Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-01-14


fashioned tea," which, in the country,
was served at the town dinner hour.
"Could you obtain no conveyance at
the station?"
"None-unless I chose to walt sew
eral hours. Surmising at once that my
letter had not arrived in season to no.
tify you Of my coming, left my bag
gage in charge OF the station master
and set out on foot. pleased myself
when I was here two years ago with
surveying an air line between your
house and the nearest point of the rail-
road. If one does not mind some pretty
steep hills, he can save at least two
miles by awaiting himself Of my topo-
graphical skill. It was a pleasant va
riety to me, after six hours in a narrow
car seat, to stretch my limbs over the
rocky pass and breathe the fresh air OF
the wildwoods instead Of smoke and
cinders"
"The mystery to me is how and
where you met Mrs. Withers!" chirped
vivacious Harriet, do explain! was
never so astonished in my life as when
saw you two walking UP the avenue
talking together like old friends"
"As we are" smiled Edward at his
sister-in-law. "She was sitting at the
foot Of q cedar near my projected road,
enjoying the prospect beneath her. l
recognized her from her resemblance
to the photograph you sent me While l
was abroad, Elnathan; walked up to
her, like the impertinent fellow some
people think 1 am; introduced myself,
and offered to escort her home"
"You should have taken servant
with you, Constance" said her husband,
magisterially. ut is not safe or proper
for lady to ramble alone in this thin
ly-settled neighborhood."
"There are charcoal burners in the
mountains! Miss Harriet interjected,
shudderingly. "The most ferocious
looking creatures, with long boards
and black faces. saw one once when
we were driving out. And there used
to be bears, when the country was first
settled"
"And wolves, and catamounts, and
red Indians with no boards at all, fin
ished the younger Withers warningly
Mrs. Withers, let me advise you to
take me along whenever you stir be-
j yond the garden fence. l saw Rocky
Mountain savage once, and last year
J was one of a party that went out on q
\ bear hunt in Norway. We saw nothing
Of Bruin, 1t is true, but my instructions
how to act in case he crossed my path
were so minute that am confident l
should prove valiant protector in
time of need"
The invitation thus playfully given
was renewed in earnest on the follow
ing day. The brother and sister-in-law
we're excellent friends from the mo-
ment of their meeting. The Travelled
member Of the eminent banking firm
OF Withers Bros. was about 80 years of
age, and attractive in person, rather
from a certain grace and elegance CT
bearing, and frank, intelligent ex-
preston than from regularity of fea-
ture. He had read much and seen
many lands, and knew how to use the
knowledge thus gained for the enter
tainment of his companions A passion
ate lover of music, he was not slow in
discovering Constance's kindred tastes.
His coming gave different complexion
to life in the secluded country house.
There were horseback rides before
breakfast. and diligent practice with
voice and instruments-pia flute and
violin, besides couple Of hours read
ing in the forenoon; then came the
after-dinner walk, seldom ending I'M
til sunset. In the evening Elnathan
Withers dozed in his stuffed chair while
he tried to beat time to the duet going
on at the other end of the room, and
Harriet, bolt upright in the middle Of
q sofa, did wondrous things with a
spool Of cotton or silk and crochet
needle-and took observations with her
beady eyes.
She was discreet as to the result Of
these. For aught that could be gathered
from her words or conduct she ap-
proved entirely OF the growing init
macy between the married lady and
the agreeable bachelor, Elnathan was
not man of fine feelings and strong
affections. He had made up his mind
to marry because stylish wife would
add to his individual consequence and
adorn his already princely establish
ment. Constance Romano pleased his
critical eye, and captivated whatever Of
fancy dwelt in his practical nature.
Yet, having welded, he trusted her.
She offended him sometimes. He often
wished that she were interpenetrated
with something Of Harriet's reverence
for himself; that she would put forth
more effort to anticipate his wishes,
and conform herself in all respects to
his ideas of fitness in demeanor and
conversation. He was never harsh in
his treatment of these deficiencies, but
his pertinaeious schooling, his curbing
and debating, the portentous shake
of his head and solemn curvature Of
the brows, irritated her to the extreme
Of forbearance.
Edward had not been twelve hours
IN the hnusa hef0ra he nerceived this