Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-10-05
The Story of Mr.. Parker.

There was really no particular raa-
son why Waldo Catiin should have
hesitated go much about Offering
himself to Blenda jameson.
He was an honorable young fellow,
whose life would bear close scrutiny,
he was well born and well educated,
his clients were fairly numerous and
! Fenumerative, he was good looking
and good tempered. Yet he did not
deem himself half worthy to wed
Blenda.
Many an upright, honest man has
so hesitated when thinking of the
pure young girl who has won his
heart.
While he was trying to makeup his
mind to put the fateful question his
courage was greatly lessened by a
little conversation between Mrs.
NeaIe Jameson (the wife of BIenda' s
Oldest brother) and himself, at a
small evening party.
"My husband tells me that he
met you at his fathers last night, -
said she, with an effort at archness.
Seems to me you are quite
intimate there; didn't I meet you
at Olga's progressive euchre on Mon
day? That makes two visits there
this week, yet we know that Olga is
engaged to be married to Hugh
Arnold and that Madge is only ten
years old! But Blenda, nOw-yes,
Blenda is quite an attractive girl, I
think. What do you say?"
Catin was embarrassed and little
annoyed at her indicate words, yet
he could not quarrel with her sister
in-law; so he replied truthfully:
81 find her a very charming young
lady"
Mrs. Neale was something of a
firt in a mild way; she liked what
one might call Platonic Irritation,
and it veXed her to find that this
handsome young man was obtuse
to all her hint. Therefore there was
a drop OF two of vinegar in her
tones as she answered:
ooh, Of course! All young men
do! The way my good mother-in-
law does spoil that girl is just dis
gusting to me; I wasn't brought up
so, can tell you Now Just take
the matter Of Mr.. Parker; see how
BIenda acts about him. 2"
Il don't think"
"YOu don't think she means any
harm? No; that girl is too pretty
for you to see any fault in her. Not
that L am really finding fault, you
know, but we all have our whims and
our fancies, and I do think that when
she knows how much her mother dis
likes to have Mr.. Parker around the
house she ought not to encourage
him as much as she does"
At this moment some one came
and begged Mrs. Neale Jameson to
sing, so she suffered herself to be en-
ticed to the piano, hoping that she
had given Waldo just the least hint
that Blenda was not quite perfect.
How her Jealous heart would
have leaped if she could have known
what a blow she had delt her audi
tor? For, though she was unaware /
of it, this was the first time he had
ever heard Mr.. Parker mentioned.
Catlin was not a resident OfWillOW-
dale, where his goddess lived; it was
only this autumn, after having met /
Blenda at Bar HarbOr the preceding
summer, that he had found so many
business and social engagements in !
that pleasant rural town. His home /
was in a busy city 30 miles away, so /
it was not surprising that he had /
not yet met all the many friends of /.
the deservedlY popular Jameson
girls.
And here was another rival. Who /
was hep" Was he a very danger GUS /
one? To these two questions Catlin |
determined to obtain answers by /!
dexterOusly questioning Olga on the /
first opportunity.
The very next time he called at Mr.. |
JamesOn's olga CHANGED to say:
''See what d dainty little basket !
Blenda has made out Of some messy /
twigs she picked up this morning when |
she was walking in the woods with |
Mr.. Parker; ism t it pretty?"
Exceedingly pretty and very
quaint; how much taste she has! /
You mention Mr.. Parker; do you /
know that I have never CHANGED to /
see him here any time when I have /
called, % replied ne nervOusly.
''NO? That is really singular, for |
he is always at Blenda's side when he
is at home. He is just now of on one |
of his hunting trips, or doubtless you
would find him in the parlOr to-
night" Il
as he very fine 1oOking?''