Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1924-09-03
WHEN DAUGHTER
DTSOBEYED DAD
By MARJORY H. MORROW

than once. Therefore, when Ed Dowl-
ing from Boston, gay, debonair, 1.-The
glass of fashion and the mold of
FORM" began to drop in of an evening,
she was little short of i'll with ecstasy.
"Come on out on the river tonight"
he said, stopping by the little white
gate one noon as he was passing. i've
hired a canoe from Hi Rogers and we
can Jazz around in the moonlight"
Minnies 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.
II absolutely forbid any of you
children going out upon the river at
ter dark Ii is not safe. Under no
condition are you TO disobey this rule.
You will please not forget it, His
crisp tones echoed in Minn,e's head
while she heard Ed say:
whats the matter, grille? Don't
you want to come? | never get a
chance to be with you alone, you
know"
at him appealingly, and answered:
"I-Tm supposed to 90 to the sun
day school picnic at Laurel grove to-
night"
"Righto! Wen go there and slip
away. Come on-dear."
Minnie blushed furiously. and capt.
ulated.
"Attababy!" cried Ed, joyously.
well have cushions n'everything.
Don't forget"
Sleepy frogs croaked in the reeds
A wheeling night hawk sent down his
! plaintive call The river was sheet
| of silver under the risen moon Ia
| 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.
dumping Jupiter" gasped Ed, sud
| denly. looking at his watch. "Do you
know what time it is? It's II 80
| o'clock!'
Minnie's dream came tumhling
about her ears. The frogs seemed now
| TO be croaking a warming: go home!
| Go home!"
"Tll-Tn get in the back way" she
| faltered ooh. dear, let's hurry
| Haste usually makes waste, and
| sometimes it makes worse things.
This time it made Minnie catch her
foot in the gunwale of the canoe and
| plunge noisily into the dark water!
Ed fshed her out with more expedi-
ton than skill, and held the wet, shiv-
| ering little body quite close for 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
| Minnies house. There Ed left her,
| squeezing her hand encouragingly.
"Win 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 over
his neat gray suit. Minnie smiled shy
ly down, a dishtowel clasped in one
small hand, and whispered:
mo one heard me come in last
night Everythings all right I hung
my wet clothes in the attic, and"
"What does this mean?" suddenly
demanded a terrible voice from the
Doorway Minnie turned and beheld
her father in a bathrobe and night
cap, holding in his shaking hands
candle and lace!
"This morning" began the old man,
nearly choking with rage, this morn
Ing | woke and found-and found my
ceiling leaking!
Drops of water were falling on my
nose my face was wet-wet! Dare
you laugh, sir? l believe you are to
blame for this What have you done
to my daughter? Come here and I'll
wiring your impudent young neck"
Then Ed Bowling proved that all
the virtues are not country-bred. He
stepped quietly up beside Minnie, his
face a mixture of profound regret
and proud possessiveness, slipped his
arm around her waist and sold:
81 am very sorry, sir. 1t Is, as you