Instead of the Thorn. Clara Louise Burnham

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СКАЧАТЬ what he told me. How could Bertram get hold of you? I'd have made Freddy tie him to our machine if I had suspected such a thing."

      "Mr. Radcliffe had some business to talk over, and the data were at the office."

      The utter weariness of the reply made the fresh face cling again against the speaker's gray head.

      "But Bertram came here to find you."

      "Yes, I got him at the club."

      Linda gave an inarticulate exclamation. "Oh, doesn't it just do me good to think how soon you'll be where offices and Bertrams are unknown!" she said slowly.

      The man in her embrace lifted her hand to his lips in silence.

      "You're the stunningest thing on horseback that was ever seen," she went on, "and the only time you'll be out of the saddle is when you're in bed."

      Silence.

      "Why don't you say something?" she mumbled against his hair. "Did you know I was good-looking?" she added after a pause, lifting her head and squeezing him.

      "Yes, child."

      "Oh, Father, don't be so meek! Say something nice and impudent, or I'll think you're too tired, and take you away to-morrow. I was leading up tactfully to thanking you for being the best-looking man in Chicago so your daughter could have a nice nose." She burrowed the feature into his thick hair, and kissed it again.

      "You're my darling girl," he said soberly. "You've been a joy to me ever since you were born."

      "Hurrah for us!" ejaculated Linda. "I've been no kind of a joy compared to what I'm going to be. Now I have all this school business off my hands, I'm going to trail you – just dog your footsteps. Now, don't say that I won't be near so much of a joy that way, because I can think of more ways to make you have a good time than you dream of now!"

      "You aren't the sort of girl who stays with Father long."

      "Do you mean marriage? My dear sir, don't you know that handsome girls are far less apt to marry than the nice, commonplace, cozy ones with turn-up noses? I admit coyly that I'm something of a peach, but I'm going to stay with you."

      "Have you ever thought," – the question came gravely, – "have you ever thought of – Bertram?"

      Color mounted richly over the face against the gray hair.

      "Thought of him! I should say so! The most critical, disagreeable, nosey man; always interfering and – and trying to make people over into his mold. It never occurs to him that his ideas could be anything less than perfection."

      "I'm surprised to hear you speak so," came the monotonous voice, "and disappointed too."

      "Father, dear, don't! You make me sad! When I know you've come into this tired condition, just working for me, – that's one of the pleasant things Bertram said to me to-night."

      "He was wrong. It wasn't working for you, Linda. Remember that. Money-making gets to be a disease. A millionaire should be satisfied; but the multi-millionaires are ahead of him, and the game is exciting." There was no excitement in the colorless voice. "Mere prosperity palls. He takes chances, hoping and expecting to do great things for himself and every one involved with him. There's the pinch. He should never allow others to take chances with him. That's criminal."

      "Oh, well." Linda opposed a light tone to what she considered the morbidity of over-fatigue. Her heart reproached her for not having seen the symptoms long ago. She should have thrown up college and taken her dear one away long ago. Resentment against King again flared up in her. His had been daily companionship with her father. How could he have let it come to this!

      "If Barry & Co.," she went on, "should ever have a setback, they would simply deal out," – she gestured as if dealing cards, – "deal out to the little people and make up their losses. That would be Barry & Co.'s way," she added proudly.

      Her father's next words were irrelevant, and came after a short silence.

      "I'm surprised that you give Bertram such a bad character. He is unconscious of offending you, I'm sure."

      "Oh, Daddy, dear, don't bother about that. I don't hate him, you understand. It's only that he is flint and perhaps I'm steel. At any rate, there are fireworks when we mingle in society."

      "Not flint at all, Linda. He loves you."

      "A queer sort of love, then. It isn't so much what he says, dear," – Linda's cheeks were burning, – "it's that compelling – oh, sort of – well, compelling's the best word, – that always wants to – to guide me; and I won't be guided by anybody but you. I'll tell you what, Daddy, you haven't any son, and I'm going to be your son after this. If you're very good for two whole weeks after we get out to Colorado, and don't say one word about business, after that I'll get you to tell me all about your affairs, and I'll put my whole mind on understanding them. You know, Daddy, I have a good head for mathematics and for business generally, – truly I have. This isn't bluffing. If you'll take a little pains with me, you'll find Bertram isn't the only one you'll confide in. I think I'd like business. My heart isn't much to boast of, but my head, now, when it comes to my head – Thank Heaven, Bertram will be where he can't write to you about anything but fish. Mrs. Porter has persuaded him to go to Maine. Just think what she did, Daddy. She went off without saying a word to me. I went down to the studio and there was no one there but a caretaker, packing up. The calendar hadn't been torn off, so I tore off a leaf and wrote her a message on the date I was there. It's a calendar of Bible promises, and this one was, 'When thy father and thy mother forsake thee, then the Lord will take thee up.' I added something about her inhumanity in forsaking me."

      "Why – why," – Mr. Barry's brow wrinkled, – "I'm afraid I've been remiss. I paid the bill for your lessons, and when she sent back the receipt she wrote something about having tried to get you on the 'phone, but that you were too popular, and that she was going East to tell your aunt that you were a good girl."

      "Then she has gone to the Cape!" exclaimed Linda, with interest. "I remember when Aunt Belinda was here at Christmas Mrs. Porter talked about it with her."

      "Yes," responded Mr. Barry, "and I think the plan is for Bertram to join her there if – when he can go."

      "Right away, won't he?" demanded Linda eagerly. "His doctor says – "

      "Yes, poor Bertram," said Mr. Barry slowly, "he does need it; but, little one," – he patted Linda's hand slowly, – "we can't either of us go quite so soon as we expected."

      "Now, Father!" exclaimed the girl acutely.

      "Something very important, Linda," – his voice increased as he repeated it, – "very important. I think we must – " he rose; "but it's late. We must go upstairs now, little one."

      His repetition of the term of affection impressed Linda. It was associated with sadness. She remembered how often he had used it during the week that her mother died.

      "I shall read you to sleep, dear. Please let me," she said as they rose.

      "No, no need of that. Go to bed, little girl. I'll lock up. Good-night, daughter."

      He put his arms around her, and she clung to him, kissing him again and again.

      CHAPTER V

      THE CAPE

      Maine. СКАЧАТЬ