unexpectedly to meet it. But I'll manage somehow. Don't you worry
about it. Everything will come out all right. I feel like a millionaire
among the people I've seen to-day."
"I'll give up my music, go to work and help you right away."
"Sh!"
The father placed his hand gently over her lips and the tears sprang
into his eyes in spite of his effort to keep them back.
"Don't talk sacrilege, my child. Such words are blasphemy. God gave me
a man's body for the coarse work of bread-winning. He gave you the
supreme gift, a voice that throbs with eloquence, a power that can lift
and inspire the world. Only when you are cultivating that gift are you
working. Then you are doing the highest and finest thing of which you
are capable. I should be a criminal if I permitted you to do less.
Never say such a thing again unless you would make me utterly
miserable."
He paused and took her cheeks between his hands.
"Promise me, dear--it's the one wish of my heart, the one thing worth
working and struggling for--promise me that you will never stop until
the training of your voice is complete, that no matter what happens you
will obey me in this. It is my one command. You will obey me?"
There was dignity and compelling power now in the deep tones of his
voice.
The girl felt instinctively its authority.
"Yes, Papa, I promise, if it will make you happy."
"It's the only thing I live for. I've never said this to you before,
but I say it now and I don't want you ever to forget it. Now run along
to bed and never bother your pretty head again about such things. I'll
find food and a home for my baby and she shall live her own beautiful
life to the last reach of its power. All I ask is that you do your
level best with the gift of God."
"I'll try, Papa dear," was the quiet answer as she kissed him again and
softly left the room.
Harriet had scarcely reached her room when Adams, the cashier of one of
the Allied Banks, who owed the doctor for three months' rent, entered
the library with quick nervous tread.
"I've big news, sir," he said excitedly.
The doctor looked up with a half bantering smile.
"You don't mean that you've got the whole of your three months' rent?
If you have, break it to me gently, Adams, or I'll faint."
"Better than three months' rent," the cashier whispered nervously.
"I've a big tip on the stock market."
The older man grunted contemptuously.
"Yes, that's what ails you, I know. You've been get
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