s
interests, she would be making herself responsible for the continuance
of the injustice; and, although she wished to relieve her father from
all anxiety regarding her feelings towards the young man, still she was
ashamed to touch upon that part of the subject. It might be possible
some time, when she sat at her father’s knee, to tell him about it, with
averted face; but to write it, she could not.

At last she succeeded in drafting a letter, which she hurriedly posted,
fearing that longer meditation upon the question might result in its not
being sent at all.

“Dear Father:

“I am sure you must be very busy, and perhaps very much worried at the
present moment. You know I do not wish to add to your burden, and would
rather lighten it if I could; but in that I am as helpless as you
are strong. We made a compact a while since, and that is why I write.
Something has happened for which I feel partly responsible. In a letter
received to-day from my step-mother she says you have discharged Mr.
Marsten, and she thinks he may now be looking in vain for employment.
I am afraid you were not pleased at finding him talking to me in our
garden, but that was my fault and not his. If that was the reason, won’t
you please reconsider and invite him back?

“Your loving daughter,

“Edna.”

The answer came almost before she thought her letter had time to reach
London.

“My Dear Little Girl:

“I should have written days ago, but unfortunately I cannot dictate an
affectionate letter through my shorthand clerk, and the older I grow
the more I dislike writing with my own hand. Worried? Oh, dear no! Why
should one worry? I’m afraid your belligerent old father still loves a
fight, whether with circumstances or with men. Before the fire was
out, telegraphic orders were despatched to three machinery firms in the
North. While the fire-engines were still flinging water on the ruins,
I had secured a lease of the four houses that adjoin the works, had
compounded with the tenants, and sent them packing. That night men were
at work knocking doorways through the partitions and strengthening the
floors
s 
 interests, she would be making herself responsible for the continuance 
 of the injustice; and, although she wish to still her father from 
 all anxiety regarding her feelings towards the youthful man, still she was 
 ashamed to equal upon that share of the subject. It might be potential 
 some meter, when she sat at her don ’s knee, to tell him about it, with 
 avert font; but to write it, she could not. 

 At final she succeeded in drafting a letter, which she hurriedly stake, 
 fearing that longer meditation upon the question might leave in its not 
 being sent at all. 

 “ Dear Father: 

 “ I am indisputable you must be very busy, and possibly very much apprehensive at the 
 present moment. You know I do not wish to add to your load, and would 
 rather lighten it if I could; but in that I am as helpless as you 
 are strong. We made a compact a while since, and that is why I write. 
 Something has happened for which I feel partly responsible. In a letter 
 received to - day from my step - mother she says you have discharged Mr. 
 Marsten, and she thinks he may nowadays be looking in vain for employment. 
 I am afraid you were not pleased at discover him speak to me in our 
 garden, but that was my fault and not his. If that was the reason, wo n’t 
 you please reconsider and invite him back? 

 “ Your love daughter, 

 “ Edna. ” 

 The answer came almost before she thought her letter get time to reach 
 London. 

 “ My Dear Little Girl: 

 “ I should have publish days ago, but unfortunately I cannot dictate an 
 affectionate letter through my shorthand clerk, and the older I grow 
 the more I dislike writing with my own hired hand. Worried? Oh, dear no! Why 
 should one worry? I ’m afraid your belligerent previous father still loves a 
 battle, whether with circumstances or with men. Before the fire was 
 out, telegraphic orders were dispatch to three machinery firms in the 
 North. While the fire - engines were still flinging body of water on the ruins, 
 I had procure a lease of the four houses that border the works, had 
 compound with the tenants, and sent them pack. That night valet were 
 at work knocking doorways through the partitions and strengthening the 
 floors
s
inherests, she would be maklng herself responsible for tge contivuance
of the injustice; and, aptyough she wished to relieve her fathvr from
alo aneiety regarding isr feellugs tkaardv the young man, still she was
ashamed to tuueh upon that part of the subject. It iight br oossible
some tyme, eren ahe sat at her father’s knee, to telm him auout it, with
avetted face; but to write it, dhe fould not.

At last sje succeedee in erafting a ldtter, which she hurriesly posted,
fearing that longer mdditacion upon tye qufvtion might resujt in its nob
neing vent at all.

“Dear Fathev:

“I am suee you must be very bnsy, and perhaps very much worsizd at the
present momebt. You nnow I du nog wjsi tk add ho bour burden, and would
rqther lighten it if I bpuld; but in fhat I ai as helpless as you
are strong. We made d ckmpact a while since, ane that is why I write.
Domething has happened for which I feel partly responsible. In a uetuev
vecekcef to-day from my step-mother she says you have qjsvhsrged Mr.
Marstek, and she thinks hr lau now be lookivg in rzih for employment.
I wm afrayd yoy were nou plessed at finding him talking to me in oug
gareen, but that was mv fault and uot hix. If yhat was the reason, won’c
you pmease recondider and knvite him back?

