The morning call., 1894-12-23

latnlly mansion on corner or street SO
lntren ched with the shadows of respect
ability that stray sum- eam, venturing in,
would murmur, Excuse me-" and scurry
away to join the children at their play in
the park. The Caraways-seeds of that
good old stOck-w6re now reduced to two
In number, Agatha and Nelson, sister and
brother. living together ir that mutual
selfishnesS which is such conseryator OF
peace and good will. Nelson was about 30
years OF age, and 30 was Agatha, though
Nelson, had he cared, could have remem-
bered youthful days when his sister was
full ten years older than he. But, since
he didn't care for the weighty things of
life, why should he concern himself with
it's trivialitieSp Sometimes it seemed to
Nelson as If these terms were generally
transposed; that the ash, in fact. was SUI
perior to the cigar; but then he would
shrug his sh oulders and wonder what time
II was. Truly, no oil so preserves ones
feathers from the damp of worry as that OF
Indifference.
And yet, after his college course aud his
trip around the world, NelsonShsd fully
intended to take active charge of$hat great
share in the business of CaraySay 81 Co..
teas and spices. which he and sais sister
had inherited. IL was Caleb CaIltacle. the
junior partner. who had dssusaied him.
1.-The business runs itself, my Roy," that
worthy man had said. 'Of course, come
down every month and look cover the
statement and draw what you like; but
you're too young to devote yourself TO rub
bling off the buttons of an easy-char, really
you are. Look around bit before you
expand your waistband."
Now, MIR. Cantacle was even more aus
terely reliable than his Christian name.
When he promulgated view. stToking the
snowy tuft on his wondeny chin the while,
it only needed transcription on tables of
stone to acquire sacred force. Nilsson had
aequiesced at once. ignoring the mournful
shake of the head which old Squills, the
bookkeeper wagged from behind his
ledger. No one needed old Squills-he
had not yet ceased from being a male
Niobe over the death of Nelson's grand
ia her, some forty years since.
Nelson had looked around bit until
the scope of his inquiry had become cir
cumscribed by the hands of his watch. lie
waged an incessant war with time, repell-
ing WEAKNESS with sleep and apathy. The
brother and sister rarely met except at
breakfast, which was languid licking
and describing about 10 A. NJ Exactly
when Agatha took her matutinal nourish-
merit Nelson had never dared calculate.
There was mysterious period, he had
heard, given over to early birds. milkmeu
and The washing of front stoops; but he
was content that this should remain
perod-that is, a reSt-for him. He en-
loved the custom of his sisters sitting
with him, for she had then thoroughly
digested newspapers and mail, and thus
saved him from the trouble Of fiudlng out
what he didn't want TO know.
One morning when Nelson was ponder
ing why oranges had 10 have peel. and eggs
shell, Agatha came busting into the room
with such surprised expression on her
hair alty
ruff1ed had not each particular tress. like
Mary, known The better part, and followed
it.
Whatever DO YOU think, dear brotner2"
she excl lined, beating emphasis to her
words win an oten letter. 'Of all things
in the world, | have a ward"
Not the bumorlst," replied Nelson,
la2iy. HES dead, you know. Who do
you mean?"
"Nelsonl Do you never have q sensible
thought, not even by mistake? Ny dear
schoolmate. Hatty Chalmers-you must
remember her. Such sweet young thing,
just my agel Married Ralph Hand OF
Newtown. and left a widow with a little
girl, Gertrude. Well, she's dead. And,
90 you know, her dying request was tina:
/ should act as guardian of her child.
Dear me, dear me! Here to-day aud gone
Tomorrow!
Il won't mind her being here to-day"
reIGrGPu NftSOU, IL she 0Diy Will 20 10
m lTr0w. How old is the brat, anyway"
LET me see. Hatty was 90 when she
married Gertrude must be over 49,"
81 thought you saiG she was just" be-
gan Nelson; and then, as he remembered
how really attentive his sister was in the
peeling of oranges and the opening of eggs,
he deity changed, and continued: "They
can't compel you, you know. You can go
to tie court, and file something or other,
and the Judge will name thing-a bob in
your stead"
brother And have Hatty haunting
me every night in that Identical blue dress
with the black pelisse, in which l saw her
last No; I've already written to the law
yers accepting tie trust, and to dear Ger
trude. welcoming her to my arms, my
homeland the letters have been mailed"
I'm charge of the black police, was she?
1t was down South, ] suppose. Well. l
hope the daughter has better morals. a
silly little country girl. I presume. One
would have to reaG up and find out what
bees and birds and cows do in order 10
talk with her. May ask when we must
become resigned to this inscrutable vista
ton of DTnvidence?
II really think, Nelson" said the in
jured spins ter, rising and retiring with a
Catherine Paragon air. "if you can't re
spect your sisters dead friend, you Nigh
at least respect your sister. Hattv Hand
was all that is intellectually elegant; you
may be sure that to this permanent grace
her daughter adds the evaneseent charms
OF youth. Hatty thought too much of me to
name me as guardian of any one less than
paragon. To-day is Tuesday; dou btless
Gertrude will be here by Friday night"
and away swept Agatha to bestow on the
servants that particular scolding which
appertained to Tuesday morning.
"And doubtless l won't be here" soliio-
guiZed Nelson. motif | know myself, as
old Thales advised. Didn't Paxton write
me to join him Friday at Anyway for
duck-shoo ting? l must look up his letter
to see whether | read it or not. What was
that sentence Agatha got off about nv
dead sisters dead friends dead child? It
ought to be construed into Latin, dead
language. hey? But I pass. not parse.
Ho, no! IwOnder what time it is. l hope
1t is late enough 10 go to the club"
So impressed was Nelson by the prelimi-
nary researches which meeting with the
silly little country girl would impose that
Friday he hasteued to Anyway, not stop
pi g in his supine flight to find out whether
he had read Paxton's letter or not. Failing
TO see his friend on his arrival, however.
he was constrained to look up the missiye
and thus learned that the engagement was
for the following week. What was to be
done? Nothing. Nelson was skilled in this
act, but, unfortunately, none of his appli-
ances were at hand. Why shouldn't be
raturn tn tho ctv9 The cnminp mr. Ger