“Miss Gertie, I shall have to ask you if you have visited long enough with your father?” said the superintendent.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Pat’s Temptation.
“I am very thankful to you, sir. I shall visit papa soon again. I hope that I may be allowed to see him any time when I can get away. You see, sister is making arrangements for her marriage, to take place in six weeks, and she and mother will be away from home at different times. I could then hurry and come to see papa, and please, officer, could I be admitted at any time?”
“Miss Gertie, I should like to grant you the privilege, but I fear I can not do so. I am sworn to follow prison rules.”
“Oh, how cruel! To know that I could not be allowed the pleasure—the only pleasure I have—of seeing my father!”
“I am very sorry. I would help you to do anything possible without violating the prison rules.”
“Dear child, go now. You must, as you know that we are not obeying orders, and I am very thankful for the pleasure the officer has given us—to see each other. I want you to thank him and go.”
“Papa, I did thank him, and will again. Oh! if I only knew that I could return often to see you, I could go more contentedly. Good-bye, dear papa. Do not worry, papa; I shall always be your Gertie, and a dutiful daughter.