Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-03-08
CHAPTER. VI

|
CHAPTER VI.
| He is happy whose circumstances suit his
temper; but he is more excellent who can
! suit his temper to any circumstances.
''The idea of your having a ward. I
| could quite as soon imagine your having
a wife," says Hardinge. He knocks the
ash off his cigar, and, after. meditating
| for a moment, leans back in his chair and
| gives way to irrepressible ,mirth.
II don't see why / shouldn't have a
wife as well as another" says the pro-
fessor, idly tapping his forefnger on the
table near him. ''She would bore me.
But great many fellows are bored.
you have grasped one great truth if
| you never grasp anotherv' says Mr..
| Hardinge ''Catch me marryingn'
| Its unlucky to talk like that says
| the professor. 1T looks as though your
time were near. In Sophocles' time there
was a man who"
ooh, bother Sophocles, you know |
never let you talk anything but whole
some nonsense when / drop in for q
smoke with YOU says the younger man.
You began very well, with that supersti-
ton of yours, but | won't have it spoiled
by erudition. Tell me about your ward. J"
''Would that be nonsense?" says the
professor with faint smile.
They are sitting in the professors
room with the windows thrown wide
open to let in any chance gust of air
that heaven in its mercy may send them.
It is night, and very late at night, too
the clock indeed is on the stroke OF L.
1t seems a long, long time to the pro-
fessor since the afternoOn-the afternoon
of this very day-When he had seen Per
petua sitting in that open carriage He
had only been half-glad when Harold
Hardinge-a young man. and yet;
strange to say, his most intimate friend
had dropped in to smoke a pipe with
him. Hardinge was fonder of the pro-
fessor than he knew, and was drawn
to him by curious intricate webs. The
professor suited him, and he suited the
professor. though in truth Hardinge was
nothing more than gay young society
man, with just the average amount of
brains, but not an ounce beyond that.
A tall, handsome young man with
fair brown hair and hazel eyes, 4 dark
mustache and a happy manner, Mr..
Hardinge laughs his way through life,
without money, or love, or any other
troubles.
"Can you ask?" says he go on Cur
zon. What is she like?'
cit wouldn't interest you, says the
professor.
Il beg your pardon, it is profoundly
interesting; I've got to keep an eye on
you. or else in a weak moment you will
let her marry you.
The professor moves uneaslly.
May l ask how you knew | had a
ward?"
''That should go without telling. ar
rived here tonight to find you absent and
Mrs. Mulcahy in possession, pretending
to dust the furniture. She asked me to
sit down. obeyed her."
8. 'HoW's the professor" says l.
".Me dearr said she, that's bad
story. He's that distracted over a young
lady that his own mother wouldn't know
him!'
II acknowledge 1 blushed | went
even so far as to make few pantomimlc
gestures of the horror [ was experiencing,
and finally | covered my face with my
handkerchief. | regret to say that Mrs
Mulcahy took my modesty in bad part.
'Arrah, git out wild yev says she, ''ye
scamp o. the world 'Iis ward the
masther has taken an nothin' more
II said [ thought it was quite enough.
and asked if you had taken it badly, and
what the doctor thought of you. But
she wouldn't listen to me.
Look here, Misther Hardinge,' said
she. i've come to the conclusion that
wards is bad for the professor. | haven't
seen the young lady, | confess, but I'm
cock-sure that she's got the diviTs own
to the professor. ''Has she?' says he,
"N-o," says the professor-a little
frowning, lovely crimson face rises be-
fore him-and then a laughing one.
NO" says he, more boldly, "she is lit
tie impulsive, perhaps, but -
"Just so. Just So says Mr.. hard
| inge pleasantly, and then, after kindly
survey of his companions features, she
is rather a trouble to you, old man, isn't
she?'
..She? Mo- says the professor again,
more quickly this time. sit is only this
she does not seem to get on with the
aunt to whom her poor father sent her
he is dead-and | have to look out for
| someone else to take care Of her, until
she comes of age"
II see. l should think you would
have to hurry up bit says MI Hard,
| inge. taking his cigar from his lips, and
| letting the smoke curl upward slowly,
thoughtfully. 'Impulsive people have
trick of being .iimpatient-ot acting Tor
| themselves -
'She cannot SAYS the professor, with
town"
"Nobody?"
Except me and a woman who is a
friend of her aunt's. If she were to go
to her, she would be taken back again.
Perpetua knows that
"Perpetua! Is that her name? What
a peculiar one. Perpetua-
''Perpetua- Wynter! Exactly so!
1t sounds e-Dorotbea-Lady High
flown! Well, your Lady Highfiown
/ doesn't seem to have many friends here.
| What pity you can't send her back to
| Australian
The professor is silent.
at would suit all sides. | dare say the
poor girl is pining for the freedom of her
| old home. And. | must say, 1T is hard
lines for you. A girl with a temper, to
ITO BE CONTINUED