The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-05-08

ly know nothing about her, except |.
that she is good looking and too
good form to say that she is bored
whatever she may feel
Bored! Why should she be
boreds Didn't you talk to her9"
"Yes, and she'd much rather !
hadn't. l wasn't the right man, un.
Gle, that's all. y
Then, by Jove, I should like to
know who is" the major said tes-
tily.
Jack laughed, but he did not pur-
sue the subject further. After all,
1t was no affair of his, and if his un-
Gle liked to play a little game of
cross purposes he had no wish TO in
terfere with him.
The next week passed away pleas
antly enough. The major, taught
by experience, knew just the kind
of little expedition that was best
qualified to throw young people to-
gether-possibly not always the
right young people, but he was
scarcely to blame for that-and he
was constantly arranging some nice
little pleasure party or another. Of
course, none of these was complete
without the Bloxhams and quiet,
shy girl, a great friend of Nellie's,
in whom--somewha to his surprise
the major recognized Jacks little
acquaintance.
Millie Lee went everywhere with
her friend, and as she was always
sweet tempered and happy the ma
jor presently grew quite fond of her
in fatherly sort of way and looked
forward to arran ging suitable
marriage for her as soon as Jack
should be off his mind In the
meantime he told her all about his
plans for Jack and talked so freely
himself on his pet project that he
never noticed how she dropped into
silence as soon as he alluded to it,
especially as her silence evidently
did not arise from any lack of inter
est. She was staying at boarding
house, and but for Nellie's kindness
would have had dull time of it.
The major observed with approv-
al that Jack, too, was kind to her,
for he thought it an excellent sign
that he should wish to please Miss
Bloxham by little attentions to her
friend. On the whole, he was salts
fed with the way things were going
or so he told himself and he
could not understand why he found
a hithe herto unknown difficulty in
sounding Miss BloXham on the sub
ject and gently preparing the way
for Jacks suit
Of course Jack Nas in love with
her. How could he fail to be, know
ing her so well as he now dido Why,
even he, the majc1', was more than
half in love with her himself, as he
owned, with sigh to his cigar, and
he was old enough TO know the fol
ly of it. How, then, should a young
fellow like Jack escape? Now give
them time. Nothing but time was
needed now-and very little more
of his judicious management - to
bring the matter to a successful con-
clusion and transform Miss Nellie
Bloxham into Mrs. Macintosh
Mrs. Jack Macintosh. All, what a
difference that one little word made
The major called himself an old
fool for his pains and refused to
think of what perhaps might have
: happened had he only been a dozen
or Is years younger, but for him, a
man of 60 Oh, no; it was out of
the question.
And so the first week of Jack S
/ visit came to an end
| The little expedition, however,
J did not come to an end. On the coz
trary, Major Macintosh redoubled
his exertions, for he was growing
extraordinarily anxious to have the
affair settled, and the more he saw
of Nellie the more he was convinced
that Jack would be the luckiest fel.
low in the world if he won her.
, And he must win her. The major
felt that his reputation was al
stake, for he had never labored to
| make any match as he had labored
for this. Oh, he must speak serious.
, ly to Jack about it. As to Miss Blox.
r ham, she must surely suspect some
| thing of his hopes, and she had not
t discouraged them. She always
3 agreed readily to all his plans and
treated him with marked consider
alton, and, of course, it must be or
r Jacks account To imagine any
+ thing else would be Oh, no; ht
wasn't quite such fool as that.
Jack have you thought ovel
Z what l said to you2" he asked alb
ruptly one day as they were walk
: ing back to their hotel
2 What about2 You've said a goot
deal at different times
"Oh, about settling, you know"
1 ITO be sure ] have There's lo
/ in it. This was distinctly encour
7 aging, yet the major felt his hear
sink unaccountably. In fact,
j. think shall act on it. ="
r You're thinking seriously of set
tling, my boy1"
9 Most seriously TO tell the truth,