Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-08-07
M'PHERSON'S WIDOW.
The Successful Consummation of
a Friendly Mission.

''ln short, say you've appointed your
self Mentor over me at once, and be
done with it-hang it."
Lakely glared at his companion.
Bristed, immovable, went on smoking.
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 cut you can Qndp' .Mss Bristol s
ultimatum.
The next day Mrs. Lakely tearfully
pressed him into an interview
~ assure you that ! have done my
best to dissuade Horace" Bristod said.
'Oh, it is too dreadful" moaned Lake
lys mother wringing her hands. "You
nave always been such good friends
room-mates and all-and young men will
often listen to an older comrades ad-
vice and remonstrance, where a moth
ers, 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
Uutnkng, nor one instant even, OF sucn
a marriagew
~ appreciate your position, you may
be sure, my dear madam. 1t is very
trying one" murmured Bristed sympa-
thetically.
"And it is so horrible, too, that there
should be a question OF bringing such
person into the family when there is
young girl" continued Mrs. Lakely,
putting her handkerchief to her faded,
pretty, ladylikc little face.
Mrs. Lal1ely 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
attention detected from her daughters
interests to the more imminent perils of
her son, and she sighed again.
Thus urged, Bristod returned TO the
charge.
''ln the name OF Heaven, Lakely,
don't make such fool Of YOURSELF" he
began, in the tone of more tolerant
persuasivencss.
"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 II 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 % rush head
long into the biggest folly OF your life
But it's the friends part TO sound the
warming. all the same, whether it's
lyreeable OF 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 Lakely, starting up and |
confronting his friend, with his bogish |
features afush and a kindling light in |
his blue eyes "You say she's a little |
cider than /"
"Not a little; good deal She's older
than am-must be-" interrupted |
Dristed.
"Well. and even if she were. What
of IL? What are few years one way or
the other2T
"A great deal when the few years are /
on the wrong side. But that isn't the
worst feature. You needn't force "a
into saying things you wouldn't care to
hear. But you know as we'll as do that
widow has been talked
about OH unjustly, II you care to
have IL so, I'm not going into that
question. But the old fellow didn't in
sgire 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
fine voice and the s0ftened expression
in his strong features which had always
had SO much power over Horace Lake
ly's impuisively youthful temperament
'its a preposterous thing. you losing
your head and letting yourself in for
his sort Of thingi This woman is no
wife for you"
You don't know heri You haven't
even seen her. exclaimed Lakely,
weakly.
Il have never seen her. that's a fact
But know her. ali the same One al
sar- r~ou-a a rr-rrrar of th.+ a.-4 ~
saliber. They're very interesting 70
meet; very stimulating; very amusing.
very fascinating. They have ten thou
sand arts While their spell is on
nan be thinks them any thing they
house 10 be thought lie believes any