San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-09
Beautiful Little Nora Lee De-
mands to Know About Her.
Absent Father.

stream together.
Margaret was so sure of herself-such
things were dead in her. They only talked
of books and trees. But once or twice when
his young, appealing eyes turned eagerly to
hers, she was afraid. Until of an evening
in the winter just passed he called to bring
her rare tulip bulb. When he left that
night, Margaret knelt in the dark and prayed
against the wildness of her heart; prayed
against the love she felt for him.
Prayers can't stop thing like this when
all the spirit hungers. So it went on till the
springtime came. Then Margaret knew that
no prayer would cool this love. And it was
the same with Andrew.
Even the child sensed it. She was curious
and frightened whenever Andrew and her
mother were together. Other men like Mr..
Rose, who sometimes called, and Mr.. Alice,
who always tried to walk home from church
on Sundays-these others didn't count. Only
Andrew-he was the only one mamma ever
looked at with such shiny eyes.
This look of her mothers gave Nora Lee a
queer notion. 1t came popping into her head
one day when the three of them walked to-
gether from the school. She said to herself,
g"Maybe Andrew is my father"
The absence of her father had grown to
mystery in Nora Lees childish mind. Mar
garet evaded her questions with tricky ap-
peal to the little girls love. She used to
say in a hurt way, "He's away. Isn't mar
NEE enough for you, my Nora Lee?"
Of course, what could you answer to that
but silence?
Yet her thoughts went on. Her father
was away. Some day he would return. He
would come riding up to the door in big
automobile. He would bring her bicycle
and watch. He would look at her with
the greatest delight and say some jolly thing
like "My graciousl Is this my little girl !?
This pretty child?"
She hoped he'd think she was pretty for
all that she had black hair. One. day she
said to her mother, 81 wish I had fuzzy
golden hair like jamie Tedman. just wish
I looked like her."
Margaret was used to the child's vehem-
ence She said amiably: why do you
wish that"
He'd be sure to like me then"
"Who would like your" &c.,.
Nora Lee turned red as tomato. She
stood first on one foot, then on the other.
Suddenly she answered: God i meant
God"
Nothing could induce her to alter the
answer.
At Fairdale other children asked What
does YOUR father do?" And she became
more than ever eager for his return.
When they were in Fairdale year baby
was left on Mrs. Gilderman's doorstep.
There was the most fascinating times. The
older girls kept dropping into the school
room at noon with all the new gossip about
it. Nora Lee was in heaven of excitement.
She reveled in these hushed conversations.
One phrase took her fancy. She repeated
it all day. 1t was this: "And not a living
soul knows who can be the baby's father!'
That night when she was drying the sup
per dishes she said quick and breathless /:
"Marmee, was found on doorstep?"
Margaret gave a great laugh: "You GER
tainly were not!'
Nora Lee hated to be leased on serious
things She went on obstinately: "Then
where was l found? I'd just like to know!
Does any one living know who my father
is?"
Margaret saw a speck on the cup she was
washing. But finally she said: "Why, yes!
There's not a doubt in the world of your
paternity"
The little girls blue eyes flashed. you're
making things hard with talk! l think it's
mean to do that. You said he's not dead,
didn't your"
"He isn't dead"
"Then why doesn't he ever come? Why
don't we have him in our house like other
children do?"
Margaret dried her hands. She twined
one of Nora Lees black curls about her fin
ger; then in a slow, ever-so-gentle way,
pushed the hair from her forehead and
kissed her.
"Oh-but won't you please tell me, mar
NEE? want to know the worst way. Doesn't
he love us? Is that why he doesn't Gomez"
"Yes-that's why. He didn't love us
enough so we had to leave him.. This was
long ago, Nora Lee. You must never speak
of him to anyone"
"But was born them"
"Yes-you were two years old"
81 don't remember. Do you think maybe
he'll come some day? He might want to see
us and Gomez"