Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-12-27


clothes well matched the apartment,
sat converting. For ! have no doubt
they would have called it converse
tion"-of highly interesting and i'm
proving kind.
The young fellow in the distance,
however, did not seem to find it So.
He was at the age when men are very
critical of women, especially OF their
mothers and sisters, unless these hap
pen to be sufficiently beautiful ideals
to remain such unto son and brother
from the cradle to the grave-an eX-
eeptional happiness which belalls few,
and it hal not befallen Roderick Jar
dine.
The stout lady who, the instant he
spoke, pricked up her ears with a
cheerful "Eh, my uear?" was eccentric
nature will sometimes have it so very
unlike this, her youngest child and
only son--as unlike as it was possible
for mother and son to b. Light and
dark. fat and lean large-boned and
slender. phlegmatic and nervous, they
came OF two diametrica,ly opposite
types, physically and mentally. Moral
ly-yes, there was similarity there, for
Mrs. Jardine was good woman, and
Roderick was, as she ceaselessly de-
clared, being very outspoken as to her
feelings, the best of sons. though he
was little peculiar" like his roor,
dear father, of whom he was the very
image.
Thi, was true. Her three daugh-
ters--now married and settled, except
Io 1ogk ,v1, a hO,tt 4 ha ali
took after herself. Not her present
self, Terhaps, but the comedy lassie she
must have been e--fair-haired,
round cheeked, witha wide mouth and
slightly projecting teeth-though pos
sessing sufficient good looks to be q
belle in Richerden. Roderick alone
favored" the other side of the house
the tail, dark, rather sad-looking
father who came of old Highland
blood, and not being in business like
most of the Richerden folk had led a
rather retired life, keeping himself
very much in the background, even
amid his own family. Nobody really
knew him, or thought much of him,
antil he died, which event happened
Just before his son went to college.
Since then his widow had gradually
blOssomed out into great splandor;
married her two daughters, taken her
independent place in society, Richer
den society," as a woman beg pardon,
u lady-ought to do who ha, u large
fortune, fine family, and a great ca
pacity for managing both. People had
said that she managed her husband;
but those who knew Mr., Jardine ques-
toned this. Gentle as he was, he was
not exactly man to be managed by
anybody.
What were you saying, Rody, my
lamb"
Now, if there was pet name the
young fellow disliked, it was his child
ish diminutive OF "Rody. And no
man of five and-twenty is altogether
p eased at Icing called "a lamb.
Can you spare two minutes from
that very delightful conversation of
yours to listen TO me, mother"
"Ou, ay, my dear.
The young man WINGED a little.
Wouldn't yes do as well us 'ou, ay?'
But never mind. it doesn't matter,
mother, dear. addel he with q sigh,
more of WEAKNESS than impatience.
~Rody, my boy" said she, coming to
him half-deprecatingly, were you
saying you wished to go abroad? It's
late in the year, to be sure, but I'll not
hinder you Only you must promise
me not to be climbing up Alps and
tumbling into glaciers. Glaciers, she
called them; and her voice had the
high-pitched shrillness which Richer
den ladies seldom quite get out Of,
even when they fancy they have
merged their native accent in the
purest of English. wherever you go,
remember you must be back in time
for Isabella's marriage.
Certainly-and. mother, don't be
afraid of my tumbling into glacier,
or of an avalanche tumbling down upon
me. shall only see the Alps at dis
lance. At this time of year one must
content ones self with towns"
That's hard, laddie, when you are
so fond of the country. But do as you
like--do as you hae-only don't forget
the marriage. You will have to give
away the bride, Rody. All. your poor
father"
The widows eyes filled with tears.
II she had not understood her hus
band, she had loved him certainly,
and more perhaps after his death than
before it.
We'll we'll talk the matter over an