The Globe-republican., 1892-12-30

yOuIS loSt I6II dnO am very 1On0 OF look.
ing at it. Come with me and I'll show
it to you.
The Major then proceeded to a me.
dlum-sized room in the front of the
house, which he called his reading room.
! 1T isn't study, said he, "for never
| 0aody, and it isn't a library, for it hasn't t
books enough for that, but it is as good
q room to read in as l know. A fine
light. and always cool in summer-there
is the picture, and he held up a lamp
before one of my large landscapes.
Il thought Burnet owned that" ex-
claimed.
| Yes, he did, but he's been hard up
lately. and had to sell of part Of his
| collection. I snapped up that as soon
as saw 1t. There are things in that
| picture that you seldom see in paintings.
| That's timothy grass in that meadow,
| and q cut about the end of June would
make hay worth about $40 ton. It's
ready to cut now, said he, and from
| the looks Of the leaves on the trees,
and the size Of those MULLEN plants,
should say it was in June that you took
it,"
Il made my studies in June,"I said.
Good, he cried; Il knew it, There
is no nonsense about that meadow, such
as you would see in most pictures. No
bushes and struggling briars, or patches
Of red clover and orchard grass. I am
straightforward and practical man,
and like straightforward and practi-
cal picture. OF course you couldn't
help the daisies, and no more can I in
my own meadows.
Now, then," said he, when we were
again before the fire, you can see for
yourself how know you, and can tell
you that it delights me to have in my
house the man who painted that picture.
After while I'll brew bowl of regents
punch. But it isn't late enough for
that. Wen have bachelar night Of it.
By next Christmas I suppose the young
lady will put veto on bachelor nights.
"Veto?" said I. What do you mean?"
You will surely be married by next
Christmas" he replied.
Married." exclaimed with laugh,
I'VE have never thought Of being mar
rieG."
The Major took his cigar from his
mouth, put his hands upon his knees,
leaned forward and looked at me.
DO you mean to say, sir. that you
and Miss Weldon are not engaged to be
married."
Not at all" said I. I'VE have known
each other long time, but We are
friends and nothing MORE"
well. I'll be hanged" cried Major
Pendallas, throwing away his cigar and
rising abruptly from his chair. Then
looked down upon me.
How 1 am disappointed. surely
thought you two were team, and fine
hod do fv,1 RI
now I am set back. feel as if I were
I'm a practical, common-sense man,
and dom t mind asking practical, COM
nonsense questions have done that
all my life, and though I have made
good many people mad, it has always
been better for me in the end. Now,
would you mind telling me if that young
woman is engaged to somebody else, or
il you are? Don't get angry. II any
body Is angry I ought to be-.
was not in the least offended. There
was an impetuous but kindly earnest
ness about the man which impressed me
very agreeably. There are some people
whose liberties are pleasant rather than
otherwise; the Major was one of those
people.
lam not engaged" I said, with a
smile, "and have no reason to believe
that she Is.
Major Pendallas thrust his hands into
his trousers pockets, strolled to the end
of the large room, and then, turning,
came back and sat down.
Il believe" said he, that the man
who lives alone does more thinking to
the minute than ether people. When
she was pouring out the coffee tonight,
and you we're Landing your cup to her,
and both Of you were laughing at the
sugar, I stopped eating and said to my
self, That is as perfect a match as I
ever saw And in regard to human
beings it Is very seldom that think
that. And now you turn around and
tell me that you and she 60 single"
could not help laughing at the seri-
GUS way in which he discussed the sub
ject.
II am sorry to dissapoint you. said
I, "but Miss Weldon and are not mar
ryine people. For myself, cannot af-
ford matrimony."
That's what once thought, he said,
~and for thirty-tive years 1 have re-
gretted that was foolish enough to
think so"
1t was plain that my host was a man
VI u0INOUS LAC COuAu AOt
sit still while considering the subject,
evidently of deep interest to him. He
now rose, folded his arms, and looked
at me steadily for fully a minute. AS
he gazed at me his eyes seemed to grow
brighter and larger.
1t was my intention to make busi-
ness proposition to you, founded on
what you and Miss Weldon said about
this part of the country and how much
you liked it. considered it one of the
happiest thoughts had ever had"
What was it?" asked, a good deal
amused, but careful not to show it.
shall be glad to hear it, whether 1 can
accept it or not"
All right" said the Major, seating
himself with decision; you shall have
1t. 1 will make the proposition in the
common-sense, straightforward manner
In which 1 intended to make it. For
over ten months l have been kicking
and fuming at being obliged to live
here in this lonely house. Tonight
said to myself, over and over again,
What would I give if these two would
I, -, oIe