The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-07-20
ears. Floss, and learn for yourself il
fhov hoyaptt orowp

SACy " gavin.
"My father, "Mr. Nicklepod resumed,
'lived to be SO and then died from an
accident. My mother was in her Goth
year when she passed away. In fact,
we are a very iong-lived race, though
we seem to age early"
According to precedent twenty
years at least" said the Judge.
''The reason / haven't married
again." the millionaire went On, sis
because | could never bring myself to
believe that any one whom feared for
could ever care for me; and to have a
wife whose constant wish was for my
death would be rather hard lines-eh,
Blossom?"
Blossom" managed to nod her
head. but her face was turned away
from her host. and her father was sur.
prised to soc how pale it as.
"Why are you like Caesars wife?''
the latter managed to ask, in his old
Joking If Flossie lost her
grip at this crisis the consequences
would be more dramatic than he car.
ed to contemplate. But happily the
change from the dinning-room to the
beautiful library caused q change in
the conversation, and the victim OF
her own folly had q chance to recover
herself. 1t vas a longstranee evening,
and one to be remembered while life
lasted. The two men played check
ers, while the girl guest wandered
about among the books and pictures,
stealing occasionally into. the great
drawing-rooms, and coming back
again as white and scared as if she
had seen a ghost.
"Will it be lonely for you, Bios
som?" the old gentleman asked, as
she returned from one of these excur.
slons. i've been thinking" he add
ed. without waiting for an answer
that it'll make things about right if
l can persuade your pa to come, too.
He has no one but you, and then |
need some business help, and it would
be a heartening thing to have q true
friend at hand"
"Oh, dear! he is going to marry US
BOTH" muttered Flossie.
"What do you say. Judge?" Mr..
Nicklepod went on. Suppose you
try it for a year? There is no reason
why this house cannot be q home to
you both in the uruest sense of the
word. Do take pity on me. neighbors,
for / believe | am the lonesomest old
vagabond in the whole world"
"Judge Somerton, I wish l was
dead" said Flossie; and then, selling
the trumpet, she said in broken tones:
"Mr. Nicklepod. you are an angel,
and papa don't know what
to say, and l am in just as bad q
state. I'd love to live here with all
these beautiful things, and with you
SO kind and generous, and so would
papa-that is, if he has q single sense
left. And l made up my mind l would
live here, Just because L loved Jack
you know Lakeland he hadn't any
money, and he couldn't marry me in
about ten ages"
"For mercy's sake, Floss" the
Judge put in, imploringly, don't be a
simpleton."
ats begun, and it has got to come"
was the girls quick answer. "Ard,
Mr.. NicKlepod, ] thought some time l
could take Jack a lot OF ~money-that
is, if he could wait for me-and | didn't
see how 1 could really do you any
harm-that is, if you were truly fond
Of me-"
"You are an honest, blessed GIRL"
said the old man, brushing away O.
tear, "and | AIN truly fond OF you,
and truly DESTROYS to promote your
best interests. But, Blossom, [ would
20 sooner marry you than l would
kill you. Such q wicked thought has
never crossed my mind. You shall
have two fathers, Blossom, and you
shall have Jack, too; but not to
marry him now, because you are not
old enough, and Jack hasn't had q
chance to show what kind of stuff
there is in him yet. Five years from
now, if he proves worthy, you shall
go to him with q dowry. Then we
Will have the iolliest wedding that
ever was, and l will dance with the
bride"
For a moment there was utter
silence IL the room, and then Flossie
lifted her right hand, ard with a
characteristic movement OF her little
tiorefinger, said into the trumpet:
"You two men have had your
heads together. That is as plain as
the nose on your face" giving her
fathers nasal organ a little tweak.
"But, Papa Nicklepod, Judge Somer-
ton and his daughter will be with you
anon, and the way you will have to
stand round and mind the housekeep-
er will be a caution"
"AlI right" said Mr.. Nicklepod;
"give me a kiss; and l do wish | could
tell you how happy you have made
me-"
The kiss was given, and it was no
disgrace to Flossie that her eyes
overlooked with tears.