The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-06-27

Dinner was announced at ] o'clock
for this was an old fashioned country
menage--and all the family gathered
promptly on the hour in the large, sun.
ny dining room. The clatter of the
many heels sounded sharply upon the
brown painted, uncarpeted floor, but as
no one in the house was troubled with
nerves there was no necessity for muf.
fling ones footsteps. The paneled walls
were also painted i'm an unobtrusive
color and adorned with diverse smoky
Autographs, one of which represented
Napoleon at the bridge of Arcola and
another IA terribly flamboyant eruption
Of Nesuvius. The windows were low
and scantily draped with chintz cur
tains, and ON the little lodges which
were formed by the thickness Of the
walls stood Towering roses and pink.
and Gala lilies. The room was pcrvaded
by savory odors, and every time a maid
entered from the adjoining kitchen,
carrying some steaming dish, sound
was heard of sizzling and boiling, which
was extremely appetizing. 1t was a
pretty sight TO see the six girls, all
glowing with health and vigor, stand
ing behind their chairs waiting for the
father and mother to take their seats.
But between the pastor and hIs favoritC
daughter IA seat had been left vacant
this time, and the girl Stina had been
transferred, much to her disgust, to the
other side of the table, where Fritz, who
sat next to his mother, was her neigh
Dor Mrs. BriucRman was a large. hand.
some matron, with Il plump sagacious
face, wearing an air of maternal au.
thority. II was easy to see that she was
the dominant spirit Of tho household.
The look of serene determination in he1
eyes contrasted strongly with the good
humored and half deprecatory glance OF
her husband.
They waited fully five minutes before
Mr.. Falck made his appearance, and q
cloud had begun to gather on the brow
of the hostess. Fritz expected that the
curate would surely be scolded for being
late and anticipated the scene with sat.
isfaction, for he knew that his mother
had two infallible tests for the judging
of character. One was punctuality at
meals, and the other was the condition
in which man left his room in the
morning. A guest who, like the music.
al sheriff, left his bed tumbled, his
clothes strewn about on tables and chair,
and soaking wet towels littering the
floor she would have believed capable
of any iniquity.
In a rather formal and perfunctory
manner Mr.. Brinckman introduced his
daughters to the new curate, but made
Fritz the subject Of a little humorous
eulogy, which, however, Mr. Falck &C.
cepted with gravity. Tine pastor said
brief grace, whereupon all seated them
selves and with an acute sense Of con.
straint began to eat the soup, containing
i'll each plate two preserved plums. All
the girls glanced surreptitiously at Mr.
Falck, who blushed under the conscious
ness of their interest in his person. He
had lived lonely and studious bachelor
life and never associated with young
ladies. In fact he had always been
rather afraid Of them, not because they
possessed no attraction for him, but be.
cause he feared their ridicule He had
an idea that girls We're much given &c
giggling and made fun Of the men who
tried to win their favor. Now he was
fully aware how badly nature had
equipped him for the role of lady kill.
er, and common prudence would seem
to dictate cautiously reserved attitude
toward all approaches Of the willy sex
He had occasionally, when his bachelor
menage seemed particularly dreary,
contemplated the possibility of marriage
but with characteristic modesty he had
fancied his future bride maiden Of AZ
scanty charm as himself, 10 whom a
home such as he would be able to pro-
vide would be the chief attraction. To
be loved for his own sake seemed so
wild dream that mere casual glance
into the mirror sufficed TO dispel il.
Mr. Falck had heard from acquaint.
ances of the family that the eldest Miss
Brinclman was beauty, and ha had
Resolved particularly TO be ON his guard
against her, well knowing how high
she hung above his reach
Magda and Stina in the meanwhile
had been taking observations, and the
former had whispered to the latter that
Mr.. Falck's ears looked like the ears Of
a pitcher whereupon Stina grew purple
in the face and began 10 shake with in
ternal laughter. She made various un-
successful attempts 10 recover her com
posure and finally stuffed a napkin in
70 her mouth, pretending that she had
swallowed something the wrong way,
and hastily left the room. I'm order 70
make this incident less noticeable the
pastor began 10 talk a trihe laboriously
about the character Of the parish, the
trouble he had had with the sheriff,
and finally related with some humor
how scandalized his parishioners had
been at his playing the fiddle. Mrs
Brinckman cautiously put in q word
here and there, usually modifying OF
correcting her husbands 5 statements
when they seemed in danger Of misrep-
resenting him or making an unfavorable
impression. But the curate, in spite Of
all attemps 10 draw him out, remained
on his guard and answered in stiff
mOnosyllables. 1t was a great relief
both to the pastor and the girls when
the dinner was at an end They had
received very unfayorable impression
of Mr. Falck. nevertheless Mrs. Brinck-
man prophesied that before month
was past they would all be 81 love with
f-s--
TO BE CONTINUED.
For your PrOteet1On.-'a atsrrh "fnres' Or
Touics for Catarrh in liquid form 20 be taken
internally, usually contain either Mercury or