The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-02-15

/ told him he was not mistaken. I
always had that name-born with it,
I believed.
"And you think you're a gentle
man?'
I begged his pardon-didn't think
anything about it; it was a self-evi-
dent fact.
The old fellow grinned. "Suppose
you come in and have some break
fast. You havn't had any, I sup
pose"
I said I had not.
"Well, come in and have some"
After breakfast Mr. Humphreys led
the way into the library, and mo-
toned me to take a chair, while he
explained what my work was to be.
He had been writing a history, or
textbook of ferns-he was an enthu-
siastic botanist-and wanted it cop
id for press. The work of rewriting
tic whole thing legibly was more
than he wished to undertake so he
had advertised for an amanuensis.
After this had been explained to
me, Mr.. Humphreys started up. "Get
your hat, Mr. Wolcott. I want to
show you about
All through the house and all over
the place he took me, and when he
got to the farther extremity of the
grounds he paused, and pointing to
a huge house beyond, said, ''I'm try
trying to buy that house, but my
daughter Objects"
Iasked him why she objected.
well, you see, it hasn't been oc-
cupied lately, and she says it's
gloomy, says it's haunted and she
wouldn't like to live in it.
'Miss Humphreys can't really be-
lieve that to be true" I answered.
II don't know whether she does or
not. She's away now, but she'll be
home tomorrow, and perhaps she'll
be more reasonable
The next day Mabel arrived. She
met me politely, went through the
introduction gracefully, and acted
as if she had never seen me before.
There was not the slightest half
glance of recognition; she evidently
intended to consider me a recent ac-
quaintance. With curious incon-
sistency could not help being lit
tie disappointed, while at the same
time l was much relieved. | don't
know what had expected-a start,
a blush, just the shy pleased look
Of girl towards an old. friend
not yet forgotten; or was it haughti-
ness, hardly yelled anger, disgust?
Whatever [ had expected, gotnoth-
ing; at all but pleasant, meaningless'
words, great tpoliteness, great civility.
Ihad nothing whatever to do with,
and could have no interest in, the
intimacy that formerly existed be-
tween Mabel Humphreys and James
Wolcott; he was one man, and I
was another. And so the days went
on, and she was always friendly with
her fathers copyist.
Towards the end of July, Ned Hum
phreys came home and brought Mr..
Butter-Scotch Steele with him. Mr..
Steels baptismal name was William,
but he had been re-christened by his
friends Butter-Scotch, on account of
his fondness for that particular kind
of sweets.
Ned was quite boy and a capital
fellow at that, and he and I soon be-
came firm friends; but Butter-Scotch
| loathed. really don't know why
[ loathed him so much, unless it was
rumor afoat that Mabel was MAX
ing up her mind to renounce single
life, and henceforth stick to Butter
Scotch. OF, course, this of itself was
enough to make me contemplate plac-
ing an extraordinary bent pin on his
chair, or converting his overcoat
pocket into repository for a litter
of baby kittens. But Independently
of this rumor, l had a distinct and
positive impression that I loathed
the man just as he was, whether he
ever succeeded in marrying Mabel or
not. Of course, it was none of my
business, but it did seem a pity to
stand by and see her become the
missing rib, thereby completing the
anatomy, of such molly-coddle.
One morning I was standing on
the porch when Mabel came out.
"Mr. Wolcott," she said, "are you
going to be busy for a few minutes!!"
II think not" I replied. "Mr.
Humphreys doesn't want to begin
for half an hour yet."
Over to the croquet ground we
strolled, and Mabel sat down on one
of the rustic seats. Without pre-
amble of any kind she began:
II know you have a friendly feel
ing for us all, Mr.. Wolcott, and I
want to ask your opinion and ad-
vice.
l bowed, for she was unquestion-
ably right about my friendly feeling,
but wondered what was coming.
She went on: "What do you think
of Mr.. Steele?"
Well, that was poser! What did
/ think of Butter-Scotch? That he
WAS a fool, of course; but I reflected
it wouldn't do to tell her so, particu-
larly if she was going to-Oh, no!
it wouldn't do at all.
"Why do you ask, Miss Hum-