The McCook tribune., 1896-12-04

| "NOne-unleSS ] chose to walt sew
| eral hours Surmising at once that nly
| letter had not arrived in season to no.
| tify you Of my coming, | left my bag
! gage in charge of the station master
| and set out on foot. | pleased myself
when I was here two years ago with
, surveying an air line between yodr
! house and the nearest point of the rail-
road. If one does not mind some pretty
! steep hills, he can save at least two
| miles by availing himself Of my topo-
/; graphical skill. 1t was a pleasant va
] riety to me, after s;x hours in narrow
car seat, to stretch my limbs over the
rocky pass and breathe the fresh air Of
, the wildwoods instead Of smoke and
, cinders."
"The mystery to me is how and
where you met Mrs. Withers"' chirped
| vivacious Harriet do explain. / was
never so astonished in my life as when
saw you two walking up the avenue
talking together like old friends
"As we are" smiled Edward at his
sister-in-law. ''Sht vas sitting at 'he
foot of a cedar ne. : my projected road,
enjoying the prospect beneath her. L
recognized her from her resemblance
to the photograph you sent me while l
was abroad, Elnathan; walked up to
her, like the impertinent fellow some
people think l am; introduced myself,
and offered to escort her home
"You should have taken servant
with you, Constance" said her husband,
magisterially. Y is rot safe or proper
for lady to re- ole alone in this thin
ly-settled neighsorhood.
There are charcoal burners in the
shudderingly. THE most fer c;ous
looking creatures, with long rds
and black faces. / saw one once hen
we were driving out And there lsed
to be bears. when the country was first
settled"
"And wolves, and catamounts, and
red Indians with no boards at ALL fin
ished the younger Withers warninSly.
Mrs. Withers, let me advise you TO
take me along whenever you stir be-
yond the garden fence. | saw Rocky
Mountain savage once, and last year
was one of party that went out On
bear hunt in Norway. We saw nothing
of Bruin, it is true, but my instructions
how to act in case he crossed my path
were so minute that | am confident
should prove valiant protector in
time of need
y,1ox-f1,11y- c-iI-ar,
was renewed in earnest on the follow
ing day. The brother and sister-in-law
were excellent friends from the mo-
ment of their meeting. The travelled
member of the eminent banking firm
of Withers Bros. was about so years of
age, and attractive in person, rather
from a certain grace and elegance Ct
bearing, and a frank, Intelligent eX-
preston than from regularity Of lea
ture. He had read much and seen
many lands, and knew how to use the
knowledge thus gained for the enter
tainment of his companions. \ passion
ate lover of music, he was not slow in
discovering Constance's kindred tastes
His coming gave different complexion
to life in the secluded country house.
There were horseback rides before
breakfast, and diligent practice with
voice and instruments-pia flute and
violin, besides couple Of hours read
ing in the forenoon; then came the
after-dinner walk, seldom ending un-
til sunset. In the evening Elnathan
Withers dozed in his stuffed chair while
he tried to beat time to the duet going
on at the other end of the room. and
Harriet, bolt upright in the middle OF
a sofa, did wondrous things with
spool of cotton or silk and a crocnet
needle-and took observations with her
beady eyes.
She was discreet as to the result of
these. For aught that could be gathered
from her words or conduct she APP
proved entirely OF the growing init
macy between the married lady and
the agreeable bachelor Elnathan was
not a man of fine feelings and strong
affections. He had made up his mind
TO marry because stylish wife would
add TO his individual consequence and
adorn his already princely establish
ment. Constance Romaine pleased MS
critical eye, and captivated whatever of
fancy dwelt in his practical nature.
Yet, having welded. he trusted ner.
She offended him sometimes. He often
wished that she were interpenetrated
with something of Harriet's reverence
for himself; that she would put forth
more effort TO anticipate his wishes,
and conform herself in all respects to
his ideas of fitness in demeanor and
conversation. He was never harsh in
his treatment of these deficiencies. but
his pertinacious schooling, his curbing
and debating, the portentous shake
Of his head and solemn curvature of
the brows, irritated her to the extreme
Of forbearance.
Edward had not been twelve hours
in the house before he perceived this
enGeavor on his brothers side to mod
mature woman into the likeness of
his prim ideal, and the effect wrought
by it. He had suspected it in the course
Of his initial interview with his broth |