The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-10

| WAYS kuOWS d WOUdu VI ohoV oOhs 70
caliber. They're very interesting to
meet; very stimulating; very amusing;
very fascinating. They have ten thou
sand arts. While their spell Is on
man he thinks them any thing they
choose to be thought. He believes any
thing-every thing. Afterward he has
an awakening: and it is very well for
him if he hasn't to discover that he has
bound himself, hand and foot, while he
was under the charm. Flirt with an adj
venturess-for really, you know. Nc
Pherson can scarcely be called any thing
| else-flirt with an adventures as much
as you like, my dear boy, if you feel sure
enough of yourself; but be very careful
to stop-a long way off of matrimony.
That's what 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! you always had wisdom
enough to fit out an army, Bristed," 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 Horace'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.
81 suppose she feels that the boy has
been slipping from her-odious person"
exclaimed Mrs. Lakely, waxing bitter
in her righteous indignation. at is
too shocking, the vulgar forwardmess of
such people. l 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 be 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 Lakely, any thing to
oblige you, but don't know
ooh, don't say So" interrupted the
poor lady. 81 have such confidence in
your ability to straighten matters out
for u.s.
A day or two later this conversation
resulted in 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 he
reflected upon the trouble he was at to
oblige his friends family and to keep
the boy himself from piece of folly he
should spent the rest of his life in regret
ting. But in another way he accounted
himself repaid for any thing he might
dc. even before it was done. For moth
ing could be sweeter or fairer or moro
charming than Cecilia LakelY, Horace's
young sister. She was a mere school
girl, to be sure, but Hurlbu Bristed
admired the type. 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 chances which had fallen from those
dOve-lille 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 way, 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 feveries 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 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 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.
81 believe you are Horace Lakelv's
great FRIEND" said this gracious Great
ure, in well-modulated voice. If the
| modulations were somewhat artificial.
II 1t 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 of
noticing every thing) did not observe
the fact
The next day Mrs Lakely awaited
Bristed's promised visit with eager i'm
patience. Cecilia, looking very lovely in
q white dress (Bristed had once re-
marked that she should always wear
white-it was becoming to her), was sit