The Lamar register., 1893-10-28
ORDAuNT could

That simpletonr; she calculated
Hes not half bad" returned her
son; nobody takes him seriously.
Besides he introduced me to Kate
Thorn"
Enter the simpleton-a mere artist
unimportant-and that sort of thing.
Il stopped 10 say, Fritz" he said.
that that picture is out of the mar
ket- Mrs Clayton liked il so yester-
day, when she came to the studio with
you, that l sent it to her, to-day being
her birthday
Mordaunt started; he had meant to
buy that picture for Nellie Clayton
had made up his mind overnight to
do so
II suppose" Mrs. Mordaunt said
icily to Ives you know Mrs Clayton
WELL
y introduced her and Clayton re
piled Ives II presented Fritz to her.
You introduced her 10 a good deal
quainted with Mr.. Clayton, said the
lady.
'.He did live a pace" hurriedly put
in her son Then: Tom, wait and
I'll walk down to the town with you"
And Ives and Mrs MordauEt were
alone.
There was little silence
mir. Ives said the lady, knitting
like placid fate" Frederick wished
to purchase that picture"
"Why," cried Ives. The said ycster-
day he thought he did not like it.
"Yes?" Then; II think you are
friend to Fred Suppose tell you
that he IS deeply enamored of two
likes the better
ssTh. ideaf'' launched ives
She inclined her head.
Suppose | ask you il yoa can tell
me which lady likes him best? un-
derstand that many women treat you
to their condolences scarcely Is they
treat
Eligible men2 Who arc the ladies?"
Then She drew back.
NO. she said. II was rerniss in
speaking of it Forget it Say moth
ing to Fred about it. My mind IS so
full of Fred that-that'-
Il can imagine n mother desiring
her sons happiness" Ives said II
don't know much about it myself; yCu
know my brother and / were very
young when our mother died
And you have always taken care
of your brother. 1t is pity he has
not repaid you better. Fred tells
me-
But Fred entered the room drawing
on fresh pair of tan gloves.
When her son had kissed her good
| by Mrs Mordaunt had decided what
TO do. OF course both these women
| loved Fred; but which loved him most,
and which did he love most? She
went to pay Miss Thorn call
Kate was in her room writing n note
when her caller was announced.
''Bother." she said She finished the
note and handed it to her maid Post
| it at once, Minnie" She said, futfcd
out her front hair, punched her back
draperies and sailed down stairs
Mr.. Tom Ives, !" read Minnie, on the
envelope.
My dear Mrs. Mordaunt," said
Kate greeting that lady in the draw
ing-room this is indeed kind, to call
so early"
Mrs Mordaunt kissed her, thinking
what a lovely daughter she would
makes Then she proceeded to sound
her. She stayed thirty minutes and
discovered nothing II Fred loved
Kate Thorn more than he loved Nellie
Clayton, Kate did not know it. or else
she refused to know it until Fred had
spoken.
when did you last see Fred?r asked
his mother, as she rose to 20.
Last evening" answered Kate, so
decidedly. that Mrs Mordauat kissed
her once more.
She loves him pas sionately," she
decided. II could tell it by the way
she said last evening Now I'll see
Nellie Clayton"
Mrs. Clayton was hanging little
picture.
"Yes. said Mrs Mordaunt, Tom
Ives told us about it Fred meant to
| get that picture for you. am positive,
| but Mr. Ives forestalled him "
Mrs. Clayton elevated her brows at
| this piece of information, and was so
confused all through the call that
Mrs Mordaunt WAS delighted.
.She worships Fred" she decided,
and he loves her the most; ne had no
idea of sending Kate picture. / see
/ the way out of Fred's difficulty. Now
/ III go home and wait for him"
! In the meantime Mordaunt and Ives
had gone down to the town Ives was
not very genial; the idea of Mordaunt
telling his mother he loved two
| women and did not know which one
he loved best. Who could the women
| be? Mordaunt knew hundred love
| ly women, but not to know W hich one
/ he loved bestl
As for Ives himself, he had never
considered himself well enough off to
marry; and as a consequence, he had.
as he thought, shut his heart to every
| appeal of the fine frenzy; refused to
! aclrnnyvladna he paral Co..