The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-06-12
WHEN DAUGHTER
DTSOBEYED DAD
By MARJORY H. MORROW

W was pretty in a timid, retiring
way. but for some reason or other no,
body had ever looked at her more
than once. Therefore, when Ed Dowl-
ing from Boston, gay, debonair, "the
glass of fashion and the mold of
FORM" began to drop in of an evening,
she was little short of ill with ecstasy.
"Come on out on the river tonight
he said, stopping by the little white
rate one noon as he was passing. Tive
hired a canoe from Hi Rogers and we
can Jazz around in the moonlight"
Minnie's heart gave a great jump,
but she seemed to see her fathers
rigid countenance and hear his stern
voice as he looked about the dinner
table.
81 absolutely forbid any of you
children going out upon the river af-
ter dark. 1t is not safe. Under no
condition are you to disobey this rule.
You will please not forget it," His
crisp tones echoed in Minnie's head
while she heard Ed say:
"What's the matter, grille? Don't
you want to come? l never get a
chance to be with you alone, you
know"
Minnie swallowed hard, looked up
at him appealingly, and answered:
'I-I'm supposed to go to the Sun
day school picnic at Laurel grove to-
night"
"Rightol Well go there and slip
away. Come on-dear."
Minnie blushed f~uriously, and capt.
ulated.
"Attababyw cried Ed, joyously.
"WeII have cushions n'everything.
Don't forget"
Sleepy frogs croaked in the reeds.
A wheeling night hawk sent down his
p~laintive call. The river was a sheet
of silver under the risen moon. Ed
and Minnie drifted idly among the
cleaning ripples. At times he
thrummed a ukulele and sang softly in
a low, clear baritone. Minnie was in
the seventh heaven.
jumping Jupiterl" gasped Ed, sud
denly, looking at his watch. do you
know what time it is? It's 11:30
o'clock"
Minnie's dream came tumbling
about her ears. The frogs seemed now
to be croaking a warning: go home!
Go homel"
"Ill-Tll get in the back way" she
faltered. "Oh, dear, let's hurryl"
Haste usually makes waste, and
sometimes it makes worse things.
This time it made Minnie catch her
foot in the gunwa1e of the and
plunge noisily into the dark water!
Ed fished her out with more expedi-
ton than skill, and held the wet, shiv-
ering little body quite close for a min
ute. He said nothing, but Minnie felt
at once thrilled and comforted.
A long trail of water struggled
along the silent street to the gate of
Minnie's house. There Ed left her,
squeezing her hand encouragingly.
"WiIl be around tomorrow" he
whispered into the dark.
Minnie stole up the back stairs
quietly enough, but was faced with
the problem of what to do with her
wet clothes. At last she tiptoed up
into the attic and hung them over the
rainy-weather lines. AS she crept into
bed she felt sure that her secret was
safe.
Minnie, DEAR" said her mother the
next morning, "dress quietly and don't
make any noise coming down to
breakfast. Your father had one of
his headaches last night and wishes
to sleep late"
After breakfast a whistle shrilled
outside, and Minnie FASTENED out on
the porch, bungalow apron and all, to
greet her cavalier of the night before.
He stood looking up at her, his eyes
soft and %brooding in the morning light,
the elm trees making patterns all Dve
his neat gray suit. Minnie smiled shy
y down, a dishtowel clasped In n
small hand, and whispered:
"No one heard me come in last
hight. Everything's all right. I hung
ny wet clothes in the attic, and"
what does this mean?" suddenly
demanded a terrible voice from the
doorway. Minnie turned and beheld
Ter father in a bathrobe and night
zap, holding in his shaking hands a
lilapidated bundle of crushed or
candle and lace!
This morning." began the old man,
nearly choking with rage, "this morn
ng 1 woke and found-and found my
leakingl
Drops of water were falling on my
lose, my face was wet-wetl Dare
-ou laugh, sir? / believe you are to
'lame for this. What have you done
0 my daughter? Come here and I'll
vring your impudent young neck!"
Then Ed Bowling proved that all
virtues are not co~untry-bred. He
topped quietly up beside Minnie, his
ace a mixture Of profound regret :
proud possessiveness, slipped his !
rm around her waist and said: {
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