Evening star., 1895-08-17
and exercised that right to its fullest ex-

tent
Wei. old man." said Bascom. as we
took the train for town Monday morning
Il hope you enjoyed yourself"
never had pleasanter outing in my
life" answered. with such sincerity that
he actually blushed, and you have my
thanks in all their amplitude"
I'm glad you liked it, for more reasons
than one." and he smiled rather cutely.
''Oh, yes; KNOW" said, with a laugh
last forty-eight hours my views on the
woman question will undergo a radical
change"
He nodded and smiled at my profundity
"'Fess up. now, Marston." he said,
haven't your views changed somewhat by
what you have lived in for even so short
timer
'WeI," replied, picking my way care
fully, Il am willing to say that as far as
your household is concerned, the prospect
is more pleasing than thought 1t could
be-"
And would you say the Hilman house
hold were ary less pleasing than miner"
This with a nudge and a chuckle that
thought quite uncalled for in view of the
fact that Mrs. Hilman was a married wo-
man and 1 had no right to express undue
admiration for her or her household. and
which made the blood rush up into my
face.
"Of course that must be included" said,
trying to laugh off my embarrassment.
"And STILL" continued. that is only two.
and there are millions which one wouldn't
care to praise"
What are they to you?" he retorted.
You are not hunting for the millions, but
the one."
apparently, I'm not hunting the one
with great degree of success"
But you should, now that you have
had proof positive that the life is not as
black as 1t is painted"
ITS very easy for you to talk" 1 con-
tended, warmly. You have called lucky
turn and SO has Hilman. But you have
exhausted the supply. Now If l could get
such a woman as Mrs" But l stopped
short, for l was about to make discrim-
ination which was hardly complimentary
to my host. and 1 didn't want to do that.
go on,' he urged. good naturedly. Il
dent care If you do say Mrs. Hilman. Any
body could see that you had a leaning
that way. Even my wife noticed it,and she
"Very WELL" 1 submitted, ''say Mrs. Hill
ran. If 1 could find such woman as Mrs.
Hilman, l am not at all sure that my
mind would not undergo a change and
that I could not be persuaded to throw
off a few of the trammels of bachelor
hood"
Bascom let off a guffaw that not only
startled me, but it shocked me as well. for
thought 1 had said something 1 should
not have said.
whats the matter, MANI" I asked,
much alarmed.
'IhatS II, ne continued TO lduSn
whats the matter with Mrs. Hilman?"
I was more disturbed than ever at this
queer inquiry.
"What do you mean?" I asked, taking
him by the collar.
why, old fellow, if Mrs. Hilman Is your
ideal and you think you could be happy
with that kind of woman. why don't
you avail yourself of your opportunities
and take Mrs. Hilman?"
"Wha-wha-wha-w 1 stam-
mered, utterly upset.
"Oh, there isn't any Mr.. Hilman, If that's
what you are trying to say. He has been
in the quiet church yard for 10 these
many years, and Mrs. Hilman has been
living with us for the last twelvemonth,
and 1 am positive that she is heart whole
and fancy free, and what is more to the
point. she is Just little bit tired of living
with US, see?"
Possibly 1 saw and possibly I didn't.
Whether 1 did or not. 1 spent the next
Sunday with Bascom. and incidentally with
Mrs. Bascom and Mrs. HiIman.
The next Sunday I spent principally
with Mrs. Hilman.
And the next.
And there are others.