Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-03-11

J :: !
~ AASA was TIE
M : SL,T Admiral the only
- x EZ, person in the Wild
MA ~LSaM,. erness who was des-
"@SsSM3@M tined to find his
@TESZJM opinions consider
1917 ably changed. Two
neighborlng famil-
les. the Winslows fror, Anerley,
and the Cumberbatches from Gipsy
Hill, had been invited to tennis by Mrs
Westmacott, and the lawn was gay in
the evening with the blazers of the
young men and the bright dresses of
the girls. To the older people, sitting
round in their wicker-work garden
chairs the darting, STOPPING, springing
white figures, the sweep Of skirts and
twinkle of canvas shoes, the click of the
rackets and sharp whiz of the balls,
with the continual Fifteen love-fifteen
ALL" of the marker, made up merry
and eXhtlarating scene. To see their
sons and daughters so flushed and
healthy and happy gave them also
reflected glow, and it was hard to say
who had most pleasure from the game
those who played or those who watched
Mrs. Westmacott had just finished
set when she caught a glimpse of Clara
Walker sitting alone at the farther end
of the ground. She ran down the court
cleared the net to the amazement of the
visitors, and seated herself beside her.
Clara's reserved and refined nature
shrank from the boisterous frankness
and strange manners of the widow, and
yet her feminine instinct told her that
beneath all her peculiaiities there lay
much that was s"",i and noble. She
smiled up at her. T.. refOro, and nOdd-
ed a greeting.
''Why aren't you playing, then? Don't
for goodness sake, begin to be languid
and young ladyish. When you give up
active sports you give up youth"
II have played a set, Mrs Westma-
colt"
That's right, my dear" She sat down
beside her, and tapped her upon the
arm with her tennis racket. IT like you,
my dear. and am going to call YOU
cara. You are not as aggressive as
should wish, Clara, but still like you
very much. Self-sacrifice is all very
well, you know, but we have had rath-
er too much of it on our side. and
should like to see a little on the other
What do you think of my nephew,
Charles ?"
AS HuSolAo1l was 81 Suuu0Il ana I'M
expected that Clara gave quite a jump
IN her chair. I'LL hardly ever have
thought of your nephew Charles"
NO? Oh, you must think him we'll
over, for I want to speak to you about
him."
TO me? But why?"
III seemed to me most delicate. You
see Clara, the matter stands in this
WaV. If iS TO
ma myself in completely new sphere
OF life, which will involve fresh duties
ana make 1t impossible for me to keep
up household which Charles can
share"
Clara stared. Did this mean that she
was about to marry again? What else
could it point to?
therefore Charles must have
household of his own. That is obvious.
now l don't approve Of bachelor es-
'aollshments. Do you?"
Really, Mrs. Westmacott, I have
never thought of the matter"
oh, you little sly puss! Was there
EVER a girl who never thought Of the
matter! I think that a young man of
s'S-,and-tWenty ought to be married"
lara felt very uncomfortable The
a"1ui thought had come upon her that
ms amoassadress had come to her as
q proxy with proposal Of marriage.
nut now could that be? She had not
spoken more than three or four times
Win her nephew, and knew nothing
more or him than he had told her on the
esenlng before. 1t was impossible, then.
anu yet what could his aunt mean by
''i,s discussion of his private affairs?
10 you not think yourself she per-
.isteo' that young man of six-and-
'"enty is better married?"
should think that he is old enough |
10 decide for himself
res, yes. He has done so. But Charles !
- just little shy, just little slow in
rApressing himself. 1 thought that I
"ouid pave the way for him. Two wom-
si can arrange these things so much
'etter. Men sometimes have a difficulty
III making themselves clear"
really hardly follow you, Mrs.
"estmacott," cried Clara in despair.
ne has no profession. But he has
n.ce tastes. He reads Browning every
, wv, And he Is most amazingly strong.
"hen he was younger we used to put
VII the gloves together, but I cannot
PERSUADE him to now, for he says he
,annot play light enough. should al
~" MIN five hundred. which should be
enough at first
wy dear Mrs. Westmacott," cried
lara L assure you that I have not
.'e ieast idea what it is that you are
talking Of
10 you think your sister Ida would
nave my nephew Charles?"
I1er sister Ida? Quite little thrill
VI relief and Of pleasure ran through
~, ,er at the thought. Ida and Charles
"estmacott. She had never thought of
~ ana yet they had been good deal
,'sether. They had played tennis. They
''o shared the tandem tricycle.. Again
', the thrill Of JOY, and close at it's
Aeels the cold questionings of con-
science. Why thjs ioyo What was the