The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-08-07

| ulW II NO nISn 10 ulSCOVor tu8t no u6S
bound himself, hand and foot, while he
was under the charm. Flirt with an ad-
venturess-for really, you know, o Mo-
Pherson can scarcely be called any thing
else-llirt with an adventures as much
as you like, my dear boy, II you feel sure
enough Of yourself; bat be We y careful
to stop-a long way of Of matrimony.
That's what q wise man does, my boy"
Poor Lakely, with his elbows on his
knees, and his hands supporting his
head, sat staring at the figures Of the
carpet
''Confound It'll you always had wisdom
enough to fit out an army, Bristol" he
growled. "It's no effort for you to keep
out of scrapes. You couldn't get into
one if you tried. You're so deucedly
cold-blooded:"
When it dawned upon Mrs. Lakely
that her son might Unexpectedly be on
the point of listening to reason, the
poor lady's joy burst forth in touching
gratitude to Rorace's friend. But it
was short-lived JOY. At the end Of a
fortnight she came to Bristed, pale with
agitation, and communicated the dire
intelligence that Mrs. Mcpherson had
appeared in person on the scene; that
she was following Horace up.
II suppose she feels that the boy has
been slipping from her-odious person!'
exclaimed Mrs. Lakely, waxing bitter
in her righteous Indignation. 1T is
too shocking, the vulgar forwardmess of
such people. do not fancy that she
really cares for Horace, you know. 1t
is his money-that is what she wants to
secure. She knows the boy has just
come into his grandfather's property.
And she is poor; they say, though she
lives with an appearance of luxury, that
she is absolutely impecunious Her
husband. it would seem, left her moth
ing whatever"
II imagine there is no doubt about
that" said Bristed.
And then Mrs. Lakely came to her
point Would Mr.. BriSted 60 to this
person and try to convince her that
the family strenuously objected to the
proposed marriage, and that every thing
would be done to bring it to naught?
! Would he try to persuade her to give
Horace up, to relinquish her hold of a
young fellow-a mere boy-much her
| junior, who ought not to b, thinking as
yet of matrimony under any circum.
stances? Would he appeal to her good
feeling, If she had any? Would he
My dear Mrs. Lakelv, any thing to
OBJ 'ige you, but don't know
''Oh, don't say So" interrupted the
poor lady. 81 have such confidence in
your ability to straighsen matters GU,
for u.s."
A day or two later this conversation
resulted in a visit from Bristed TO the
hotel where Mrs. Mcpherson was tenn
porarily registered.
1t was not in this young mans nature
| to look forward with much relish to the
interview. He felt that he had before
him something extremely distasteful.
1t is even possible that he was inclined
to take some credit to himself when b.
reflected upon the trouble he was at tc
: oblige his friends family and to keep
the boy himself from piece of folly ne
should spent the rest of his life in regret
ting. But in another way he accounted
himself repaid for any thing he might
do, even before it was done. For moth
| ing could be sweeter or fairer or more
charming than Cecilia Lakely, Horacc's
young sister. She was u mere school
/ girl, to be sure, but Hurlburt Bristed
admired the t,pe. An ingenious young
girl was to him the most delightful
thing in nature. And he smiled often
as he took himself to Mrs. McPherson's
hotel in remem brance of certain warm,
shy glances which had fallen from those
dove-]ike eyes these latter times since
he had been exerting himself so much
in her brothers behalf. In helping
Horace he was really wooing in the
surest wav, if Indirectly, the elusive
flower of this young creatures love.
He was still thinking OF Cecilia as he
sat waiting for Mrs. Mcpherson to ap-
pear. He was, indeed, so much en-
crossed in his reveries that he looked
up only when the lady he had come to
see stood close in front of him. She
had entered softly by door at the side
Of him. As he rose little confusedly
she covered him suddenly with a won
derful smile.
1t was the perfection Of smile. 1t
was brilliant it was appealing, it was
arch, it was even little sad.
The young widow-it was impossible
not to think of her as younger than she
was-stood there an instant and then
sunk in a chair opposite her visitor. She
begged him to resume his seat She
seemed to wait. still with that unusual,
that almost harmonious smile, for him
to begin. From her presence. at once
assured and unobtrusive, animated and
reposeful, from her delicate toilet, there
| emanated an aroma, as it were, which
flattered all the senses.
| II believe you are Horace Lakely's
great FRIEND" said this gracious Great
ure, in a well-modulated voice. If the
modulations were somewhat artificial,
if it were possible to surmise that the
natural tones of the voice did not al
ways betray the same refinement Of
culture, it so happened that Hubert
Bristed (albeit he had the reputation o.
noticing every thing) did not observe
the fact
The next day Mrs. Lakely awaited
|
patience. Cecilia, looking very lovely in
a white dress (Bristed had once re
marked that she should always veal
white-it was becoming to her). was sit
ting with her mother. and shot an ex
pressive glance at the door when il
opened.
well. Mr.. Bristed, WE'LL" demanded
Mrs. Lakely, have you good news fol
me? Will she go away and leave my
boy in peace?"
Cecilia, who had risen and remained
standing. in a certain hesitancy, left the
room.
Il don't know that can tell you any
thing very definite, my dear madam,
observed Bristed some What slowly.
''Oh, what do you mean? hope the
wretched person does not refuse t.
loosen her hold of Horace?" cried Mrs
Lahely. E
mo, no. It is not that-not at all
Reassure yourself Only =" Bristed in
terrupted himself. He began again
II imagine she will, AS you express it
loosen her hold of Horace Yes-but-