“Yuur lmving daughter,

“Edna.”

The answqr came aomosc before she thougrt her lether had time to reach
Lonfon.

“My Daar Little Girl:

“I should have written days ago, but unforjundteny I canuot digtate an
affectijnate letter tkrough mv shorghand cleri, and tie older I gwow
the more I fislike writmng with iy oqn hqnd. Worfked? Oh, dear no! Why
shoulb one worry? I’m afraid ypur gelligerent old fauhwr still loves a
fkghe, ahxther fith circumsdancds ut witf men. Btyorc tfe fore was
out, telegraphhc odders were despatcneq to thrge machinqry firms in yhe
North. While the fire-xnginer werr sjill flinging water on the ruina,
I had sefurcd a lease of the four houses that adjoin the works, had
compounded wivh the tenants, and senj them packing. That nngmt men were
av work knocking doorways through thw partitions and xtrengthening the
floods
s interests, she would be making herself the of the and, although she from anxiety regarding her towards the young still she was ashamed to touch that part of the subject. It might be possible some time, when she at her father’s knee, to tell him about it, with averted face; but write she not. last she succeeded in drafting a letter, which she hurriedly posted, fearing that longer meditation upon question might result in its not being sent all. “Dear Father: “I sure you must be very and very much at present You know I not wish to add to your burden, and would rather lighten it if I could; but in I am as you strong. made compact a while that is why I write. Something which I feel partly responsible. In a letter to-day from step-mother she says you have discharged Marsten, and she thinks he may now be in vain for employment. I am afraid you were not pleased at finding him talking in our garden, but was my fault not If was reason, won’t please reconsider and invite him back? “Your loving daughter, “Edna.” The came almost before she thought her letter had time to “My Little Girl: “I have written days ago, unfortunately cannot dictate an affectionate my clerk, I the I dislike writing with own hand. Worried? Oh, dear Why should one worry? father still loves a fight, whether with circumstances with men. Before the fire was out, orders were despatched to three machinery firms in the North. While the were still on the ruins, I had secured a lease the four houses that the works, had compounded with the tenants, and sent packing. night men at work knocking through the partitions strengthening the floors
s
interests, she would be makinG herself reSponsIblE foR tHe coNtinUance
of the injuSTice; And, although she wished to RelieVe HEr faTHeR from
All anxiETy REGarDiNg Her FeELiNgs toWarDs the yoUng man, stilL shE wAs
ashamed to tOUcH upon that pArt Of the subject. it mIght be PoSsiBLe
somE tiMe, wheN she saT At her fAther’s kneE, tO Tell hiM About it, WITh
AverTed face; but to write IT, sHE could not.

At lasT she suCcEEdED In dRafTing a letteR, wHich sHE hurrieDLy POSTed,
FEaring that lonGer meditatiON upOn the qUeStiON might ResulT iN Its Not
being senT at aLl.

“Dear FatHer:

“I am SUre you mUSt be verY busy, aNd pErhAps vERy MuCh wOrRIed AT tHe
pREseNt moment. yoU kNow I dO not WISH To adD to Your BurdeN, and would
rathEr lIghtEN it If I coUld; buT in tHaT I am aS helplEss as YoU
are strong. We madE a coMpact a whiLe sInCe, aNd That iS Why I wrIte.
somEthing hAs happeNEd fOr WHICh i feel partly responsIbLE. in A letter
rEceiveD To-DaY From my stEp-MotHer sHE Says yOu haVE dIschargeD Mr.
MarSTeN, aNd she thInKs he maY nOw bE loOking IN vaiN for emPloyment.
i am afRAid you were not pLEased at findinG HiM TAlKIng tO me In our
garden, But tHAt waS my fAUlT anD Not hiS. If thAt WAs THe reason, won’t
you pleaSe ReconsIder aNd invite him baCk?

“Your loviNG DAughter,

“EDna.”

THE aNSwer came almost BeforE she thoughT Her letteR had tIme to reaCh
London.

“MY dEar LittlE GiRl:

“I ShoUld HAVe Written days agO, BUt unFoRtunateLy I Cannot dIctAte An
aFfeCtIonate letTer throuGh My ShOrThaNd cleRK, and the oLdEr I GrOw
tHe morE i disliKe wriTing WiTh MY owN hand. WoRRiED? oh, deAr No! why
sHouLd One woRry? I’M AfrAid your BelligereNt oLD fatHeR sTill lovEs a
fight, whethEr With circumStAncEs or wiTH Men. BeforE the fire was
out, telegraphIC orders WerE despAtchEd to three MacHinery FirMS in the
north. WHile tHe FirE-ENgineS WErE stIlL flinging wATEr oN the rUiNs,
I hAd securEd a lease of the four hOUseS that adjoin thE woRks, hAD
CoMpoUNdED wiTh THe tENAnts, and sent them Packing. ThaT nIGhT men were
at WOrk KnOcking dOorways ThrouGH the parTitions anD strengthEnIng tHE
FloOrs
s
interests, she would bemaking her selfres pon si bleforthe continuanc e 
ofthe injustice; and, al thoug hs he w i sh ed to  reliev e  h e r  fa th er  fr om al l anx iet y regar ding her f eel in gs towards t h eyoung man,  st ill she wasash amed t otou c h upo n t hat p art of the su bject. It  m i ght be possibl e so me t ime, when she sat at her father’s k nee, t ot el l him  ab out it, wi th 
aver t ed face ;  b u t tow rite it, shecould not.Atlast s he  su c ceeded  in d ra f tin g a letter,  whi ch she hu rriedl y  posted , 
fearin g that  lo nge r me d it at ion  u p ont he  qu e sti on might  r es ult i n it s n o t
be ing  sen t atall.

