The times., 1897-09-12
MR.. TITTLEBATS CASTLE.

mn. III ILEbAT D UADIuE.
Mr.. John Tittlebat, of the firm OF Title
bat, Smith & Co.. sat beside his dra wing
room fire, smoking cigar.
This was an unusual predicament for
Mr.. TiUtlebat. He was used TO hotel
bedroom anu steam heat, and before that
he had been used to an alright stove aud
a short, clay pipe. But since the leather
firm Ia which he belonged, and III which
he held the controlling interest, had become
No enormously prosperous. Mr.. Tittlebat
had become the owner OF a castle.
IL may as well be explained az once that
Mrs. Tittletat, ia her travels On the cont
nent and IN England, had hccoui conyint ell
that what the house OF Tittlebat really
needed tp establish credit with European
banking concerns at one fell swoop was a
castle. and she had fonhd one, on Scottish
lake, surrounded with tarns and burns
and bee ther dells, as she said, that wuald
perfectly suit in every way, and could be
had at bargain BY owning this castle.
with t. sforied walls full OF poem aud
legend. they would begin at once To be
somebody, and would have a place to
invite Their friends. Afr. John TittetaJ,
"a
title of the property found all sound and
bought the estate. He was particular in his
inquiries, however as To whether there
was, among ~ the poems and legends With
which the SIoried walls were connected,
any legend of a haunted room.
II there were, lie Stid, he would not have
that castle. rot a any price. He was not
going TO nave has grandchildren, III he ever
had any, s;ared into fits and made super-
ststiotHs, .ior was he going 20 run the risk
OF tie servants all leaving every three
weeks rs s0oh as the y heard the story. He
knew how hard Il was TO get help 20 stay
in a coIntry place ana if he had got to live
In castle without any steam heat and
With the stone walls all out OF repair, he
was going 10 have his meals cooked prom
erly. anyhow.
The agent, being canny Scot, ssured
MT TittIebat at once that there was no
haunted chamber, and further troubled
himself 10 so around among the tenants and
warn them that il they valued their hold
ings they We're not TO allow any such story
tocome 10 the masters ears. And they, be.
ing also canny Scots, readily greed
Mr.. Tittlebat had been settled in bi
various changes in the matter OF ,Ioor
ways and windows and ventilation whel
lis son, Jacob Tittlebat, came home frcn
college. Jacob had imbibed a taste soI
art in the course OF his somewhat heUer,-
geaeous edncation, and to crafty tins tast,
stayed f1v time in Paris before jcinins
his father in the stylish ancestral dwell
ing which How was his. Mr. Tittlebat hat
but reluctantly consented To this plan. 81,
had horror Of Paris, aud especially o
the young ladies' who, since he had reac
''Triiby," appeared TO him TO constitute
feminine society III that charming place
When Jacob appeared, very brown rroI
soJourn at Brighton, and very gay auC
full OF fun from the natural erfervescenc,
OF youthful spirits, but alone, and viii
only shirts. socks and the ike Us baggage
MIR Tittlehat drew long breath of II.
lief There was still hope for Jacob
You see, Jacob" said he, Il suppose
Adelaide viii marry some count or other
and Marian VIII marry some honorable d
OTHER; that's all right. But for you, Jacob
kinder feel as II nothing would suit I'M
quite as we'll as an American girl. 1 seen
tr see her now said Mr. Titaebar, lean
rings of smoke to escape from his lips in a
reminiscent sort OF way; a bright. smart
spry girl in a red and black plaid dress
that can fry chicken and ma 6e rhg5arb pie
and have plenty OF time after her wUr K al
done up to set and do spatter-work, q
crochet tides, OF an afternoon, and pla,
theOrgan at church"
Jacob. remembering The girls he had sevI
at his class-day spread, squirmed slightly
bot said nothing.
"Yes,'7 SAID Mr.. Tittlebat, coming dowI
with bump on the front legs OF his cary ID
oak chair; that's the kind OF girl, Jacob
can't help hopin' you'll marry
And thcI. he dropped some hints abouttEC
wickcdness Of big, foreign cities
Jacob bade his father good night. at II
O'clock. ana Went 70 his room. which wa
in wing, apart from the rest 9f the house
As he diTobed EeIupked at hifnsei + in the
glass, and saw healthy, handsome youn:
mar. with a square chin and sIlrewd eyes
lie smiled as he remem bered his father.
advice.
Anyhow. he said, t. himself, shes
an American, and guess father Il ike he
when lie knows her"
He had removed his coat vest and shoes
ana was sitting by the fire to warm hi
slightly chilled feet before going To bed
when he heard little noise in the pass
age.
If that is the cat. " he said. as he wen
TO open the door. mother VIII have seven
teen fits if she is not put out"