The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-08-09

The old fellow grinned. "Suppose you
come in and have some breakfast. You
haven't had any / suppose ?"
/ said had not
Well, come in and have some"
After breakfast Mr.. Humphreys led the
way into the library, and motioned me to
take chair, while he explained what my
work was to be. He had been writing q
history, or textbook, Of ferns-he was
an enthusiastic botanist-and wanted it
copied for press. The work of rewriting
the whole thing legibly was more than
he wished to undertake, so he had adver-
tised for an amanuensis.
After this had been been explained to
me, MIR. Humphreys started up. SECT
your hat, Mr.. Wolcott. want to show
you around"
All through the house and all over the
place he took me, and when he got to
the farther extremity of the grounds he
paused, and pointing to huge stone
house beyond, said, I'm trying to buy
that house; I'm very anxious to get it,
but my daughter objects"
l asked him why she objected.
swell, you see, it hasn't been occu-
pied lately, and she says it's gloomy says
it's haunted, and she wouldn't like to live
in it."
Miss Humphreys can't really believe
that to be true" answered.
81 don't know whether she does or not.
She's away now, but she'll be home to-
morrow, and perhaps she'll be more rea-
sonable."
The next day Mabel arrived. She met
me politely, went through the introduc-
tion gracefully, and acted as if she had
never seen me before. There was not the
slightest halfglance of recognition: she
evidently intended to consider me re-
cent acquaintance With curious incon-
sistency could not help being little
disappointed, while at the same time l
was immensely relieved. Idon't know what
| had expected Ia start, blush, just the
shy, pleased look of girl toYard an old
friend not yet forgotten or was it haugti-
ness, hardly veiled anger, disgust {?
Whatever had expected, got nothing
at all but pleasant, meaningless words,
great politeness, great civilty. had
nothing whatever to do with, and could
have no interest in, the intimacy that
formerly existed between Mabel Hum
phreys and James w. Wolcott; he was
one man, and was another. And so the
days went on, and she was always friend
ly with her fathers copyist.
Toward the end of July, Ned Hum
phreys came home, and brought Mr.. But
ter-Scotch Steele with him. Mr. Steele's
baptismal name was William, bat he had
been rechristened by his friends Butter
Scotch, on account of his fondness for
that particularly kind of candy.
Ned was quite boy. and capital fell
low at that, and he and / soon became
firm friends but Butter-Scotch l loath-
ed. really don't know why 1 loathed
him so much, unless because there was
a rumor afoat that Mabel was making up
her mind to renonnce the bangs and ban
giles of a single life, and henceforth stick to
Butter-Scotch. Of course this of itself was
enough to make me contemplate placing an
extraordinarily bent pin on his chair, or
converting his overcoat pocket into re-
pository for litter of baby kittens. But in
dependently Of this rumor, had distinct
and positive impression that loathed the
man just as he was, whether he ever sue
ceeded in marrying Mabel or not. of
course it was none of my business, but it
did seem pity to stand by and see her
become the missing rib, thereby compIet-
ing the anatomy. of such a mollv-coddle.
One morning was standing on the
piazza-just finishing a very nice cigar
Mr. Humphreys had presented me with
the day before, with the remark that che
didn't mind a man smoking once in a
while, if he smoked tobacco, but he
abominated cabbage"-when Mabel came
out.
"Mr. Wolcott," she said, " are you go
ing to be busy for few minutes ?''
Il think not" replied Mr.. Hum
phreys does not want to begin for half an
hour yet"
"Then will you come to the croquet
ground, and finish your cigar there Pr
Certainly" answered "with pleas
ure.r
Over to the croquet ground we strolled,
and Mabel sat down on one of the rustic
seats Without preamble of any kind,
she began:
Il know you have friendly feeling
for rs all, Mr.. Wolcott, and want TO ask
your opinion and advice"
I bowed, for she was unquestionably
right about my friendly feeling, but 1
wondered what was coming.
She went on: "What do you think
Of Mr.. Steele p
Well, that was q poser What did /
think of Butter-Scotch? That he was =
fool, Of course but reflected it wouldn't