Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-12-20

strobe turbulently across the room to stare
at an etching on the wall. ''Oh, come now,
you didn't think you were getting good
thing when you got thati Its execrable.
Bahi''
~ took a fancy 70 it," said Mr. Prouty,
| alphabetically.
"Beastly, beastIyl" Bub tapped his light
uppered shoe sharply, took an impatient turn
about the room, and bolted off towards the
secretary's oesk.
! Bub was generally understood to be an art
ist He had a high priced studio uptown,
patronized the best models, and enriched the
art material store at which he dealt. But
the fact was inexplicable to Mr.. Prouty, who
met his weighty bills-with the exception Of
nine which Mr.. Prouty had bought and pre-
ssnted to friends he had never as yet sold q
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 be-
wilderment might have been less. As it was,
be listened to his nephew's copious explana-
tions-heard gallery committees called cads
and private collectors roosters-in puzzled
sympathy.
/ Selkirk Prouty loosened the red silk hand
kerchief which incased his somewhat lengthy
Z
volume from the table.
/ sc Lambert Robinson he read, with
sternness- SIS it possible that you admire
that imbecile's boshs"
| 81 think it-harmlessr' Mr.. Prouty fall
tered
He is a fellow of tenth-rate ability" said
! Sellirk, severely. His productions are
trash--doggerel" He dropped the book in a
WEAKNESS of disgust, stroked his chin with a
/ Ianguid hand and strolled in the direction of
the secretary.
Selkirk was literary; the fact, by reason of
! the peculiarities of his apparel and the
length of lis hair, was easily discernible. He
/ had bachelor apartments on Washington
/ square, including an extensively fitted study
and large library; and Selkirk employed
! his time in writing poetry. What became
/ of it was dubious. He had published a vol
ume ct his own expense-or at Mr.. Proutys;
| but the first edition, with the exception of
| press copies, still lay untouched on the pub
| fishers shelves Mr.. Prouty, while surprised
at the result, was firm believer, through the
| iterations of his nephew, in the depraved
| idiocy of reviewers and the crasSitude of the
Fading public.
Mr. Prouty looked through the door to
where his secretary sat, well hemmed in by
! MS Depn6 vs.. he Was aware JildJ UleIT flSlJS
had tripled in frequency and length during
the past seven months, and that the carpet
/ on either side of his secretary's desk had be-
| gun 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 had be-
come attached to his pretty secretary; he was
fully conscious of it. What, then, could he SO
much desire for her as an eventual comforta-
| BILE settlements He was aware that were his
| showering hand withdrawn, a settlement with
Bub Todd or Selkirk Prouty would not be
| comfortable; but he had no intention of with
drawing it. Apparently, as the situation
| promised he should be able by proxy to
provide for Polly all the rest of her life; and
| the thought was pleasing one. But whether
| he should provide for Mrs. Bub Todd or Mrs
Selkirk Prouty was mystery which, though
Mr.. Prouty had made some few delicate and
hestant attempts TO tighten it, was as yet I'M
| solved
His bronze clock struck twelve; Bub and
| SelIzirk detached themselves slowly from the
secretary's desk.
! "How shall you spend ChriStmas" Mr..
Prouty inquired, accompanying his nephews
]
| ity, and quietly inserting an Endorsed check
into the hand of each, an attention which
! Selkirk received with bow in which there
was an element of condescension, and Bob
| with nonchalant waive of the hand.
II shall join friends at Old Point Comfort, :"
| Selkrk rejoined, adjusting his red silk hand
! llerchief
"GeoR Smiths going TO have some Of us
| fellows up the river somewhere" said Bub,
| putting his hat on corner of his head.
"Where will you bel" he added. incidently,
with his head in the hall.
II shall dine at home" Mr.. Prouty replied.
81 have invited your Aunt and Uncle lib
balls to dinner and Miss Rogers. Her board
| ing house dinner would not be a cheerful one
you know"
"No7' cried Bub, shortly.
Indeed" said Selkirk, with ironical en-
| phasis, closing the door with a snap Mr..
| Prouty, abashed and bevvildered, turned
back. Polly was standing in the doorway
with his manuscript in her hand, her slender
form and peachy face and soft, light hair
charmingly outlined against the half drawn
portiere. Mr.. Prouty forgot his perplexity
in the sight.
II am so sorry have not been able to
finish it," she was saying. II will take it
home with me If ] may" Polly's hours end.
ed at twelve; In the afternoon she copied in a
! downtown Office.
mo, no; | will not allow it, Miss Rogers,
her employer responded, quite warmly. at
Is through no fault Of your own; you were
interrupted" he added, with pleasant jocu.
larity.
Polly smiled in return.
They are agreeable fellows-my nephews,' y
Mr.. Prouty pursued; rather attractive"
They seem pleasant" Polly responded
"They are unlike, to be sure,h said Mr..
Prouty, mlsingly. "Selkirk has dignity and
repose of manner; Benjamin, with equal sta
! bility of character, l am sure, is more i'm
pulsive-more effervescent Which style dc
you consider the most engaging Mis-
Rogers"
II have not thought of it," said Polly,
meeting his eyes renely, and with some M
tie surprise.
They are estip able young men, both, Miss
Rogers" said M. Prouty, desperately. 81
believe them to De of deep intrinsic worth
with possibilities of warm affection and pro
tecting strength, should-should there be oc-
casion for it.n
II do not doubt it, Mr. Prouty, A." said Polly,
sweetly.
"They would make good husbands-they
/
said Mr. Prouty, speaking hoarsely in the
difficult embarrassment of his effort.
81 am sure you are right" said Polly She
raised her blue eyes in faint alarm, and spoke
soothingly.
Her jaunty checked jacket and her high
feathered hat hung on a hook near. She put
the latter on, and smiled up timidly at Mr..
| Prouty from under scrap of veil which
stopped at the tip of her straight little nose.
Mr.. Prouty helped her into her jacket, and
| restored her fallen handkerchief and stood
looking at her with the admiring thrills and
the gentle comfort which the sight of her al
ways gave him, while she pulled on her vel.
low gloves and buttoned them with an ex,
tracted hair pin, and tucked her hands into
her monkey skin muf aud tripped away. He
even crossed to his window, inthralled by her
softening influence, and watched her fitting
out of sight, followed by the admiringly re-
troverted eyes of five successive men whom she
met 1t occurred to Mr.. Prouty that the prac
tice of turning on the street to gaze backward
was an offensive one. He put his papers in
order ahsently, and went down to lunch.
Perhaps il was the amending procession OF
feet which passed the dining room window
feet imbued with a holiday spirit-that gave
Mr.. Prouty highly agreeable idea He went
upstairs and put on his hat and overcoat, with
a brisk step and a beaming face. He knew
nothing about buying Christmas presents
having had small experiences; but II had
struck him that it would be a very pleasant
thing to buy present for Polly. 1t would
be-what he surely owed her-a token of hi,
esteem and of his appreciation of her services