Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-02-11
/ -. MIR. WICKS.

a.
CHAPTER I.
THE COMING.

"Sylvia, dear, the arrival OF Mr..
Wicks bids fair to amuse me more than
anticipated. AS soon as Jack comes i'll
I am going to mystify him and make
him guess who Mr.. Wicks is and all
about him. 1t will be delightful to see
him puzzled, and l don't think he is
likely to find out, unless, OF course, a
certain little chatterbox tells him. p"
The speaker, Miss Matilda Cherry
ton, a round faced, smiling old lady,
who seemed to find life very smooth
and pleasant, looked across the lunch
con table at her charge, a pretty girl Of
II, whose father, her only relation, was
absent in India
To make mysteries out Of everyday
occurrences was little weakness OF
Miss Cherryton's, and the present op-
portunity seemed to her too good to be
lost.
"Do you think Mr.. Wicks will have
changed much?" asked Sylvia. 'But
of course he won't. It's only month
since | last saw him. 1t seemed SO much
longer"
"Do you find it SO very dull, Sylvia,
in this rambling old place?" asked Miss
Cherryton anxiously.
"No, no. How thoughtless Of me to
have made you think that! Why, it's
delightful here, and I am perfectly
happy"
And Sylvia laughcd-a joyous little
laugh.
"What time does Mr. Wicks come,
Miss Cherryton?" she presently asked.
'At 5 O'Clock, just in time for tea.
But here comes Jack, and | give you
full leave, Sylvia, to puzzle him about
Mr.. Wicks to your heart s content. y
Jack strolled in to luncheon full of
apologies and golf records, and after he
had eXpatiatcd for considerable time
Oh the virtues of his club and the con-
dition Of the ground Miss Cherryton
broachcd the subject Of Mr.. Wioks.
"Sylvia has Il friend coming here, "
she began. ''Hc is also q friend Of
mine, and l think you Will like him. "
"Who is he?" asked Jack, not feeling
particularly pleased to hear Of this
friend.
''He is Mr.. Wicks,' replied Miss
Cherryton.
"And, added Sylvia, ''he is extreme
ly amusing
Jack became thoughtful at this mo-
ment and looked out of the window
and presently asked:
"What is he like, aunt, and what
does he do to be SO amusing? don't re-
member the name at ALL -
"You mustn't be too inquisitive,
Jack, but this much will tell you, he
is young and handsome. "
"Oh, indeed; young and handsome
and extremely amusing. What an envia-
bic young man," and Jacks lip curled
slightly.
Miss Cherryton and l were going to
meet him at the station" said Sylvia,
blushing little-Jack noticed the
blush-"but after all, we are going to
stay at home. You know, Mr.. Wicks is
rather an important parsonage, and Miss
Cherryton thought she would rather be
here to receive him. y
"Does he hunt, play golf or shoot?'
asked Jack, hoping that these accom-
plishments did not belong to MIR. Wicks.
"None Of them,' replied Sylvia,
with gay little shake of her head.
"He has lived in town most Of his life,
but he is quite clever enough to have
learned them all, and Sylvia blushed
again.
Jack began quite to dislike this un-
known Mr.. Wicks. 1t was an unreason-
ing, indescribable antipathy, but it ex-
listed nevertheless, and during the rest
of luncheon he was very silent and
monosyllabic.
But Miss Chcrryton and Sylvia kept
up lively conversation between them
selves.
Jack, I've addressed you twice.
Where arc your thoughts, my boy?'
II do believe he was thinking OF Mr..
Wicks," suggested Sylvia.
EXACTLY said Jack, waking from
his reverie with a start.
Il asked you if it would be safe to
let James fetch my jewels from the
bank" continued Miss Cherryton.
Perfectly" replied Jack, and then,
asking to be excused, left the table.
Miss Cherryton was disappointed
She would have liked Jack to have ask
ed a host of questions about Mr. Wicks.
"Jack, jack" she called after him,
"you have not asked where Mr.. Wicks
lives"
Jack turned around, tugged at his
mustache and said, "No, aunt, then
said something beneath his breath, and.
striding out of the house, he sought ref
uge at the golf links.
He drew out from his golf bag the
heaviest driver he possessed and drove
the ball as it had never been driven be-
fore. He vented all his i'll feeling upon
that ball, and between the hits burst
out into short sentences:
"Wicks. What name Why didn't
Aunt Matilda tell me more? POOH can't