The times., 1898-02-20
JUST AN EPISODE.
CHAPTER +.

CHAPTER T..
i tried not TO show it. but / certainly
was irritated: my breakfast lost its flaw
or and could not endure to see Mimsy,
Just outside the dining-room window.
reveling in the sunshine which Tapped
her around as though ii loved her, while
she fed the pigeons and coo-cooed TO
them in their own soft tones.
And there was my sister Priscilla.
seated opposite me. stabbing me again
and again. pitilessly. mercilessIy. though
unconsciously, until it was a RELIEF TO
hear the crunch of horses hoofs on the
gravel. and know that 1 could leave
home vexations behind for time as
flew along to visit my patients.
on one point / was absolutely deter
mined: / would not marry Mimsy. That
is 70 say, / would not ask her to marry
me. That should at last be settled be-
yond alteration. | had been working UP
to this conclusion for a long time. Since
i became her guardian, when she came
to me twelve years ago. a dainty little
maiden of six, the young monkey hSf
woven herself into my life until she was
a part of il. And as she grew from
childhood into womanhood, tall and slim
and fair. Frightening the house with her
sunniness and making everyone love
her, / became conscious that some day
perhaps before long, she would assured
ly be wGoed and won.
And now the blows that ] anticipated
were beginning to fall This was the
first: there would be a series. And L
under whose care she lived, who loved
every tone OF her happy voice, every
touch of her soft hand. loved her as
i felt sure no other man, however Wor-
thy and ardent, could ever love her-
would not even try TO win her love IN
return And why? Well, the long
string of letters after N.Y. name repre-
sented many years of hard work, and
made me realize that ] was forty-just
to think of it,-while Mimsy was only
eighteen. Then / stood in the reia-
ton of a father to her. 1t could not
be otherwise, in spite of all the little
tender caresses OF which she was so
prodigal They meant nothing more
than a child's gratitude and apprecia-
tion of kindnesses received.
And now, what was it that Priscilla
said that took the flavor from my cof-
fee and made eating pretense? Her
words rang in my ears as l was borne
along
Yes; Mimsy is certainly very at
tractive and sweet. and no wonder
Harry has lost his heart to her Do
You know, John, the boy came to me
last night in a very diffident WAY and
asked me to speak TO your
knowing me to be a man of few
words, Priscilla did not appear to ex-
pect any comment. If she could have
seen the big thump that nay heart
gave at that moment. she might not
have continued so placidly.
You see, John, Harry has confided to
me that he loves Mimsy. He said:
'Auntie, 1 believe 1 have always loved
her. 1 cannot remember the time since
she lived with you. when ii was not a
pleasure TO be with her, TO run and fetch
and carry for her. and TO be her slave.
No other woman has ever for one mo-
ment come before her | think she cares
Tor me. too. Will you speak to Hnelep
ieel just little afraid that he will not
think me worthy of her And vet. if he
would give his consent 10 an eng gagement
L would prove myself worthy | would
work, and rise in my profession. and
make a name that you should all be
proud to hear Harry has the greatest
admira ton for you, john
1t was at this precise moment of Pris-
elias discourse that | formed a desper-
ate and sudden resolution. 1 would not
Only allow. Dut would heip on this at
fair. IL Mimsy cared for Harry. she
should marry him if she would [ got
up from the table and composed myself
sufficiently to say:
Harry is a fine young fellow. Pris-
ella; tell him he may try his luck.
In came Mimsy through the open Win
dow, and. seeing that l was just going.
darted across the room and linked her
hands over my arm:
WHAT Going already Gina Iro
Bother the patients: they are always TAX
ing You away from U.S.
And then she put her soft lips to my
hand and gave ii a series of little kisses
/ demonstrate ted:
MY dear child, you are getting too
old for this sort of thing. You really
must not behave so foolishly.''
you dear, sweet. good man: there is
no one like You in the whole world. I'll
see you into the carriage Which she
did. standing on the step to have a part
ing word. II want to consult you, darI-
ing. particularly" Then she jumped /
lightly to the ground and waved her hand |
as / disappeared.