Democratic messenger., 1892-07-09

anu IL Slfl > NbiNt. tItItlIiislS Will
ter. said: What is it, father? Does the
gentleman want something?'
IL think he does. Bertha, but cannot
understand what
After one glance at the girls face Jack
'siZed himself mp rs an ass, rs he would
have expressed it, and he knew she had
overheard the whole interview. He
really had not the courage to tell her
outright that her father was accused OF
flirting with his Aunt Sophia, or else he
was a lunatic, and that neither he nor
his aunt approved of his conduct.
The girl let him founder and get red
III the face for about ten minutes. enjoy.
ing the situation rs only II mischievous
girl can. but he managed to convey his
meaning.
Then she said: Il understand you
perfectly. and can perhaps explain it
satisfactorily to both you and your aunt.
Father keeps weather record, and he
has as long as | can remember. He takes
observations three times a day-at i'll
the afternoon. at in the evening and
early in the morning, probably before
your aunt gets up Here two IRE
pressible dimples broke out and limited
that laughter was not far behind. Jack,
who had recovered his equanimity. adj
mired them immensely. but he was not
to be diverted from his purpose, SO he
said judicially:
"But why does he use n handker-
chief"
For the very simple reason that il
there is light wind stirring he cannot
tell its direction any other way"
"Well, why does he stare so at my
aunt as she sits at her window
Il think it is not at her but''-hcre she
paused long enough to make impressive
what should follow-"at the smoke
stack from the furnace. The smoke that
comes from il makes first rate weather
vane.'
This explanation was made SO demure-
ly and with such evident enjoyment at
the righteousness of the situation that
Jack was slightly provoked mt her and
said rather sharply:
We'll. you must admit that ii looks
queer to Il fellow not accustomed TO it. y
I've no doubt it does" she replied
with smile. but we have always
lived here. and father has always taken
observations just in this way. and every
body knows his pcculiarities. 50 of course
ii awakens no comment"
As Jack had no reply ready, she said:
PLEASE make my apologies To your
aunt for any annoyance she may have
felt" and as the comical side came up
pernost again she broke into laugh
and said: Poor old father. The idea
of him being accused of flirtins!" Jack
joined in the laugh. and the innocent
cause of all the trouble and fun sat star
ing ont of the window as mild and placid
as though no snch charge lay ut his door.
As yet he did not even know the reason
of the visit of the erstwhile angry but
now smiling Young man.
Jack apologized humhly. but he had
no idea of letting the story get ont on
him, SO he tried in an elegant manner,
which turned ont flat failure. to init
mate TO the girl that il should be n secret
between themselves. rs he said:
Il hope you will not Il mean, all. cr-
but You WON'T
Wont tell it on YOU she said, with
unfeeling bluntness. Father would be
avenged rather more than the case calls
for if the students should get hold of
the story" Then taking pity on him
she said swcetly. Il will never mention
it again of course. and will not even tell
father"
Jack asked her to call ON his aunt,
which she promised to do, and he took
his departure to explain to Miss Sophia
that she had only made the same blum.
der that many another woman had done
Jumped ut conclusion too readily.
Jack visited his aunt with great regu.
larity, but spent the major portion of
his time mt the weather prophets across
the way. so that the ncighbors concluded
he was taking postgraduate course in
meteorology-or something. Rochester
/ Times