Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-08-02

Jnnt, 10 say hgulnbJ MIS-. McFnerbOn,
Bristed?" cried Lakely, starting up and
confronting his friend, with his boyish
features afiush and kindling light In
his blue eyes "You say she's little
older than /"
mot little; good deal. She's older
than am-must be-" interrupted
Bristed.
swell. and even II she were. What
of it? What are few years one way or
the other?"
"A great deal when the few years are
on the wrong side. But that isn't the
worst feature. You needn't force me
into saying things you wouldn't care to
hear. But you know as we'll as do that
McPherson's widow has been talked
about Oh! unjustly, II you care to
have 1t so! I'm not gcing into that
question. But the old fellow didn't in
spire the greatest respect himself, and,
at all events, q good many things were
said of his pretty wife. Why, my dear
fellow" continued Bristed, reasonably,
and with the kindly influence in his
fine voice and the sottened expression
in his strong features which had always
had so much power over Horace Lake
ly's impulsively youthful temperament,
tits preposterOus thing, you losing
your head and letting yourself in for
this sort of thing! This woman Is no
wife for you"
"You don't know her! You haven't
even seen her." exclaimed Lakely,
weakly.
II have never seen her, that's fact.
But know her, all the same. One al
ways knows o woman Of that sort Of
caliber. They're very interesting to
meet; very stimulating; very amusing;
very fascinating. They have ten thou
sand arts. While their spell Is on q
man he thinks them any thing they
choose to be thought He believes any
thing-every thing. Afterward he has
an awakening: and 1t is very well for
him IL 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, a Nc
Pherson can scarcely be called any thing
else-flirt with an adventures as much
as you like, my dear boy, II you feel sure
enough Of yourself; but be very careful
to stop-a long way of 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
growled. ''It's no effort for you to keep
out of scrapes. You couldn't get into
one il 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.
II suppose she feels that the boy has
been slipping from her-odious person.
exclaimed Mrs. Lakely, waxing bitter
in her righteous Indignation. ut 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 go 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, II she had any? Would he
my dear Mrs. Lakely, any thing to
Oblige you, but don't know
''Oh, don't say So" interrupted the
poor lady. Il have such confidence in
your ability to straightcn matters out
for u.s."
Aday or two later this conversation
resulted in a visit from Bristed 70 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