The Somerset reporter., 1897-09-02
This reminded Mile of the fight of

When will she be here?' she exclaimed.
Possibly she is blocked on the line, :"
murmured Mr.. Macintosh. AT any
rate, you had better dine here while
you wait for her "
But Mr.. Macintosh's careless refer.
ence to her mother Jared Gu her and
damped her spirits. Things were evil
IDENTIFY very had indeed. His Indifference
to his wife's whereabouts was positive
ly shameful
During dinner, therefore, she was
quieter so Mr.. Macintosh had to do the
lion s share of the talking And so well
did he perform his task that Mile had
to confess that her steppapa was very
charming young man and that it was a
thousand pities he could not get on with
his wife.
g must try and make the peace. she
thought. Meanwhile my best plan
will be to be as pleasant as possible
conciliatory, in fact. "
Inspired by this idea, she made no
objection when he suggested a stroll on
the boulevards She insisted on his
smoking, she prattled to him while he
enjoyed his cigar, she leaned on his
proffered arm and, indeed, made con-
scientious effort to impress him with
the fact that she was a nice girl and,
though a stepdaughter, would not be
an incumbrance or bother to him.
And when they got back to the hotel,
after a little hesitation, as they were
separating for the night, she stood on
tiptoe and administered to his brow a
pure, daughterly kiss.
well, " observed Mr.. Macintosh aft
er she had vanished, "of all the expert
ences I've ever had this certainly takes
the cake. "
Now, portion Of the above was told
to the present historian by Mr.. Dick
Macintosh and part by his wife. | have
merely interviewer their accounts. The
end of the story also obtained from
both, but Dicks account was the best.
Mile was very reticent when relating
her share. Mile related her part as
thus:
"Well, was unpacking my things,
you know, in order to be able to go to
bed, when who should come in but
mamma. We Rugged each other, and
then l said:
ooh, mamma, how could you quar-
rel with him?'
Mamma looked very astonished and
said
What are you talking about?"
Steppapa, l replied. He didn t
bring your name up once all the time,
and he didn't seem to care what had be-
come of you, and-and altogether he
was the last man in the world | should
have taken for bridegroom But he
was very nice to me.
My dear child, exclaimed mann
ma, are you wandering? What person
do you refer to? Your stepfather has
only just arrived at the hotel. We
crossed this morning. AS for quarrel
ing, we are the most devoted couple in
Christendom
Now for Mr.. Dick Macintosh's YER
sion:
well, yon see, old man, | received a
letter from my Uncle Ned telling me
that he had taken wife unto himself,
and would meet him and the lady at
the hotel st. Moscow in a week time
On the date named | hied me to Paris,
and while | was awaiting Uncle Ned s
arrival young lady was shown in.
well, we both thawed after time
and had rare evening. She proved
the jolliest girl aginable-talked,
laughed, Joked and seemed bent on be-
ing as friendly as possible. We had tea
dined, took stroll and returned to the
hotel. Then, my boy, imagine my as
tonishment. After she had said good
night she reached up and gave me the
most delicious kiss | had ever received
IN the whole course Of my existence. "
In due time the four set off on their
tour together, and during the tour Dick
and Mile managed to patch up mat
tiers so neatly that they came to be
quite good friends by the time they re-
turned to England and about year
after their return Dick took a fat in
Kensington and asked Mile to share
it with him, such as it was, and Mil
lie not Objecting, they were married,
and there | visited them and heard the
story. Answers.