Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-10-10
M'PHERSON'S WIDOW.
The Successful Contamination OF
Friendly Mission.

SIN short, say you've appointed your
self Mentor over me at once, and be
done with it-hang iti'
Lakely glared at his companion.
Bristed, immovable. went on smoking.
A silence, fraught with explosive pos
sibilities, ensued Finally Bristed
arose. He was somewhat the elder of
the two and he was saturnine and dark.
what are you going to do?" he de-
manded.
'If you think I'm going to say"
''Then you go to the dickens by the
shortest eat you can findr' was Bristed's
ultimatum.
The next day Mrs Lakely tearfully
pressed him into an interview.
~ assure You that 1 have done my
best to dissuade Horace" Bristed said.
"Oh, 1t Is too dreadfulp' moaned Lake.
lys mother, wringihg her hands. 'You
have always been such good friends
room-mates and all--and young men will
often listen to an older comrades add
vice and remonstrance, where moth
er's, q sisters, are quite thrown away.
Do use your influence, my dear Mr..
Bristed, with my poor, benighted boyl
oh, IL is too shocking that he should be
thinking, for one instant even, of such
marriagep'
II appreciate your position, you may
be sure, my dear madam. 1t is very
trying one" murmured Bristed sympa-
thetically.
And 1t is so horrible, too, that there
should be a question of bringing such a
person into the family when there is a
young girl" continued Mrs. Lakely,
putting her handkerchief to her faded,
pretty, ladylike little face.
Mrs. LalSely felt that this allusion to
her daughter was master-stroke of di-
plomacy.
Certainly, can appreciate your
feelings here more than ever" cried
Bristed, warmly.
And ray Of comfort pierced through
Mrs Lakely's dolorous mists as it came
over her that a man (of Hurlburt Brist-
eds .'seriousness') never expressed
himself so clearly unless he wished def
mite differences to be drawn. Then her
ton detected from her daughters
interests to tho more imminent perils of
hRt eVhf RhN nhN ht0 Oh
Thus urged, Bristed returned to the
charge.
"ln the name of Heaven, LalSely,
don't make such fool of yourself" he
began, in the tone OF more tolerant
persuasiveness
"a fool of myself BY Georgel /
think I've good deal of patience to
stand what I've stood from you for the
last month, Bristed! If fellow didn't
feel sore about throwing over an old
friend, by George"
"All right, understand your point OF
view" said Bristed, placidly. ut isn't
agreeable to have warnings dinned into
your ears when you want to rush head
long into the biggest folly OF your life.
But it's the friends part to sound the
warning, all the same. whether it's
agreeable or not You might think of
your mother and sister little in this
matter, too"
"What the deuce have they, or have
you, or has any one, for the matter OF
that to say against Mrs. Mcpherson,
lsristedg' cried Lakely, starting up and
confronting his friend. with his boyish
features ahnsh and kindling light in
his blue eyes. "You say she's little
older than L"
Not little; good deal She's older
than am-must be-" interrupted
1Sristed.
well, and even If she were. What
of it9 What are few years one way or
the otherP"
"A great deal when the few years are
on the wrong side But that isn't the
worst feature. Yon needn't force me
Into saying things you wouldn't care "a
hear But you know as well as do tina,
McPherson's widow has been talked
about Obi anjustly, IL you care "a
have 1t sol I'm not going into that
question But the old fellow didn't in.
spire the greatest respect himself, and,
at all events, good many things were
said of his pretty wife. Why, my dear
fellow" continued Bristed, reasonably,
and with the kindly influence in his
tine voice and the softened expression
in his strong features which had always
had so much power over Horace Lake
ly's impulsively youthful temperament
its preposterous thing, you losing
your head and letting yourself in foI
this sort Of thingl This woman is ne
wife for you
"You don't know herl You haven'i
even seen her." exclaimed Lakely
weakly.