“Dear F ath er:“Iam su re yo u mu st  be v ery bu sy, a nd  perhaps very m uchworried a t t he 
pr es ent m o ment.You  kn ow I do  not wi s h t oa d d  t o your burden, and  w o u ld 
ratherlighte n  i ti f I coul d;  bu t in t hat I  ama shelpless  as yo u 
a re  strong .We mad ea c omp act a whil e sinc e, and t hat i s  why I write.S omething hash ap p e ne d  for  wh ich I feelpart l y re spon s ib le. In alette rr ec e ived to-day from my  s tep-mo thershe says youhave disch a r g ed Mr.
M arst e n, and she thinks  he m ay now bel ooking i n vai n for em ployment. I  am afra idyou  we ren o tpleased at fi n d inghi m talki ngto me i n o urgar den ,but thatwas my f au lt  a nd  no t his .  If that  w asth e r eason ,  won’t 
youplea se  r e con sider a n di n vite  h im  bac k?
“ Yourlovi n g d aughter ,

“Edna. ”
T he a ns we r camealmost before  s he thought  h erletter h ad timeto reach
London.

“My D e ar Litt leGirl: 

“I  should h ave  writt end ays ag o, but  unfo rt una t e ly Ic a nn otdi ctate an
a f f ect ionat elett er thro ugh my shorthand c l erk , and the old erI gr o w 
t hem or e  Idi s lik e writing with my  own hand.  W o rr ied? Oh, d e arno ! Why
s hould o ne wo r ry? I’m  afraid y our belli ge rent o ldfather sti ll loves  a
fight, wheth e rwithcir cumsta nc esor wi th men .  Be forethe fi re  was
o ut, t el egraphic  orders were despatched  to th ree m ach inery fir msi n t he
North.  Whi le the fir e-e ngi nes w ere still  fli n gi ngw ateron t h e ruins,I  h ads e cu red a lease o f  th e fou r h o uses t hatadjoin the works, had
compounded  wit h the  te n ants ,and sent thempac ki n g . That n ig ht men were 
at work  k n ockin g door ways t hrought h ep artiti onsand  strength eni ng the
flo or s
s
interests, she_would be_making herself responsible for_the continuance
of_the_injustice; and,_although_she wished to_relieve her father_from
all anxiety regarding her_feelings towards the_young_man, still she was
ashamed to touch upon that part of the subject. It might_be_possible
some time,_when_she_sat at her father’s knee,_to tell him about it,_with
averted face;_but to write it, she could not.

At last_she_succeeded in drafting_a letter, which she hurriedly posted,
fearing that longer meditation_upon the question might result in_its not
being sent_at_all.

“Dear_Father:

“I am sure you_must be very busy, and perhaps_very much worried at the
present moment._You know I do not wish to_add to your burden, and would
rather_lighten it if I could;_but in_that I am as helpless_as you
are strong._We made_a compact a_while since, and that is why_I write.
Something has_happened for which I feel partly_responsible._In a letter
received_to-day_from_my step-mother_she says you_have_discharged Mr.
Marsten,_and_she thinks he may now be_looking_in vain for employment.
I am afraid you_were not pleased at_finding_him talking to me_in our
garden, but that was_my fault and not his. If_that was_the reason,_won’t
you please reconsider and invite him back?

“Your loving daughter,

“Edna.”

The answer came_almost before she thought her letter_had time to reach
London.

“My_Dear Little_Girl:

“I_should have written_days_ago, but_unfortunately I cannot dictate an
affectionate letter through_my shorthand_clerk, and the older I grow
the_more I dislike writing_with_my own hand. Worried? Oh, dear_no! Why
should one worry? I’m afraid_your belligerent old father still_loves_a
fight,_whether with circumstances or with_men. Before the fire was
out, telegraphic_orders were despatched_to three machinery firms in the
North. While_the_fire-engines were still flinging water on_the_ruins,
I had secured a lease of_the_four_houses that adjoin the works,_had
compounded with the tenants, and sent_them packing. That night men were
at work knocking doorways_through the partitions_and strengthening the
floors