The midland journal., 1895-03-01

good a man as Uncle ST was could make
such mess Of things. It's wicked to
help people as he did while he lived
and then leave them without even a
roof over their heads. suppose that
fellow will have the face to set the old
women out on the road. Haven't they
any folks of their own, Elsie, that you
ever heard off"
No." said she, shaking her curly
head mournfully. They're the last of
the Hinghams There was nephew,
believe, but he was good for naught
and ran away to South America or some
where. They never speak of him be-
cause he tarnished the family glory.
Oh, Paul." she cried impulsively, Il
am young and strong. How wish
could make shelter for their poor old
heads with my armsp'
Paul sprang to her and took her two
little brown hands in his and looked
into her eyes 1--WE might do it togeth-
er," he said. Say that we shall never,
never part. Promise me, Elsie. He
put his arm around her and drew her
very close-the dark curly head, the
rosy, blushing face. Elsie felt him kiss
ing her hair before she knew what had
happened, and then she broke away,
painting and frightened like some wild
creature that has been caught and held
for moment, and rushed back to the
house in glow Of agitated, blissful con-
fusion.
Arthur Hapgood was wandering about
the kitchen rubbing his white hands
and chuckling over the absurdities of
those old women with whom he had
just taken tea. Miss Prissy had put on
black silk mitts to do honor to the oc-
casion and had carefully sugared her
visitors cup, while Miss Hetty exhibit
ed the governors silver shoe buckles,
his tortoise shell snuffboX, prettily
mounted in gold, and bundle of time
stained love letters pcnned by the great
man to his first wife, Miss Hepzibah
Forbes. She had even in her complacen-
cy allowed Arthur to read the epistle i'll
which the governor in stately terms had
offered his hand and heart to Miss Hep
zibah, signing himself, Yours without
prejudice, Josiah Underwood Hing
ham. y These precious relics strewed the
beautiful old table Of polished mahoga-
ny, with an inlaying of white wood. The
old ladies We're SO happy to show them
to an appreciative stranger they bObbed
their heads, while the bows on their
caps quivered, contradicted and correct
cd each other and grew delightfully."- ami
mated. 1t was their opinion that Mr..
Arthur Hapgood was young man OF
excellent manners and disposition, who
knew how to honor birth and breeding.
How could they suspect he was laugh
ing i'll his sleeve, Indifferent to the con
fusion and pain his presence had created
III that house?
Arthur was quite at his ease. If Uncl1
ST had thought best to provide for the
future Of those helpless old creatures
who were living i'll Il FOOLS paradise,
he would have done so before the palsy
made him impotent They had no claim
on his special consideration. Such a
view Of the case would have appeared
absurdly sentimental to him. Young
Raynor had acted like jealous idiot
and had therefore cut himself Off from
sympathy. 1t was manlfestly none of
Arthur's business what became Of Ray
nor, whether he starved OF begged along
the road. That i'll conditioned young
fellow had shown his crudity and bad
manners, but Arthur thought it more
than probable that he might yet be will
ing to come aud eat humble pie and
take meellly the place he had thrown
away as his underling. Arthur knew
that Elsie would prove powerful load
stone to the bumptious Paul, and he
promised himself considerable amuse-
ment out of this state of things. Not
that Arthur intended to be brutal in
playing his little game. He was deter
mined, on the whole, to make such ar
rangemonts as would demonstrate his
generosity.
"Well," said he, rubbing his hands
confidently, as if Elsie shared all his
sentiments about Paul, has that sulky
fellow come to terms yet? | wouldn't
go coaxing him up if | were in your
place, Elsie. He isn't worth it. If he
doesn't mean to go TO work, let him get
away rs soon as possible. He has been
brought up here by an overindulgent
old man, has had his living and school
ing for nothing, and now suppose he
10 tl4StJ pNSsttASC tic Jl-ASc WAS lIOt tClt
to him He has made you think he is a
genius with his publishing natural his
tory and to regard him with eXagserat-
ed respect "
"What do you know about natural
history" Elsie asked, eying him with
cool disdain.
'What do | know" splutterod Ar
thur, who actually knew nothing at all.
why, Of course, Elsie, a fellow who
has taken Il university degree must
know more than young hayseed like
that, who, don't suppose, has ever been
more than 10 miles away from this
farm. "
Elsie had brought out the churn. Into
it she poured pan of thick golden
cream. But what do you know about
natural history?' she persisted in asking,
keeping her eyes fixed ON Arthur's face
He laughed scoruiully. II wouldn't,i if
Iwere you, spunk up in favor of that fell
low, said he. HE isn't worth it.
know enough of natural history to per-
'eive that you are very pretty little
witch, and that = all need to Know. "
Take care, " said Elsie rs she set the
chun in motion "You had better keep
your distance, or | shall splash you all
over. " And she gave the ohurn mdlea
vigorous twirl that sent "A big blot Of
cream on Arthur's sleeve.