Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-07-09
A SAGITTARIIS WOMAN
By oLARrOE IRENE oLINGHAE.

copyright. 1898. by the Autnor.l
On a long narrow peninsula pointing
daringly into boisterous and turbulent
ocean is handsome cottage where ev-
cry year Mr.. and Mrs. Lyman Baxter
are won't to come, with few intimate
friends, for genuine rest and recreation.
Sometimes the Indian summer catches
them there and holds them with its
sweet mistiness aud yellow warmth OF
sun.
Long ago some flippant visitor named
the place Saints Rest" on account of
the identity of the family name with
the author of certain volume much es-
teemed by its Puritan ancestry, and the
pseudonym clings to 1T.
Late in the summer season a couple
Of young people might have been seen
lettering on the beach. They were a
handsome pair, and they were absorbed
in each other. They had reached that
plane of good fellowship where CONVEX
sation is optional, not necessary. Cuth-
bert Ogden was journalist and some
thing of a Bohemian who was making
heroic struggles to endear newly f1edg-
ed daily newspaper to the reading pub
lie. Dorothy Van Deering was an heir
ess, the descendant of proud old Dutch
family and very popular They had
known each other ever since their school
days, and their friendship had always
been Of the frankest and most platonic
character, though of late this eonven-
tionalism had worn a little thin.
Mrs. Baxter was interested in the
young man, partly because he possessed
the artistic temperament SO pleasing to
women and partly because she knew he
had a wealthy uncle who refused to rec
ognize his existence on account of
family quarrel. Mrs. Baxter was nat
ural peacemaker; she loved to smooth
over difficulties and solve problems. 1t
occurred to her that she might by bit
of diplomacy mend this young mans
fortunes, thereby putting him in the
way of immediate success instead OF by
long and laborious processes. So after
little thinking she invited young Ogden
down for ten days at Saints Rest, and
at the same time extended an invitation
to his uncle, General Stanhope, for the
same length of time, hoping to effect
reconciliation between the two. Mr.
Baxter doubted the success of this PLAN
He said there was nothing at Saints
Rest for man like the general, who in
his later years had become bookworm
and a recluse. On the other hand, his
nephew, whom he was known to detest,
would be thrust upon him.
sit won't do. It's too palpable, he
said. HE'LL see right through it at
once.
"Will he? Then we shall have to in
vite some one here to amuse him,
said Mrs. Baxter, in nowise daunted.
"There's Uncle Swithin. . she added,
with sudden inspiration.
"What, he of the Solar Biology"
asked Mr. Baxter obviously.
eyes. the professor. | know he's &C.
centric, but he is really a very bright
old gentleman. and has written several
books, you know. am sure he and the
general are acquainted and we can ask
them both to meet each other. Isn't
that a good idea?"
81 don't know how they'd pull In a
eeam. I've always driven them sim
gly, observed her husband However,
we might try it, But are we going to
have no one but them?"
Certainly, dear. Let me see-Mrs.
Van Deering and Dorothy, there's two;
Lalla Braddon, whose mother has gone
abroad for couple of months and wants
me to take Lalla little under my
wing; then Lalla's engaged to Jack
Armitage; so we must include him.
Then there will be the general, the pro-
fessor and Cuthbert Ogden to whet up
our intellectual faculties. "
Mrs. Baxter's plan worked capitally.
All the invitations met with prompt
acceptance, and the guests had arrived
with the exception of Professor Swithin,
who was DELAYED three DAYS. AS Cuth-