The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-08-07
M'PHERSON'S WIDOW.
The Successful Contamination OF
Friendly M ssion.

in short, say you've appointed your
self Mentor over me at once, and be
done with it-hang it,"
Lakely glarod at his companion.
Bristed immovable, went on smoking.
A silence, fraught with explosive pos
sibilities, ensued. Finally B"isted
arose. He was somewhat the elder Of
the two, and he was saturnine and dark.
'Wbat 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 cut you can fndw was B.isted's
ultimatum.
The next dav Mrs. Lakely tearfully
pressed him into an interview.
IL assure you that l have done my
best to dissuade Horace" Bri>ted said.
"Oh, it is too DREADFUL" moaned Lake
ly's mother, wringing her hands. "You
have always been such good friends
room-mates and all-and young men will
often listen to an older comrades ad-
vice and remonstrance, where moth
er's, a sisters, are quite thrown away.
Do use your influence, my dear Mr..
Bristed, with my poor, benighted boy!
Oh, it is too shocking that he should be
thinking. for one instant even, of such
q marriagev'
IL appreciate your position, you may
be sure, my dear madam. 1t is a very
trying one," murmured Bristed sympa-
thotically.
And it is so horrible, too, that there
should be 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 ace.
Mrs. L kelly felt that this allusion to
her daughter was master-stroke of di-
plom"cy.
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 man (of HurlLurt Brist-
EDS 'seriousness'O never expressed
himself so clearly unless he wished def
mite infcrences to be drawn. Then her
attention detected from her daughters
interests to the more imminent perils of
her son, and she sighed again.
Thus urged Bristed returned to the
charge.
sin the name of Heaven, Lakely,
don't make such fool of yourself" he
began, in the tone of more tolerant
responsiveness
"A fool of myself! By George! l
think I've a 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. p;acidly. ut isn't
agreeable to have warnings dinned int
your ears when you want to rush head
long into the biggest folly of our 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,
Bristed?' cried Lakelv, starting up and
confronting his friend, with his boyish
features aflush and kindling light in
his blue eyes. ''You say she's a little
older than L"
Not little; good deal She's older
than l am-must be-" interrupted
Bristed.
well. and even if she were. What
Of it? What are fsw years one way or
tie other?'
"A great deal when the few years are
on the wrong side. But that isn't the
worss feature. You needn't force me
into saying things lou wouldn't care to
hear But you know as ell as do that
McPhersous widow has been talked
about Oh! unjustly, if you care to
have 1t so! I'm not going into that
question. But tue old fellow didn't in.
spire the greatest respect himself. and,
at all events, good manv things were
said Of his pretty wife. Why, my dear
fellow" continued Bri> ted. reasonably,
and with the kindly influence in his
fine 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
J ur head and letting yourself in for
tbs sort of thing! This woman is no
wife for you"
"You don't know her! You haven't
oven seen her." exclaimed Lakely,
weakly.
81 have never seen her, that's a fact
But know her, all the same. One al
ways knows woman of that sort of
calibor. They're very interesting to
meet; very stimulating; very amusing;
very fascinating They have ten thou
sand ants. While thor spell is on a
man he thinks them any thing they
ehoosc ~ te thought He believes aay