The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-21


Prouty, glancing in either direction, discov-
cred two highly dissimilar figures approach
ing; from the west, a tall young man in q
peculiar garb of long black orercoat and
wide felt hat; from the east, a short young
man in a short, pale-tinted overcoat and a
silk hat. When the bell rang, therefore,
twice in succession, Mr.. Prouty evinced no
surprise. The callers were his nephews,
Selllrk Prouty, the son of his deceased
brother, and Benjamin Todd, commonly
known as Bub Todd, his departed sisters
son. For some years Mr.. Prouty had con-
tributed, unmurmuringly, the vastly greater
share OF their support
The light step of one of the maids of his
well-ordered bachelor household sounded;
and his nephews were shown in.
Seikirk Prouty sat down on sofa with
decorous dignity; Bub Todd threw himself
into a chair with haste and violence.
Neither had greeted Mr.. Prouty; it was a
for!nality which they commonly omitted.
Beastly cold weather" said Bue, depos-
iting his hat on table-his last call had
been for the purpose of extracting the ten
dollars necessary for its purchase-and
Tipping the shade on the chandelier with
his silver-headed stick. where did you
get thatg' lie strobe turbuientiy across
the room to stare at an etching on tae
wall. "Oh, come now, you didn't think you
were getting good thing when you got
that It's execrable. BahI'
took fancy to it," said Mr.. Prouty,
apologetically.
Beastly, beastlyr' Bub tapped his light
uppered shoe sharply, took an impatient
turn about the room, and bolted Of towards
the secretary's desk.
Bub was generally understood to be an
artist. He had high-priced studio up
town, patronized the best models, and en-
riched the art-material store at which he
dealt. Bpt-the fact was inexplicable to
Mr.. Prouty, who met his weighty bills
with the exception of nine which Mr.. Prouty
had bought and presented to friends, he
had never as yet sold picture. Had Mr..
Prouty been aware that the nine paintings
stood faced to the wall in nine respective
back garrets, save only on days when he
was expected TO dinner, his bewildermeat
might have been less As it was, he listened
to his nephew's copious explanations
heard gallery committees called cads and
private collectors roosters-in puzzled SYM
patty.
Selkirk Prouty loosened the red silk hand
kerchief which incased his somewhat
lengthy neck, cleared his throat and picked
up volume from the table.
sc. Lambert Robinson" he read. with
sternness. rs it possible that you admire
that imbecile's bosh!'
a think it-harmless," Mr.. Prouty fall
tered.
He is fellow of tenth-rate ability"
said Selkirk, severely. Ibis productions
are trash-doggerel." lie dropped the book
in WEAKNESS Of disgust; stroked his chin
with a languid hand, and strolled in the d.
rection of the secretary.
Selkirk was literary; the fact by reason
Of the peculiarities of his apparel and the
length Of his hair, was easily discernible
He had bachelor apartments on Washing
ton square, including an extensively fitted
study and large library; and Selkirk en-
ployed his time in writing poetry. What
became of it was dubious. He had pub
lished volume at his own expense-or at
Mr. Prouty's; but the first edition, with the
exception of press copies, still lay untouched
OIL the publishers shelves. Mr.. Prouty,
while surprised at the result, was firm
believer, through the iterations of his
nephew, in the depraved idiocy Of review
ers and the crassitude of the reading public.
Mr.. Prouty looked through the door to
where his secretary sat, well hemmed in by
his nephews. He was aware that their Wis
lis had tripled in frequency and length dur
ing the past seven months, and that the car
pet on either side Of his secretary's desk had
begun to look positively dingy and worn;
he was aware, in short, that his nephews
were jointly and severally in love with
Polly Rogers.
Mr. Prouty had told himself that this
state of affairs was highly gratifying. He
bad become sttached to his pretty secre-