“‘How in the world did you happen to come here, Mr. Price?’ said I.
“‘Well, you see—I—I am Lita’s father.’
“‘Why, what do you mean? Lita’s father’s name is Mr. Leighton.’
“‘Yes, I know; but I can explain it all to you in a few moments. It is such a terrible thing, I could not endure to have it generally known that my daughter was hopelessly insane, so when I arranged to have her brought here I decided it was best to have her known as Lita Leighton.’
“‘Oh, yes,’ said I, ‘it must be very terrible to have such a misfortune befall a member of one’s family; but you surely couldn’t call it a disgrace.’
“‘Well, perhaps not; but, you know, it would injure my business if it were known. But what are you doing here?’ he said.
“‘Why, I am Dannie’s wife.’
“He seemed to be greatly surprised, and asked me why I did not tell him long before. I told him that I could not occupy the position which I held when he first met me if it had become known that I was married. I followed on with my whole life’s story, and he shed tears at my recital of woes and my father’s unkind treatment.
“‘How I should have cherished such a beautiful daughter,’ said he, and came over to my chair, bent over and kissed me. ‘Won’t you be a daughter to me in place of my poor demented Lita?’