Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-10-03
on a. CONAN DOYLE

partnership, as she points out. snouiu
wish you both to marry, but still
should like a suggestion from you,
Clara, as to what 1 should do"
But there Is no hurry, papa. Let us
wait. do not intend to marry yet"
Doctor Walker looked disappointed.
well. Clara, If you can suggest moth
Ing, suppose that must take the In
itiative myself" said he.
Then what do you propose, papa?"
She braced herself as one who sees the !
blow which Is about to fall.
He looked at her and hesitated. "How
like your poor dear mother you are,
Clara!" he cried. "As looked at you
then 1t was as If she had come back
from the grave" He stopped toward
her and kissed her. "There, run away to
your sister, my dear, and do not trou-
BILE yourself about me. Nothing is set
tied yet, but you win find that all will
come right"
Clara went upstairs sad at heart, for
she was sure now that what she had
feared was indeed about to come to
pass, and that her father was going to
take Mrs. Westmacott to be his wife.
III ANl pure anu GdIlESl IIlluu HGI IIlOllA~
er's memory was enshrined as that Of
a saint, and the thought that any one
should take her place seemed terrible
dissertation. Even worse, however, did
this marriage appear when looked at
from the point Of view Of her fathers
future. The widow might fascinate him
by her knowledge of the world, her
dash, her strength, her unconvention-
ality-all these qualities Clara was will
Ing to allow her-but she was convinced
that she would be uncomfortable as a life
companion. She had come to an age
when habits are not lightly to be
changed nor was she a woman who was
at all likely to attempt to change them.
How would a sensitive man like her
father stand the constant strain Of such
wife, woman who was all decision
with no softness, and nothing soothing
In her nature? It'passed as mere &C.
centricity when they heard Of her stout
drinking, her cigarette smoking, her
occasional whifs at long clay pipe, her
horsewhipping Of a drunken servant,
and her companionship with the snake
Eliza, whom she was in the habit of
bearing about in her pocket. All this
would become uncomfortable to her faith
err when his first infatuation was past.
For his own sake, then, as we'll as for
her mothers memory, this match must
he prevented. And yet how powerless
che was to prevent it! What could she
DO? Could Harold aid her? Perhaps. Or
Ida? At least she would tell her sister
and see what she could suggest.
Ida was in her boudoir, a tiny little
tapestried room, as neat and dainty as
herself, with low walls hung with
Imari plaques and with pretty little
Swiss brackets bearing blue Kaga ware
or the pure white Coalport china. In q
low chair, beneath a red-shaded stand.
ing lamp, sat Ida in diaphanous even.
ing dress of mousseline de sole, the rud.
dy light tinging her sweet, child-lilSe
face, and glowing on her golden curls
She sprang up as her sister entered
and threw her arms around her.
Dear old Clara! Come and sit dowr
here beside me. have not had a chat
for days, But, oh, what a troubled face
What is it then?" She put up her fore.
finger and smoothed her sisters brow
with it.
Clara pulled up a stool, and sitting
down beside her sister, passed her arm
round her waist. IT am so sorry t
trouble you, dear Ida," she said "Bu
do not know what to do"
There's nothing the matter will
Harold?"
ooh, no, Ida"
Nor with my Charles?"
mo, no."
Ida gave a sigh Of relief. "You quit,
frightened me, dear" said she. "Yol
can't think how solemn you look. VIVA
is 1t, them"
81 believe that papa intends to asl
Mrs. Westmacott to marry him."
Ida burst out laughing. What cal
have put such notion into your head
Clara?"'
TT is only too true, Ida. I suspected
it before, and. he himself almost toll,
me as much with his own lips tonight
: l don't think that it is a laughing mat
ter"
, "Really, 1 could not help 1t. II 20,
] had told me that those two dear OLE
J ladies opposite, the Misses Williams
were both engaged, you would not hav
surprised me more. 1t is really to-
, funny"
J "Funny, Ida! Think of anyone tax
ms the place Of dear mother"
But her sister was of a more practi
cal and less sentimental nature. II an
sure" said she, that dear mothe
; would like papa to do whatever woul,
make him most happy. We shall bot
be away, and why should papa no
please HIMSELF"
, "But think how unhappy he will be
You know how quiet he his in his ways
; and how even a little thing will upse
him. How could he live with a wifi
who would make his whole life a serie
Of surprises? Fancy what whirlwin,
: she must be in house. A man at hi
age cannot change his ways. am sur
ne would be miserable"
: Ida's face grew graver, and she pom
, dered over the matter for a few min
, utes. II really think that you are RICH
, as usual" said she at last. II admir-
, Charles aunt very much. you know
and l think she is a very useful an'
good person. but don't think sh
would do as q wife for poor, quie
papa"
But he will certainly ask her, and
really think that she intends to accep
him. Then 1t would be too late to in
{ terfere. We have only few days a
, the most. And what can we do? How