The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-08-10
wTHAT OLD MAN OF FORTY"

"THAT OLD MAN OF FORTY"
"Only one week and then we shall
reach home p said Kitty Howell, as she
threw herself down upon the sofa in the
little tavern.
"Tired of travel, Kitty ?" said her
father, looking up from his newspaper.
"Fm tired of railroad cars and tav-
erns at any rate"
&C was thinking of staying here few
weeks"
"Herep Kitty sat bolt upright in ex-
cess of her astonishment.
Not in the tavern. You like stories;
come here and will tell you one."
Tossing aside her bonnet and cloak.
Kitty complied with the request; and
while her father softly stroked and pet
ted her long curls, he said:
"When l was in college, Kitty, had
a roommate to whom i was warmly at
tached. He was a shy, silent young man,
very studiOus, rather gOod-lOoking, and
with love for quaint, outofthe-way
books and pursuits. My dear, to make
a long story short, we both fell in love,
and unfortunately with the same lady.
He was so quiet, so reserved, while ! was
so impetuous and hot-headed that /
never dreamed of his passion till had
told him that l was an accepted suitor,
and then his secret came out. 1t was
painful to me to be the rival of my
warmest friend but your mother loved
me, and did not dream of Eben's passion,
and he begged me to keep his secret. He
ooIIara tn rofnru bnppa onA did
not meet again. When you were born
he wrote me congratulatory letter
and two years later, when l lost your
mother, he wrote again, but that was all.
Being very rich, he has never had any
business or profession, but lives bach
elor in his old, quiet way. To-day I
met him, he resides near here, and he
begs me to pass few weeks with him."
"How old is hep
"Let me see, Eben was nearly two
years my junior; he must be about forty.
Heighol how time flies. Well, little
Kitty, shall we pay this visit?"
Z" suppose we must"
GLOW stupid" soliloquized Kitty,
drumming impatiently on the window
pane, an old man of forty in country
town It's October, too, and l haven't
single thing fit to wear this winter; l
wonder how long pa will stay. My first
winter in society, too, and auntie prom
ised an unlimited amount of parties"
Things looked brighter the iext morn
ing, for the drive to Mr.. Scull's residence
was through lovely part of the coun-
try, and when they stopped Kitty could
not repress an exclamation of delight.
The house, large, beautifully built
mansion, was nestled at the end of an
avenue of tall trees, and at the base of a
wooded hill which rose behind it. On
the porch stood their host, and still
handsome man, but with the shy look of
student.
"This is kind" he said, grasping Mr..
Howell's hand "and this" He
stopped and looked at Kitty, saying
softly, every like, very like. l am glad
to see you. my child"
Kitty, in all her life had never heard
sweeter voice than the one that well
coined her, and she followed the fat,
good-natured housekeeper to her room,
thinking the visit might not prove 20
great bore after all. The two gentle
men stood on the porch looking after
her.
"Kitty! You call her after her them"
said Mr.. Scull, in low tone.
eyes, she is very like, is she not?'
Exactlyp
"Just the age, eighteen, poor Kitty
was when we we're married. We are old
boys now, Eben."
Kitty was soon at home at Moorsville.
Now, in her pretty habit and hat, scour-
ing over the country on horseback. or
riding demurely beside her father
through the town; now knocking at the
library door, where Mr.. Scull spent the
most of his time, and under pretense
of finding book, winning her host from
his studies to explain to her the bits OF
stone on the mantle-piece, or the shells on
the table.
"Do bother you very much coming
in herew she said one day, looking up
from her low seat to the kind face bend
ing over her.
Bother me2 No, dear. am glad to
have you"
81 like to come in it is 30 cozy and
home. like, and, don't be angry, j think
you stay here alone too much. You are
so wise and good, why do you shut your.
self up so?"
He made no answer, but his pale
cheek flushed; and here the converse.
tion stopped.
They had been at Moorsville nearly
six weeks when this conversation took
place, and Kitty had been the object Of
the most tender care during all that
time. But the pleasant visit was des
tined to come to a sudden end. Tha,
evening her father told her that Mr.
Scull had made her an offer of marriage
Why, he's old enough to be my
grandfather 70 cried Kitty.
"Not quite as bad as that, seeing ht
isyounger than ! am. And he Is very
wealthy"
But You wouldn'thave me marry fol
money!
E" No dear but it's only right to tel
you all the advantages. You've beer
happy here"
ayes; but can't marry that old mar
of forty. Pm sorry he asked me, for W,
must now 20 home"
"Of course"
! That night Kitty went up stairs feel