The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-02-10
A STORY BY
H. wALWORTH,

DR.. Milbank looked down at the agitated
face of his lapdlady in some perplexity.
He had been scooping up the fish from
the bottom of the boat when she had
burst upon him with what sounded, in
spite of its indifference, like an abject
apology. They were walking toward the
house now, he carrying the bucket aud
she nervously twisting her apron strings
between her fingers as she glanced up at
him sideways.
81 don't think quite understand you,
Mrs. Lockhart'.'
ITS nothing. only that I've got very
unexpected cousin here from New York.
She looks bad and says she found she had
to leave town If she didn't want to get
down sick, aud as l had told her to come
to me whenever she wanted Whit of
country air she thought she'd come; but
that was long ago, doctor. when me and
the old man used to think the summer
days would be shorter il somebody from
the world would come and stay bit with
US two lonely old folks. We haven't
wanted anybody since we found you,
doctor"
Thank you" said DR.. Milbank but, as
Mrs. Lockhart confidentially informed
Mr.. Lockhart later, "he looked put out"
He was put out" He felt defrauded.
His professional sympathies were being
called unduly into action by this cousin OF
Mrs. Lockhart's, who had come there to
keep from being taken down sick" A
cousin-and a female cousin from New
York. What could be more threatening?
She had come there to spoil his whole
month, and here he was just in the first
blissful week of it. He frowned ominously.
Mrs. Lockhart watched his growing seri-
BUSINESS with pnng at her gentle heart.
you know promised you, doctor, that
as long as you chose to come here you
shouldn't be pestered with any other
bOarders, and ii Mamie had written to me
about her coming l could have STAYED her
off. you know. And l can say with my
head up, that neither me nor the old man
ever broke a promise. promise is
promise"
evil you want my room ?" he asked
CURLY
Mrs. Lockhart's reproachful glance was
entirely thrown away on him. His eyes
were fixed moodily on the dusty toes of
his fair-leather shoes. lie was vaguely
conscious that he was acting ike bear;
but his paradise had been rudeiy invaded
and he felt bearish.
''How can YOU ask that, doctor? No,
sir; you're first in this house and always
will be. next to the old man."
Does she play on the piano?"
With an inward quaking he recalled the
presence of piano in Mrs. Lockhart's
parlor. lie had often wondered but never
asked why it was there. The old man
found 1t convenient workable when
finishing any particularly delicate opera
ton in taxidermy. So lar II had been en-
tirely innocuous.
she can play, but she won't in this
house." Mrs. Lockhart said, with vicious
resolution in her mild voice.
''Shall have to take her rowing every
time l get into the skill, or teach her how
to handle the oars, or help her up all the
steep hills or strip birch bark for her, or
do any of the other things which men who
are supposed to be resting from years
hard work are usually expected to do for
idle women?"
Blood is thicker than water, and Mrs.
Lockhart fared up gently. There was a
pink spot on each of her thin cheeks.
81 never heard Of our Nannie's making
a nuisance of herself to anybody, Mr.
Milbank, but promise is promise and
! told YOU you shouldn't be bothered by
our taking anybody else in the house as
long as YOU were here. Nannie's that
sweet and reasonable that l can explain
matters without her going offin huff and
I'll do it the first thing in the morning
after she's rested. If you'll give me them
fish, doctor. I'll get them ready for your
supper" She held out her hand for the
bucket. ''Ill explain matters TO Mamie
tomorrow"
Il beg you will do nothing of the kind"
DR.. Milbank passed into the house feel
ing that he was neither 'sweet" nor rea-
sonable, and that be was in "a huff"
But be was willing to leave it to any i'm
partial judge. was it likely that any female
| cousin of Mrs. Lockhart's could come
from New York and be domiciied under
that cramped little roof with him and
not spoil his vacation? "saleslady"
dOubtless-or-horrors perhaps a stu
| dent from the woman's medical college,
who would expect him to coach her for
/ her next examination, without mercy and
without fee.
Dr. Milbank had the average male doc
| tors antipathy for the female of that per-
suasion. His imagination took wild flight
/ between the moment when Mrs. Lockhart
| had broken this disagreeable piece OF news
to him and the one when the old taxider-
mist was heard spluttering in the tin wash
hand basin that stood on the corner shelf
| Just outside his door.
That meant that supper was almost
ready. He could sniff the odor of the fish
| frying-the fish which he had caught up
the lake about three miles in quiet little
cave, where the defowered lily pads lay
! thick and quaint old wooden bridge had
cast shadowy arches across the bit of dark
water where he had fished. 1t was q
| pretty bit of nature.
He should carefully abstain from any al
| lusions to it, however, for it would be as
much as a weeks peace of mind was
worth to allude to any such finds" before
this new woman from New York.
III he found her too much of bore he
| you'd leave, that was all. And no one
| could blame him.
Mr.. Lockhart's spluttering in the basin
outside suggested his own preparations
for the supper table This usually con-
sisted in substituting his slippers for his
dusty shoes, and In partially concealing
| his white flannel shirt under loose sack
coat of fine seersucker, Mr.. and Mrs. Lock-
hart, in the goodness of their unsophsti-
Gated souls, protesting against even that
modest display Of "city style"
Tonight his preparations were neither
more nor less than they always were. He
was buttoning the top button OF his seer
sucker sack, when his attention was ar
rested by hearing Mrs. Lockhart( evidently
in the kitchen) ask a question OF her gues;
| (evidently in the dining-rooml. The space
OF two rooms was between them.