The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-03-31
SELECT STORY.
THE MAJORS DECISION.


Ing made a bed 10 suit him, let him lie
on it,"
Major Martindale folded up a certain
obnoxious letter, as he made this mental
remark, and laying il in little gilded
letter-rack beside him. IN company with
a tailor's bill, a ticket to some forthcom-
ing amateur concert, and a printed cir
cular concerning insurance politi%s,
went deliberately on with his break
fast.
He was a handsome, elderly gentle
man, slightly bald, with bright brown
eyes. straigh, Roman featnrer and one OF
those square, frmly-molded mouths
which betokep a tendency TO have ones
way. And as he drank his coffee, and
daintily manipulated his French rolls
broiIed birds, and fresh awberries,
served in a garniture of their own
leaves, he unused over the contents Of
this same letter.
"It's a great mistake to allow servants
to bring in one's correspondence at meal
times" reflected Major Martindale.-
"It's almost sure to interfere with ones
digestion. I'll never read another letter
al breakfast time! What could possesr
nv son to 90 and get married in thi-
abrupt, nonsensical sort of way? Says
he feared il would be impossible To
gain my consent Well, he had a good
reason for his fears. He'll find it still
more impossible. altar marriage. than
before. He knows my ideas and if he
don't choose 10 conform to 'en it's his
business not mine
And 80 after finishing the Strawberries,
and daintily cleansing his flbert nailed
fingers in a ruby colored fingers
bowl, Major Martindale wrote three
words on thick. grey sheet of note pa
per, enclosed it in an enyelepe, affixed a
stamp, and gave it to the servant to
post. And the three words were these:
Consider yourself disinherited."
That was the way in which Maj. Mar
tindale disposed Of his only son.
Not that he did not love lIsrry--the
bright frank boy, who was all that was
left of his young wife, the one romantic
dream and tender memory Of his life
time-but he liked his own way better
And it is surprising how obstinate a
man can be, when he once turns his full
attention to the business.
"Disinherited? Oh, Harry And for
me-"
Mrs Harry Martindale, pretty blue
eyed woman, with light hair that
showered itself around her face like sum
shine, little dots ofdimples in cheek and
chin, and a round, fresh mouth, like
baby's looked piteously up into her hns-
bands face "a she spoke.
Harry MartindaIe shrugged his shoul-
ders; the momentary cloud passed away
from his face, ns he answered, bravely
Never mind, Ariel. We can afford
you and I to be independent of a crusty
old gentleman money. I'll see about
that clerkship in St. Louis.
"Half the world away from me Har.
ryv'
at won't be for long pet. Cheer up!
I'll send for you when I've got we'll es'
tablished, and we'll have little bird =
nest of home, without asking any
favors of my father"
Ariel smiled through the dew drops
that sparkled in her eyes. She was
easily -consoled. A girls heart at eigh-
teen is blessedly elastic.
Major Martindale elected to go to At
lantic City for the hot weeks that season.
Why, he did not especially particularize
to himself Saratoga was dnll; at New
port one was half mile away from the
beach; Long Branch had palled upon
his fastidious taste. 30, to Atlantic City
he went rather enjoying the very Percep-
tible nets and snares spread for him by
the various widows, old maids and gush-
ing damsels who were there engaged in
the great husband hunting campaign.
81 wosder if they think ! am fool" 4"
said the Major, as he strolled on the
beach with a cigar in his mouth.
But one day the Major found himself
forced to give up picnic on account OF
a strange and unusual feeling Of lassi-
tude and languor, and the next he was in
bed.
"This looks serious" said the Major
to himself. I've heard of low fever
hanging about but ] never thought of its
attacking meF'
The doctor came; twirled his watch.
chain, wrote prodigious Latin pre-.
scription. and shook his head.
People made haste to vacate the rooms
in the smmediate vicinage of No. go
and the Major began dimly to compre-
hend, through mist, that it was likely
to go pretty hard with him.
81 will stay and nurse him, doctor.
have had the fever, year or two since
and do not fear it, and am handy with
such people"
But, my child yon have no idea whai
You are undertaking."
Eyes, have, answered the soft, low
tones; "and we must not let him die fol
want of proper care"
as your aunt willing?"
"Quite So"
"Then You may try; but take my wore
for it, you'll back down at the end of tn
first week"
Major Martindale heard these words
spoken "a il were out Of the clouds, a
he might have heard the thunder Of tn
waves on the beach outside, or the ring
ing of the church bells, without at al
connecting them with himself. Strang
what world of dreams and shadows hi
soul and brain had entered intol
But one day he came back out Of tn
darkness, and the immensity, and tn
restless whirling TO and fro of the wave
of life, weak and white, and helpless d
a baby.