The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-12-05
CHAPTER w
s.

off the greater part OF ROberta'S al
lOwance, when her aunt became house
keeper. Roberta had had a stormy
interview, in which her father had
told her that as she was not willing
TO keep house she would MOI be paid
TO her. in his business voice which
was calm and devoid of any feeling
whatever, that Lady Sandison had
offered TO do without payment, but
thar of course he would not permit.
~ recognize" he said. that il is a
job to run big house. | recognized Ii
when you tried it. That's why in
creased your allowance, and that's
why reduce it now"
Tried" Roberta flashed out pas
sionately. 81 did it,"
After fashion," her father told
her. but you didn't put your mind
on it. You diSliked ii and you didn't
do it very well. Witness your pulling
out Yesterday, and leaving II crippled
man alone without servant To attend
TO him. or to the unexpected guests
who arrived"
Guests should not come unlimited
and unexpected all the way from bon
ME Scotland" said Roberta fiippantly
Neither should relatives come without
warning Lady Sandison took that
chance when she came here dragging
Little Beauty with her"
"You don'r like him. do your" asked
her father, ignoring the rest of her
speech.
Il haven't bothered my head about
him." Roberta told him angrily. "He's
your guest, or employee, not mine"
Just SO. Well, he's not TO be made
TO feel himself in the way"
Roberta opened her eyes.
81 mean what | say" Rob Macbeth
went on, still using his business man
ner and voice. Hes valuable TO me-
j like him, and as he's a young man
he's TO be paid some attention by the
younger member of my family. J
mean by that yOn are TO see that he
is properly introduced to any young
people who come, if I'm not here.
I'm not asking you to sacrifice your
self or do anything that might bore
you
81 won't" Roberta promised him
with vehemence.
Her father held back the things he
would have liked to say to her, and
went one step farther along in his
campaign to bring Roberta to her
senses.
.Since you don't care for house
keeping, Roberta. and | must pay q
housekeeper. have you thought of any
thing you would care to study?"
Roberta gave him a prolonged stare
before she answered. Study? Why,
I've left school,"
Her father nodded. "Still you won't
like hanging around idle, will your"
Roberta opened her mouth and
spoke. as is the habit of the younger
generation. without thought and with
heat forgetting how wary are these
middle-aged people-how quick to per-
ceive and use any loophole given them
II don't know what want. Except
to get away from this place"
"GirIs who don't know what they
want are dangerous animals to let
loose in strange surroundings. When
rou know what you want come TO me
md we'll talk ii over. Happiness. by
the way. comes from within"
She hated him for his reasonable
ness.
Looking at her his face softened
"There was time, Roberta, when
YOU would have come to me and talked
il over"
1t was true. To her, as a child. her
father had been some one great and
powerful, whose coming meant gifts
and fun. circuses, party clothes and
treats innumeraDle. To be with her
father, to walk beside him. silent or
chattering as his mood permitted, TO
travel with him. to go to his office
and see him monarch of all; to be
made much of and to be admired by
him and his friends. was as near
heaven as this earth could give to
Robert MacBeth's little daughter.
Ii vas different now. Now she
wanted to arrange her own life. be
happy in her own way, and here her
father. once her greatest ally. to whom
she ran for advice and suggestions,
was decidedly in the way.
Don't you feel like going over your
plans with me?" Her father had been
studying her downcast face.
She shook her head. She was OPP
pressed with a desire to climb into
his lap, to put her head against his
shoulder as she used to do. but she
would not yield to it. So across the