The Van Buren press., 1897-01-09

don't. What makes them act so? 1
can't help it," sobbed the cnlprit.
| Eyes, you cam" said the mentor, &C.
| verely, adding, mentally, but they
can't"
He looked out of the window mo-
ment, then turned to her and, in n
strained voice, said:
"'Papoose,' l thiak it best you and
mother should eurtail your visit and
go back to Ohio as soon as you can pack
up. I'll speak to mother about it to-
night, and-well, I'll see you at Christ
mas, anyway"
There was quiet sob from the sofa
which gave Horton suicidal feelings,
and in another moment he would have
gone to comfort the weeper, but just
then he heard his mothers step on the
walk, and when she entered, Olga had
fled to the privacy of her room.
Two days later there was an aching
void in Silver City social circles, caused
by the exodus of Mrs. Horton and her
ward. Many there were who wondered
at their early departure, but nobody
asked any questions. John Horton was
vastly approaehable up TO a certain
limit. This limit was arrived at when
curosity's interrogations involved his
ward or his business.
Over a year later, Horton wrote his
ward letter somewhat to the follow
ing effect:
"There has been enough of this sort
of thing. | suppose you do your fiirt-
ing now with the callow sophomores
and the hitherto sedate and dignifed
professors, for want of better material.
Now, Olga, this must stop. Here is jim
Fielding, one of the best, brightest,
brainiest fellows in the world, going
to the dogs on your account.
/ want you to be serious and think
things over, and when you come down
here this time. do give Jim chance
Olga came on schedule time, along
with Mrs. Horton, and it was very
shortly after her arrival-not more
than two days-that Fielding again de-
elared himself.
But it was different Olga to whom
he spoke this time. 1t was girl with
the same old ways, the same odd fan
eies, but yet girl who could under.
stand and appreciate his feelings, and
pity him with her whole heart without
making her pity obnoxious. She had
known, she said, that this was coming,
and had dreaded, yet hoped for, this
talk on the gallery; but she did not
tell him of her stormy interview with
John Horton that afternoon, when that
ogre had told her she must accord Field
ing a hearing, or-or-there would be
indefinite trouble.
will you shake hands with me, Mr..
Fielding?" the girl asked, TREMENDOUSLY,
when she had finished telling him how
she had long thought it over and found
she could not love him. Il suppose it's
useless to say I'm sorry, although /
hope you know l am, So
Il know you are, Miss Horton. be-
lieve in your sympathy and your kind
ness of heart as thoroughly as | be-
lieve in human existence. And | believe
in myself enough he went on, more
firmly, "to think that | might be the
successful one were it not for another
someone. Good night. God bless you
both"
They shook hands as two ordinary ac.
quaintances might have done, and Olga
disappeared through the hall and up the
stairs.
That very day Horton had made him.
self practically certain that the future
OF his giddy ward was assured-that,
true to his behests and the promptings
of conscience he had done everything
to make worldly, Olga would engage
herself to Jim Fielding. Then, after all
his guests had gone to bed, and he was
left alone in his library, this great, big
eN-soldier, thinking it was all over, and
that he was forsaken, leaned his head
on the table and cried like baby.
He was a baby, too. For presently
some one entered the room quietly, and,
kneeling beside him, said;
''Tell me, Jacliy. Tell your mother"
Some women are jealous of their sons
loves. Jacks mother was not one of
these, no matter what her other faults.
you can't direct woman's atfec-
tons, darling, any more than you can
direct the tides or the winds. And
you have done great deal, 1t seems to
me, for Mr.. Fielding in this case
There must have been at least 20
guests at Horizons house to celebrate
the homecoming, and these had pro-
crossed through nearly every course
when one of the girls, who sat opposite
olga, remarked, suddenly:
why, Olga Hortonl Where's your
nretty snlitaire2 rhe last time | saw