he never
found fault with me, he never In all
his life scolded or switched me when
l was bad. Then. one day-it was
three years ago-he told me to get
ready to go down to st. Louis to
school. He put me In charge Of q
trader and his wife who were going
down the river by perogue. He gave
them money to buy suitable clothes
for me-a large sum of money, II
must have been--and he provided me
with some for my own personal use.
II stayed there until was called
home by his death. | expected to re-
turn to school. but my mother refused
to let me go back. That was last
fail. She Is still In the deepest
mourning, and believe will never
dress otherwise l have said all there
is to say about my father. did moi
love him, l was not grieved when he
passed away. II was almost as II q
stranger had died."
She paused. He took occasion to
remark. alphabetically: HE must
have been q strange man."
He was" she said. ~ hope have
made you understand what kind Of
man he was, >and what kind Of ia
ther he was to me. Now. am com
ing to the point. This inery you see
me In now was purchased without my
mothers knowledge or consent-with
money of my own. The box was de
livered to Phineas Striker day before
yesterday up in Lafayette. came
here 10 spend the night In order thai
might try them on. live In town.
with my mother. She left the farm
after my fathers death. She adored
him. She could not bear to live Oui
there on the lonely-but, that is of no
interest to you. A few weeks ago
asked her II might not take off the
black. She refused at first, but final
iy consented 10 wrote to the wOm
an who used to make my dresses In
st. Louis-my father was not stingy
with me, so | always had pretty
frocks-and now they have come. My
mother does not know about them.
She will be shocked when j tell
have them. but she will not be angry.
She loves me. Is your curiosity salts
fled? II will have to be. for this is
all | care to divulge at present"
He smiled down into her earnest
eyes. my curiosity is appeased," he
said. ~ should not have slept to-
night II you had not explained this
tantalizing mystery. Therefore. !
thank you. May ! have your permis-
sion to say that you are very lovely
In your new frock and that you are
marvelously becoming to itr
wait till you see me in my black
dress and homeland mittens." she
challenged.
Elisa appeared In the doorway. She
waa rolling down her sleeves.