Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-06-07
was ingenious, and yet not too ingenious 10
have q chance OF success.

have chance OF success.
One afternoon about four O'Clock, while
the Misses kolstad were having their tea I'm
the lugubrious parlor, the door-bell rang,
and q nice-looking midde-agod gentleman,
with gray sprlnkled hair and side whiskers,
inquired, with q hundred bows and apollo
giles, II he might have the honor OF few
minutes conversation with the Misses kol-
stad. Miss Catharine, who was very near
sighted, glowered somewhat ominously from
her corner OF the sofa, but rose reluctantly
as the stranger approached, and made her
elaborate, old fashioned reverence. Miss
Lima, on the other hand, was In fever OF
excitement, and courtesied nervously when
ever the visitor looked at her. Olga, who
bowed disiantly, and bent assiduously over
her work. The middle.aged gentleman
placed large roll of ancient-looking papers
on the table, and ut nod from Miss Cath
arine seated himself.
IL have taken the liberty to inconvenience
you, ladies'" he said, with deferential
cough, "because am extremely DESTROYS
of gaining certain items OF information con-
corning the Kolstad family. My name Is
Tellefsen-Harold Tellefsen."
"Ah," said Miss Catharine, with faint
show Of interest, "your mother was Miss
Auker -Thomasine Auker."
81 am certainly related to the Aukers,"
answered he hesitatlngly; "but IL was my
grandmother, and not my mother, who wns
Miss Auker.'
"Ah, is IL possiblefo cried Miss Lima.
"And would you have thought, Catharine,
that Thomasine Auker could have so old
grandson? She was only five years older
than am"
"Fivc years and a half" corrected Cath
arine. gravely. "She married young-too
young, as thought at the time"
"She Is alive yet, and in excellent health"
| remarked the visitor, greatly encouraged by
the interest shown in his grandmother.
1.-THE Aukers intermarried several genera
| tions back with the Kolstads, believe, and
i am at present engaged In genealogical re-
searches regarding these two historic fami-
| lies. IL seemed to me great pity that the
distinguished services of the Kolstads
should be forgotten by the present ungrate-
full age, and more particularly am l desir-
Gus of calling attention to the epoch making
influence of your grandfather, Chief Justice
Kolstad, in developing the criminal code OF
our country, and perfecting the legal pro-
| cedure."
81 shall be very happy, SIR. said Miss
Catharine, after brief meditative pause,
"to afford you any facilities you may desire
In investigating so important q subject. !
| agree with you in thinking that the present
age is noisy and conceiled, and too apt to
forget what it owes TO the labors OF its an
| cestOrs. -
sand possibly" Tellefsen continued, with
his apologize cough, ''you may have fam
| lily papers In your possession which you
would kindly allow me to examine"
81 have less than might WISH" replied
the old lady, still somewhat frigld, although
she was more flattered than she cared to
show, "but IL they can be Of any service to
you, they are at your disposal"
81 am exceedingly obiged and II / dared
TO ask you to supplement the deficient testh
mony Of the papers with your personal re-
collections Of the great man, my gratitude
l Oralfpr II "
PRESS
That was a clever stroke, which could not
fail of its effect. Miss Catharine smiled o
feeble and wrinklcd smile, and Strengthened
herself up, with an agreeable sense Of dig
nifty. She reflected inwardly that Mr.. Tell
efsen was a very accomplished and courte-
Gus gentlemen, who knew what was due TO
a lady of her station and ancestry.
'Would you drink cup Of tea with us,
Mr.. Tellefsenf' she said with old-fashion-
ed urbanity. "We can discuss these mat
tiers more at our leisure over cup of tea"
"If / did not fear that my audacious visit
might inconvenience the ladies'"
"Not at all; we are entirely at your dis
posal."
With sedate and deliberate manner he
accepted the cup OF ancient lowered china
which Miss Lima offered him with trem.
ulous hand (the poor soul was too excited
to speak,, and without glance at the young
girl at the window, unrolcd his paper and
began to take notes Of Miss Catharine's dis
course concerning her grandfather. In SO
doing, he inadvertently pushed his hat of
the table, and as i'll luck would have IT, II
} rolled over toward the little raised dais
where Olga was sitting. He arose with
some difficulty, as II he were rheumatic
and as he stopped to pick up the hat, Olga
got full view Of his face. She had never
in h6f life seen 80 complete trans
fefmation, and the RIGHTEOUSNESS
of the situation struck her &
forcibly that she could no Longer restraif
her mirth. She. pressed her handkerchief
I to her face, and bit her lips, but after {
moments futile struggle, she gave kind Of
snort and rushed out Of the room. Tht
7 two old ladies exchanged Mortified look
| and Miss Lima, in her embarrassment
: dropped the lid Of the teapot on the floor
childV she whispered, TREMENDOUSLY.
"Mr. Tellefsen, l hope yon Viii excus,
: the rudeness OF our niece" said Miss Cath
arne, solemnly. "She is not accustomed Il
q. company"
"The young lady seemed to find some
; thing ridiculous In my appearance" re
! marked Tellefscn, innocently: "but readi
ly forgive her. The present generation 4
. so easily amused, and do not begrudg,
. young girls little entertainment at my OK
pense.n
'Tt is very kind of you to look so leniently
|
, Catharinc, with dignity.
The genealogical discussion was then re-
sumed, and was continued for an hou
without interruption. Fearing to tire tn,
: ladies, Mr.. Telofsen took his leave, will
profuse expressions Of gratitude, and re
ceived cordial invitation to return when
ever II should suit his purpose.
vi.
Harold Tellefsen gave hlmselfa month 4
n. - H.
Q Kolstad, but before the second week was a
g am end he realized that he had Jlndervaluet
I his powers Of fascination. He was almos
! ashamed Of the completeness OF his victory
I The two gentlewomen, who, although the.
prided themselves on their subtlety, were a
: artless as babes, had surrendered thei
I, hearts to him with aguilelessncss which wa
I touching. They had even, without aid o.
suggestion, hit upon the idea that this gray,
4 and courteous old bachelor, who had tn
double advantage Of good blood and set
I tied character, would be Just the HUSBAND
r chamber they. plotted deeply to accomplish
!. so desirable a result, Miss Catherine. VIII
q possessed he...er gift Of speech than he
y Sister, gave the girl long lectures, showin
!. the dreadful consequences OF following
n ones own foolish fancy In the choice of
\ of older people, who knew the world. T
n these dissertations Olga listened demurel
It enough, although she felt at times wretche
IS and guilty at the thought of having impose
: so cruelty upon her innocent old aunts
. At other times the righteousness of tn
It whole affair impressed her so wildly tina
! she had difficulty In keeping her counte
y nance. When Miss Catharine finally reache
q her objective point. at which through a
y her digressions she had been steadily aim
u ing, and directly proposed TO arrange
!, marriage between Tellefsen and her niece
q the latter was strongly inclined to re
y veal the whole intrigue, and throw her
~ self upon her aunt's mercy; but whe
e she came to think Of the possible con
:, sequences of such q course, he
y courage failed her. Prudence eyidentl
: demanded that she should resist; and resis
70 therefore, she did. Olga, although she .ha
!. never thought that she loved her aunts wit
y exceptional devotion, felt real tenderness
i for them now, and detested herselfas q con
!, firmod criminal while listening to the
g arguments, persuasions ana pleadings
IS Tejlefsen,s behalf. She learned that he ha